FAQ

You can expect an experience like no other professional development experience you have had. We strive to build a sense of community while you are here. Our participants rave about our instructors, our attention to detail, the food, and the afternoon and evening experiences. You can also expect to be in a beautiful, but rural community. There is no Uber and shopping is limited to small, locally owned businesses. There is, however, abundant beauty and opportunities for recreation and relaxation.

At Camp St. J our mission is to provide a high quality professional development experience in an environment that fosters collaboration and networking. The afternoon and evening activities at our in-person workshops provide a unique opportunity to share ideas with peers and instructors outside of the classroom, building lasting relationships that extend beyond the summer.

Register! and place a $250 deposit on your spot. The balance is due at registration. We take checks, credit cards, and POs!

The Camper’s Checklist!

No camping experience is complete without a checklist of items to bring to our AP Summer Institute. You may want to bring some (or all!) of the items on the following list:

• Window Fan (most dorm rooms are not air-conditioned)

• Shower caddy and flip flops
• Swimwear & Beach Towel
• Sunscreen
• Sport Clothing (suitable for Northern New England)
• Tennis Racquet & Balls
• Golf Clubs
• Sturdy footwear (for hiking)
• Running/Walking Shoes
• Bikes
• Camera
• Writing Journal

Generally participants check-in on Sunday between the hours of 2:00-5:00. We do this to provide you an opportunity to get situated in our dorms (or at a local hotel), to relax at our social hours, to enjoy our opening dinner, and to meet your cohort of participants at an informal class meeting after dinner (and to enjoy an evening of bocce!). If you would like to check-in on Monday, that is fine, but we ask that you arrive at Streeter Hall (the cafeteria) to check-in between 7:15 and 7:55 a.m. Please let us know if you will not be checking in on Sunday evening—we want to ensure you are safe!

Many participants choose to stay on-campus in one of our dormitories. Rooms are functional but not luxurious, and are equipped with a desk, chair, bed and chest of drawers for each participant (think of your dorm freshman year in college!). Linens and towels are provided. There are shower stalls in all dorms (sorry, no bathtubs) and rooms do not have bathrooms attached. Most dorms are not air-conditioned; we suggest that participants bring a small window fan if the weather calls for heat or humidity. Additionally, you may want to also bring a small desk lamp as all rooms have overhead, LED or fluorescent lighting. Each dorm has at least one common area in which to relax and free laundry facilities for participants to use.

Some are, but most are not. All classrooms and the library are air-conditioned. We recommend bringing a fan should the weather be warm. Evening temperatures in Northern Vermont are generally quite cool, but check the weather first!

Most outdoor activities are included (hiking, kayaking, swimming). We do charge a fee for some activities, such as the tastings at a local brewery, Paint-n-Sip, and the St. Johnsbury Distillery. We offer transportation, too!

Yes! We know many schools can’t issue POs until after July 1st. This is not a problem. Please register NOW, though, so we can save you a spot in the workshop. Should you decide not to attend, however, we ask that you contact us and cancel before June 1st. We will bill your school for the deposit fee of $250 if we are not notified by June 1st.

The two closest airports to our campus are the Burlington International airport in Burlington, VT (which is a 1.5 hour drive from St. Johnsbury), and the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Manchester, NH (which is about 2.5 hours from St. Johnsbury). We have tentatively scheduled two shuttle pick ups each Sunday (11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.) at Burlington International Airport and at the Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. Shuttles return to Burlington and Manchester on Friday after classes end at noon. For return flights, we typically recommend booking a flight out of Burlington no earlier than 5:00 PM and out of Manchester no earlier than 6:00 PM. The cost is $150 round trip. Please email Courtney McManus at apsi@stjacademy.org as soon as possible to confirm flight arrival and departure times (or if you would like to use this service). The shuttle will take you directly to registration.

Yes, although you will need to contact us directly so we can find suitable on-campus lodging to meet your needs. We offer dining plans for friends, spouses, and children as well. 

The food is excellent! Each night we offer a social hour with appetizers, wine, Vermont beers, and non-alcoholic drinks. We offer an array of options each night. On Wednesdays we offer a traditional New England lobster bake!

We do our best to accommodate all of our guests and their dietary needs. While we are preparing meals for up to 200 people per session, we will do our best to provide vegan, gluten-free, and vegetarian options for our guests. Please be sure to email us about your dietary needs when you register.

We ask that you cancel your registration by June 1st for a full refund of your $250 deposit. If you are paying by PO, we ask that you also notify us prior to June 1st should you decide to cancel. Cancellations made after June 1st will be subject to a cancellation fee ($250). Any cancellations made within two weeks of the start of your workshop will be charged the full cost.