Dubbed "America's Finest City", and for good reason, San Diego offers it all - amazing Southern California beaches, natural beauty, a variety of parks and attractions, and near-perfect climate year-round. Just a few reasons that make hosting our Summer Springboard program on the campus of UC San Diego that much better! Home to the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, UCSD is one of the premier leaders in earth science research and education, and ranked among the top 10 public universities in the U.S. according to U.S. News and World Report. Academic Courses At Summer Springboard, we believe learning should be inspiring and interactive. Our carefully curated courses blend career exploration, hands-on learning, and exposure to industry-leading businesses and professionals that reflect the resources of the San Diego area. Whenever possible, classes are held outdoors, on-site, or in a lab-type setting to allow students as many hands-on opportunities as possible. Activities such as field trips, guest speakers, and practical scenarios take the learning experience beyond the classroom and leverage all that San Diego has to offer. In addition to the morning academic course, the afternoons involve different activities (depending on the day), which include staff-led activities, an external campus tour, True You, or their course-specific field trip/activity. Activities & Trips Soak up the sunshine of Southern California with numerous outdoor activities. We'll step off-campus to explore a variety of what "America's Finest City" has to offer! Below are just some examples of what our students will get to see and explore: Old Town Explore the historic marketplace with shops and carts offering locally made gift items, plus live entertainment. Little Italy & Mercato Farmers' Market There'll be no shortage of options when it comes time for lunch! Little Italy is a lively neighborhood filled with patio cafe's, restaurants, and more. It also encompasses the Mercato Farmers' Market - San Diego's largest, filling six city blocks - and offers a wide variety of produce, prepared foods, and more from local vendors. There's also the Street Food Market nestled across the street from the San Diego Bay waterfront! Seaport Village Within walking distance from the USS Midway Museum, explore San Diego's Seaport Village, a waterside complex with shops, eateries, entertainment, and relaxed grounds featuring fountains and ponds. Balboa Park Where culture, science, and nature collide, Balboa Park is home to more than 16 museums, lovely gardens, trails, and other recreational attractions, including the San Diego Zoo. With a variety of cultural institutions among its 1,200 acres, there is something for everyone. La Jolla Shores Beach Tucked between sandstone cliffs and minutes from campus is the world-class La Jolla Shores, a mile-long crescent of prime sand beach favored by active beachgoers of all interests. With small surf in the summer months, La Jolla Cove is ideal for swimmers, snorkelers and scuba divers. Belmont Park Belmont Park is San Diego’s beachfront amusement park and boardwalk offering something for everyone since 1925. You'll have a blast whether it’s filled with adventure-packed activities on the Giant Dipper Roller Coaster or laid-back beachfront eating with friends. The San Diego Zoo The San Diego Zoo retains its iconic status as arguably one of the best zoos in the United States. Explore this 100-acre wildlife park that's home to over 12,000 rare and endangered animals, representing more than 650 species and subspecies. The Zoo is also an accredited botanical garden, caring for more than 700,000 individual plants. Walk, ride the hop-on/hop-off bus tour, or take in the views from atop via the "Skyfari", as you explore and view as much as you can! Coronado Beach Soak up the sun and take a dip in the 1.5 mile long, wide sandy beach set against the backdrop of the iconic Hotel del Coronado. Track-Specific Excursions Each academic program may also take subject matter specific excursions to help round out the student experience. Student Life Get ahead of college living by experiencing the variety of amenities that UCSD has to offer during your Summer Springboard program, from the dining hall, to your university dormitory, its beautiful campus, and more! Housing At UCSD, Summer Springboard students are housed in suites. They'll share a room with another person, in a suite that contains 2-3 other rooms. Each suite has 1-2 bathrooms, depending on the number of rooms in the suite, as well as a common living room area. Suites are separated by gender. On each floor, there is a full kitchen, with a stovetop, oven, microwave, fridge, etc. Basic linens are provided in the form of a flat sheet, blanket, pillow, pillowcase, and towel. Summer Springboard staff live on each floor to create a community, provide support, plan activities, and help students get the most out of their program. Other members of the Summer Springboard staff, including the Campus Director, Assistant Campus Director, and other staff also reside within the dorms during the course of the program and are available to support students and address emergencies, 24 hours a day. Security The dorms are access-controlled, and students need their individual access-cards to get into the residence hall and their suite. Hard-keys are issued to the students as well, and are used to access their specific room within their suite. UCSD Police operates 24/7 and makes regular patrols of the campus and residence halls. Students are also required to be in their rooms past 10PM for safety and accountability purposes. Facilities Each dormitory has laundry facilities, lounges, and WiFi throughout. There is also a water filtration station, and students are encouraged to bring a reusable water bottle and hydrate regularly! Dining Most meals will be in the on-campus dining hall. The dining hall offers a wide selection of food, accommodating a variety of diets - including vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, kosher, halal, and specific food allergies.