Academic Summer Camp Grades 7-12

Cougar Quest

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Cougar Quest 2010

(Download the 2008 Cougar Quest Booklet to get an overview of camp)

 

2010 Dates

Grades 7-9: July 18-23
Grades 9-12: July 25-30

Students entering the ninth grade in the fall of 2010 have the option of choosing to attend one or both weeks.

Camp Fee

The cost for attending Cougar Quest is $595. This camp fee  includes: workshop instruction and supplies, supervision, a Cougar Quest T-shirt, name badge, recreational and evening activities, all-you-can-eat meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner, starting with dinner on the first day through lunch on the last day), snacks, shared residence hall room, linens, and additional nighttime supervision.


Registration Deadline

Campers are encouraged to register early - registration for 2010 opens in December. Workshop enrollment is limited to a maximum of 20 campers and so registering early raises the chances you will get the workshops you pick as your first choice. Registration and workshop enrollment is on a first-come-first-serve basis. Program capacity is based on equipment and resource availability.

Registration for Middle School week closed in 2 months in 2008 and some workshops closed after a week of registrations being taken. Please complete our Request Information page so you will be notified the moment we open registration for 2010. All registrations must include a $200 deposit. Full payment is due May 17, 2010. Many parents pay in full upon registering.

Cougar Quest is dedicated to equal opportunity education. Cougar Quest believes that everyone should have the chance to immerse themselves in an exploration of higher education. Cougar Quest has a "tuition assistance" program for campers who face financial hardship and will benefit from Cougar Quest. To learn more about Cougar Quest scholarships scroll down.

Transportation

Campers will need to provide their own transportation to Pullman. On the registration form there is the option of choosing to have your contact information available to other families in your area who are attending Cougar Quest. This is to enable carpooling. Should you want to carpool, remember to check the box that will authorize Cougar Quest to give out your contact information to other parents.
There is also a local airport serving Pullman and Moscow that handles commercial flights. Using a bus service (Greyhound) is another option, too. For travel information (driving directions, airlines, accommodations) click here. Courtesy transportation from the Moscow/Pullman airport or the bus depot to the camp will be provided for campers arriving by bus or plane. Campers must provide transportation information to Cougar Quest a minimum of two weeks prior to the camp session.


Map to the Cougar Quest Camp (WSU Regents Residence Hall) (PDF) This map is to Regents Hall - the hall used for Cougar Quest in 2009. The residence hall being used for 2010 has not been confirmed at this time.

Supervision and Safety

Our qualified counselors provide supervision and guidance appropriate to each age group 24 hours a day. Campers are escorted by camp staff everywhere they go and counselors accompany them to all of their workshops. All staff are trained and prepared for emergencies.



Cougar Quest Counselors

Campers and parents alike have passed along countless thank-you notes showing appreciation for our Cougar Quest counselors who have made a positive impact in the lives of young people. Our Counselors are all WSU students who have at least sophomore standing. Campers will enjoy the Cougar Quest counselor's endless energy, great jokes, and will find them to be inspiring mentors. We hire an elite level of counselors out of hundreds of students that apply. Take a look at the stellar counselors that provided support last year:

Housing & Roommates

Cougar Quest Campers will be housed in a residence hall on campus. In previous years campers have been at Regents Hall. Campers are always housed in a room near their assigned Counselor. Campers can request a single or a double room. Campers in a single room have a room to themselves. Campers in a double room will be assigned a roommate based on same gender, same age, and possibly similar interests or workshops. If campers desire to room with a friend, there is a space on the registration form to indicate roommate preference. (Please make sure that your requested roommate submits your name as a roommate, as well or we will not be able to match you up). All the residence halls on campus are VERY warm during the summer months as there is no air conditioning. Please bring a fan(s) to beat the hot weather of the Palouse.
Map to the Cougar Quest Camp (WSU Regents Residence Hall (PDF)

Meals

Meals are taken at a campus dining center. In previous years campers have been going to the Northside Marketplace for meals. Those with special dietary requirements should notify the Camp Directors at least two weeks prior to camp in order to plan for and accomodate those special requirements. Campers are served meals in an all-you-can-eat buffet style. Campers are encouraged to eat healthy and minimize food waste.

Cancellation & Refunds

In the event you must cancel your registration, we ask you submit a notice in writing to cougarquest@wsu.edu. We will not accept cancellations over the phone. With any cancellation Cougar Quest retains a portion of your payment/deposit as an administrative fee to cover the cost of the cancellation (ex. cost of mailer, paying for dining services contract, time taken to make the cancellation, etc.) The cancellation schedule is as follows:

Dates for Cougar Quest 2010
Deadline Amount you receive back on deposit ($200)
March 22, 2010 $150
April 19, 2010 $100
May 17, 2010 $50

 

The last day to cancel is May 17. Cancellations after May 17 will not be eligible for a refund unless a doctor's note is provided proving illness or accident. A full refund will be given only if your first choice workshop is cancelled by Cougar Quest and you do not wish to participate in either your second or third workshop choices.

Special Needs

Accommodations will be made for campers with special needs, including those who are hearing or visually impaired, those with special dietary requirements or individuals in wheelchairs. To learn more about our capabilities and possible scholarships for special need campers call (509) 335-1235.

Rules and Regulations

Cougar Quest is a program with an academic emphasis. Hundreds of youth have enjoyed the camaraderie and atmosphere of this program and the Washington State University campus. A fundamental goal of Cougar Quest is to foster a community environment based on mutual respect and openness. Therefore, any form of discrimination, including but not limited to that based on race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, gender, or sexual orientation, constitutes unacceptable behavior. A breach will be grounds for possible prosecution and immediate expulsion from camp. No refunds will be given upon such dismissal.

 

Spending Money

Campers will need limited funds for incidentals, such as snacks. They will be given an opportunity to visit the campus bookstore (The Bookie) and Ferdinand's Ice Cream Shoppe. Some students do choose to purchase WSU gear from The Bookie and ice cream from Ferdinand's. Any other purchases would be from the vending machines on campus.

Workshop Availability

When you view the workshops on this website you are viewing the "Real Time" availability. We do close workshops once they reach capacity at 20 students. Assignment of workshops is based on the order of registrations received, so it is on a first-come, first-served basis. Campers wishing to register over the phone or via mail are encouraged to call the Cougar Quest office at (509)335-1235 to get the most up-to-date information about workshop availability. A registration confirmation is sent to the e-mail provided on the registration form, so be sure to enter in a valid e-mail address. Additionally, a Cougar Quest Chronicle will be sent to the camper and their family at the listed street address. The chronicle will have the camper's assigned workshops and other information about camp. If a Chronicle is not recieved within three weeks of registration please notify Cougar Quest via e-mail cougarquest@wsu.edu.

Dress Policy

Dress at Cougar Quest is casual and appropriate. Campers may wear shorts, T-shirts, or other casual clothes that are neat, clean, and non-revealing. Clothing which exposes undergarments, the torso, or midriff area at any time is not appropriate. Shoes are required at meals, classes, and other program events. Attire that is not appropriate include: halter tops, tube tops, tank tops, short shorts, baggy shorts (showing undergarments), and pajama pants worn to workshops.Campers dressed inappropriately will be asked to change, or will be given appropriate clothing to wear.

Scholarships

Cougar Quest has awarded about two scholarships each year of camp. Funding ability is based on contributions made to the camp, and so are not guaranteed. Additionally, scholarships do not usually cover the full cost of camp. If you have questions please feel free to call (509)335-1235.

The 2010 Cougar Quest Scholarship Application.

 
Cougar Quest, PO Box 641035, Washington State University, Pullman WA 99164-1035, 509-335-1235, Contact Us