Stellar teachers. Passionate kids.
Exploring math in the Tetons.
Math with no limits
MitM student Aria Chung climbing in the TetonsMath in the Mountains (MitM) is a camp founded by Paul Zeitz & Andrew Chung that features a unique mix of teachers, kids, and parents with a deep passion for mathematics, based at the Teton Science Schools (TSS) in Jackson Hole on June 22-29, 2024. The goal of our program is to mix mathematical recreations with outdoor adventures in a way that invites creativity, imaginative thinking, grit and resilience, and intellectual risk-taking.
The program is led by a group of award-winning mathematicians and leading math educators who are among most innovative thinkers in gifted mathematical education in the world for youth. This year’s distinguished faculty includes U.S. Math Olympiad legends (Paul Zeitz, Po-Shen Loh, John Berman); founders of gifted math camps, talent search programs and leading math circles (Ken Ono, Mira Bernstein); math curriculum heads at the leading STEM schools in the nation (Nueva School, Proof School, Helios School); and applied mathematicians with investing and entrepreneurial backgrounds (Andrew Chung).
The number of campers is deliberately very small and gender-balanced, ensuring an unusually high instructor-to-camper ratio and significant attention to each child and parent’s needs. Instruction takes place from the classrooms at TSS to outdoor locations in nearby Grand Teton National Park to create a unique and kind environment for mathematical discourse.
Who should attend?
Math in the Mountains’ intensive, individualized program is targeted at approximately 20-30 highly-gifted “math kids” ages 10 to 13. The camp will be filled with exciting classes, one-on-one tutorials, plenary lectures, group activities, and there will be opportunities for kids, parents and teachers to interact with each other. If your child has attended Epsilon Camp or Campersand and is in this age range, then this program should be fine.
A MitM camper should know some algebra and geometry and understand the notion of a mathematical argument. By far, the most important things are curiosity and stamina: the prospect of doing many hours of math each day must be appealing!
To apply to Math in the Mountains 2024, first contact the MITM admissions team. New applicants will be asked to share math experiences and explorations, complete a questionnaire, and provide a reference. After our review, we may send you some fun math challenges to work on and possibly schedule a video interview to get to know you better. Part of what has made the camp a strong success is that students (and families) chosen to attend have formed a cohesive community that has led to many aftercamp activities and meet-ups long after the camp.
“Best Week Ever”
From summitting Rendezvous Peak to rational tangles, from whitewater rafting on the Snake River to the geometry of complex numbers, from bear sightings to the mathematics of fairness, see how much we packed into a week last summer in this video below:
Learn More about:
Jackson Hole
The mountains and mathematical problem solving embody exploration, creativity, imaginative thinking, grit, resilience, and risk-taking. There is no place like Jackson Hole that is more emblematic of such values.
Topics
From computational number theory to the art of complex numbers, from mathematical games to knot theory, MitM will cover exciting math topics outside of the traditional school curriculum.
Instructors
Our instructors are mathematicians with deep experience in research, camps, circles, and competitions. We will also guide parent discussions on sharing best practices for raising gifted math kids.
“The average (non-problem-solver) math student is like someone who goes to a gym three times a week to do lots of repetitions with low weights on various exercise machines. In contrast, the problem solver goes on a long, hard backpacking trip. Both people get stronger. The problem solver gets hot, cold, wet, tired, and hungry. The problem solver gets lost, and has to find his or her way. The problem solver gets blisters. The problem solver climbs to the top of mountains, sees hitherto undreamed of vistas. The problem solver arrives at places of amazing beauty, and experiences ecstasy that is amplified by the effort expended to get there. When the problem solver returns home, he or she is energized by the adventure, and cannot stop gushing about the wonderful experience. Meanwhile, the gym rat has gotten steadily stronger, but has not had much fun, and has little to share with others.”
—Paul Zeitz, The Art & Craft of Problem Solving