ASEEDER Summer Journey with Northwestern CTD Advanced Academic Courses

4001-699-686

ASEEDER Summer Journey with
Northwestern CTD Advanced Academic Courses

 

Grade: 1-5

Date: July 24 - August 1, 2026 | Location: Evanston, USA

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40
years of experience in gifted education
All courses hosted by
Northwestern University Center for Talent Development （CTD）
1:8 Teacher-student ratio
Small Classes of 16 with CTD Instructors & TAs
Official completion certificate and evaluation report
Thrive in an English-Speaking Academic Community of Local Peers

About Center for Talent Development

Since 1982, CTD has evolved from a single focus on talent identification to a multi-faceted research and service organization with four central goals: Talent identification, Talent Development, Research, and Advocacy. By continually assessing programs, conducting new research, and surveying participants, CTD remains at the forefront of gifted education and talent development. Today, CTD offers hundreds of enrichment and accelerated courses for students aged 4 to grade 12, parent and educator learning communities, and program development for schools.

CTD has a wide array of high-quality, captivating courses for students from age 4 through grade 12, which include Science, Technology & Engineering, Mathematics, Social Science and Humanities, and English & Language Arts. Whether it is advancing in a core subject or trying something new, they have what students need to develop their talents and interests.

2026 Summer

While continuing the talent development summer camp in Shanghai with ASEEDER providing CTD courses, ASEEEDER may assist in supporting applications from China for the Northwestern CTD Summer Camp (Grades 1-5) in Evanston. Choose from 10+ courses and join top students worldwide. Grounded in the philosophy that “talent is a process,” we foster critical thinking and creativity through advanced study. Join this journey of inspiration and challenge.

2025

The talent development summer camp opened to students from grades 1-9 , including Math, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, Economics, Psychology and multiple classes in Shanghai and Shenzhen, China.Since the introduction of the talent development to China, we have received 2600+ applications from hundreds of international and bilingual schools across China.

2024

ASEEDER collaborates with Northwestern University's Center for Talent Development (CTD) to launch a first academic program in Shanghai for students in Grades 5-9, taught by CTD instructors.

2022

ASEEDER reached strategic cooperation with Northwestern University CTD – Center for Talent Development and launched online enrichment program.

Program Location: The Athanasius School

Nestled in Evanston, Chicago, The Athanasius School is recognized as an exemplary K-8 educational
organization in the Chicago area and has served as a long-standing venue and a secure and age-appropriate environment for kids.

For more information, please visiti the official website: https://www.saintas.net/

Certificate and Report

Students who successfully complete their course receive a certificate of completion and individualized evaluation.

* Certificates and the evaluation reports will be made available for online access approximately two months after the program concludes.

Official Completion Certificate Sample

Courses

Notes

  • Grade: 1-5
  • Duration：5 days
  • Enrollment：There are only 16 places available for each course. Students will be selected according to the order of application.

 
Grade 1-2
Grade 3-4
Grade 4-5

Students enroll in classes based on the grade they will be entering in the upcoming school year.

Time Travelers Time Explorer AM

English & Language Arts Social Science Humanities

What was communication like before telephones? What were your surroundings like in the time of dinosaurs? Travel back in time to pivotal moments in Earth's history to uncover what life was like in the past. Explore the impact that living things have had on the Earth. Imagine and compose narratives from the point of view of both humans and creatures throughout history, using role-play, visualization and creative writing.

Grossology ALL DAY

Science

The human body conducts fascinating and sometimes repulsive bodily functions, but all serve a valuable purpose. From spit and vomit to sweat and snot, expand your critical thinking skills as you engage in experiments and activities to learn about systems of the human body and their role in indicating illness and maintaining health. This course builds fundamental biology skills for future study.

Mysteries of the Night: Nocturnal Animals PM

Mysteries of the Night: Nocturnal Animals Science

Are you a 'night owl?' Explore Okapi, Gila monsters, bats, and owls, all of which are among the many nocturnal animals who prefer to be active at nighttime. Through the use of scientific explorations, stories, and collaborative activities, discover common characteristics of night creatures and their habitats while unlocking some of the mysteries surrounding species that are awake while most people are asleep. Find out how and why these animals have adapted to this lifestyle.

Race Cars & Rockets ALL DAY

Technology & Engineering Science

Indy 500 cars and space shuttle launches have long fascinated us. Humans' need for speed has inspired aerodynamic racing cars and rockets to go fast and crash safely. Young engineers explore the physics principles behind designing vehicles and discover what increases and decreases velocity and acceleration as they build and race their own homemade rockets and race cars and try to crash them safely.

Detective Math ALL DAY

Mathematics

A good detective looks for clues and patterns to solve a mystery. Identify patterns to break math codes, apply problem solving strategies to decipher logic puzzles, and create simple equations based on story problem clues. Test your new math and deductive reasoning skills on other detectives by creating your own stories, riddles, and mysteries!

Students enroll in classes based on the grade they will be entering in the upcoming school year.

The Graphic Novel

English & Language Arts

Investigate the evolving form of graphic novels, as you practice bringing your own characters to the page. Consider choices about layouts and frames that help shape the action and meaning of a story and explore literary themes in fiction and nonfiction readings. Try your hand at single frame cartoons and multi-page graphic stories.

* QUALIFYING SUBJECT AREA(S): Verbal

Under the Microscope

Science

Using microscopes and other scientific tools, explore tiny worlds outdoors. Fascinating details wait to be discovered when ants, worms, plants, soil and water are examined in sharp focus. Gather and examine samples under a microscope, and sketch what you find. Using natural materials, build a dioramic view of the tiny world you've discovered.

Digital Architects

Technology & Engineering

How do architects use math, physics and art to design buildings? Explore the architectural design process through hands-on building projects, blueprint sketching, and digital modeling software. As novice architects, investigate how buildings come to be and how people interact with the built environment. Using famous and historically significant architecture for inspiration, experience how math and art come together.

Students enroll in classes based on the grade they will be entering in the upcoming school year

Intro to Screenwriting

English & Language Arts

Do you know what it takes to get your story on the big screen? In a workshop model, study the craft of structuring drama with emotional arc and leave with a working concept and outline of an original screenplay. By week's end, be ready to pitch your manuscript idea and include crucial items that production houses will want to see, such as suggested casting, loglines, marketing mockups, and more.

Coding for Game Designers

Technology & Engineering

Level up your coding skills to create the games you want to play! Hone logic and design skills through Scratch programming as you create, test, and play your own digital games. Participate in the design process with your fellow gamers, play each other's games, and give and receive feedback on your original game.

Math Behind the Olympics

Mathematics

Building a world-class Olympic team involves not only serious training, but serious math too! How do coaches decide which players to start each game or which athletes to enter into specific events? Debate the merits of "scouts vs. stats" and use statistics to create your own Olympic dream team.

Sample Schedule

*The specific schedule may be subjected to change by the CTD.

9:00-12:00 12:00-13:00 13:00-16:00 16:00-17:30 After 17:30
Day 1 Arrive in Evanston, check into hotel
Day 2 Chicago Exploration
Visit iconic Chicago landmarks: Northwestern University Evanston Campus, Field Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Day 3 Pier, McDonald’s Global Headquarters Restaurant, etc.
Day 3
Day 4 3-Hour Morning Session
Guided by CTD instructors: Students immerse themselves in course content through interactive brainstorming, group discussions, hands‑on experiments, and report writing—
exploring the fundamentals of rigorous scientific research.
Lunch		 3-Hour Afternoon Session
Guided by CTD instructors:
Students immerse themselves in course content through interactive brainstorming, group discussions, hands‑on experiments, and report writing—exploring the fundamentals of rigorous scientific research.		  
Back to hotel
Dinner
Group leader check-in, lights out
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8 EXPO
After completing a week‑long academic project, students showcase their work in a final EXPO.
* Parents are invited to visit the campus and witness this important growth milestone
Day 9 Departure

*The specific schedule may be subjected to change by the CTD.

Northwestern University Evanston Campus:

Northwestern University Evanston Campus:

Explore the lakefront campus of this top-tier private university, where Gothic and modern architecture meet. Immerse yourself in a vibrant academic community, natural beauty, and a culture of innovation.
Field Museum of Natural History

Field Museum of Natural History

One of the nation’s top natural history museums—and a Night at the Museum film site. Don’t miss “Sue,” the world’s largest and most complete T. rex fossil.
Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo

Discover over 1,200 animals—from gorillas to Komodo dragons—in immersive habitats like Regenstein African Journey. The zoo also features interactive play areas and environmental education programs for all ages.
Millennium Park

Millennium Park

Experience Chicago’s architectural showcase, home to three must-see attractions: the mirrored “Cloud Gate” (The Bean), the interactive Crown Fountain, and the cuttingedge Jay Pritzker Pavilion.
Navy Pier

Navy Pier

Stroll this Chicago icon for stunning Lake Michigan views, unique shopping, and classic local eats.
Chicago Architecture River Cruise

Chicago Architecture River Cruise

Engaging guides reveal how Chicago rebuilt from the 1871 Great Fire to become the “Skyscraper Birthplace,” reshaping modern American architecture.
McDonald’s Global HQ Restaurant

McDonald’s Global HQ Restaurant

Visit the brand’s world headquarters and its flagship location. Sample global menu items and snap a photo at the famous “Hamburger University.”

Services & Logistics Support AS

ASEEDER Registration
Duration 9 days
(5 days of courses + 2 days of city tours + 2 days of round-trip accompaniment by ASEEDER group leaders)
Course Same as official CTD arrangement
Extracurricular Activities 2 days of Chicago Exploration
Visit iconic Chicago landmarks: Northwestern University Evanston Campus, Field Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Park Zoo, Navy Pier, McDonald’s Global Headquarters Restaurant, etc.
Scholarship ASEEDER scholarships (up to RMB 2,500 off)
Students can use the ASEEDER Scholarship in this program Students who have participated in the ASEEDER Talent Development and Purdue University GER²I Youth Programs are eligible to register with the "ASEEDER Benefits".
Accommodation • Accommodation at well-appointed hotels
• Daily School Shuttle between the hotel and campus.
• Dedicated Transportation for all off-campus activities and group flights‘s pickup and drop-off.
• Optional Lunch & Dinner meal plans available.
Management
& Support		 ASEEDER group leaders provide comprehensive support and supervision throughout the program, including:

• Monitoring students’ health and arranging prompt medical care if needed, with immediate updates to parents.
• Daily check-ins on students’ well-being, offering encouragement and assistance as necessary.
• Regular updates in the group chat to keep parents informed and ensure transparency
ASEEDER full off-campus supervision/td> ASEEDER Group leaders offer full off-campus supervision, including:

• Daily transportation to and from campus, ensuring commute safety.
• Structured management through daily roll calls, room checks, and supervised small-group activities during excursions.
• Pre-departure safety briefings to identify and address potential risks.
Insurance Insurance coverage includes overseas accident, medical, and emergency assistance
Guardian Requirements ASEEDER group leader provide full logistical support to attending families for a safe experience.

*Students in Grades 1–3 must be accompanied by a guardian.

* To ensure a focused learning environment and campus safety, classroom access is restricted to authorized personnel only during instructional hours, and photography is not permitted.
* Our group leaders will capture moments during extracurricular activities and share updates via a group photo album.

Accommodation

ASEEDER will arrange for students and accompanying guardians to stay together in well-appointed hotels, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment.

Students attending alone will be assigned one bed in a twin room. Rooms are arranged by ASEEDER group leaders based on age and gender, ensuring students share with others of the same gender. Rooms are primarily twin-sharing, each with a private bathroom. ASEEDER Group leaders reside on-site throughout the program and are available to assist with daily needs.

Meals

During the CTD academic program, in accordance with CTD program policy, students are required to bring their own lunch each day.

To support this, our ASEEDER program leaders will facilitate a daily routine: each morning, they will procure lunch items for the students, pack them into insulated bags to maintain temperature, and distribute them. Students are responsible for carrying their individual lunch pack throughout the day. Breakfast and dinner will be arranged by ASEEDER and served at the hotel or designated nearby restaurants. Breakfast offers a buffet.

For dinner, students may opt into the meal plan to dine with group leaders at selected restaurants, while students accompanied by guardians may dine independently.

Staff

CTD Academic Staff - For the academic day camp at CTD, CTD assigns experienced lead instructors to teach the course, ensuring high instructional quality. CTD teaching assistants provide full-time in-class support, monitoring studets' academic progress and well-being.

Application Information

Eligibility Criteria and Application Method

This ASEEDER experience is designed to provide an opportunity for students to participate in the Center for Talent Development summer program in Evanston, Illinois. The CTD summer program has application and enrollment criteria, which is described below and ASEEDER students will need to meet. CTD looks forward to receiving ASEEDER students' applications, but enrollment is not guaranteed. To be successful and enjoy CTD courses, all students must be fully proficient in English at their grade level or above.
Admissions requirements for students applying to grade 1 - 2 courses:
To ensure that students have the necessary English abilities, students who do not go to a fully English-medium school or do not have nationally normed, reading/verbal scores on a test such as MAP, STAR, iReady, etc. will need to schedule a ten-minute, Zoom interview with CTD’s admission office.
* Grade 1 -2 courses at CTD are open enrollment. Students must be going into the corresponding grade in Fall 2026 to register.
*CTD reserves the right to request additional information from, or require an English interview with, all applicants.
Admissions requirements for students applying to grade 3 – 5 courses:
For grade 3 – 4 and 4 – 5 courses, students may apply one of three ways.

  • Provide English language, nationally-normed testing in the qualifying area (math or reading), typically in the 90% range.
  • Provide their most recent report card and a teacher recommendation form. Students who do not attend school in English and do not have any English language, nationally-normed reading scores or English proficiency scores to share, will be asked to sit for a ten-minute, Zoom interview.
  • Students who have previously participated in any ASEEDER Talent Development program, Center for Talented Youth program, Purdue University’s GER2I Youth Program or other gifted program in English may apply directly with those records.

*CTD reserves the right to request additional information from, or require an English interview with, all applicants.
*Any student who interviews and is accepted by CTD but does not enroll, will be charged a 60-dollar processing fee.
Important:
All students and accompanying parents participating in the overseas program must hold a passport valid for more than six months beyond the program end date. To ensure smooth participation, please prepare this in advance.

Scholarship and Enrollment Benefits

1. Students can use the ASEEDER Scholarship in this program, for more information please visit: https://www.seedasdan.org/scholarship/；
2. Students who have participated in the ASEEDER Talent Development and Purdue University GER²I Youth Programs are eligible to register for this program without assessment and with the "ASEEDER Benefits".
3. The above "ASEEDER Scholarship" and "ASEEDER Benefits" can be used in combination.

Application Information

Global Availability: Limited to 16 students worldwide per course
Date: July 24 - August 1, 2026
Fee:
Includes:
Application fee, tuition, certificate and report fee, single bed in a twin hotel room, breakfasts, extracurricular activities, Lunch during the course time(5 days), learning materials,extracurricular activities, ASEEDER group leader service fee, airport transfer fees (only for flights with the ASEEDER group), bus transportation during the program, insurance.
Excludes:
1. International transportation costs to and from the US (departure and arrival from Beijing/Shanghai/Shenzhen/Hong Kong, you can use a thirdparty service or ASEEDER's unified service); Please confirm with the consultant before purchasing tickets.
2. Visa Service Fee (optional): 3,000 RMB (ASEEDER Visa Worry-Free Guarantee Service: In the case of visa rejection, eligible applicants will either receive a full refund of the visa service fee or a complimentary re-application, and the full program fee will be fully refunded, ensuring no financial loss. )
3. Optional Meal Plan (Excluding weekday program lunches): Students may purchase a meal plan (details available from ASDAN staff) to dine with group leaders at designated restaurants near the hotel or city attractions. Students accompanied by guardians may dine independently.
*Please note: To ensure smooth travel arrangements, we strongly advise families to begin the visa application process promptly after enrollment.According to CTD's standard policy, a withdrawal request due to visa denial will incur a non-refundable administrative processing fee of USD $70 (about 500 rmb).
Meal Plan Fee:
Includes: 10 meals total – arrival day dinner, 5 dinners on program days, and 4 meals during Chicago excursions. Each meal is valued at approximately 25 USD. Students who purchase the meal plan will dine with group leaders at selected restaurants.
Parent Package Price:
Includes:
Single bed in a twin hotel room, breakfasts, extracurricular activities, ASEEDER group leader service fee, airport transfer fees (only for flights with the ASEEDER group), bus transportation during the program, insurance.
Excludes:
1. International transportation costs to and from the US (departure and arrival from Beijing/Shanghai/Shenzhen/Hong Kong, you can use a thirdparty service or ASEEDER's unified service); Please confirm with the consultant before purchasing tickets.
2. Visa Service Fee (optional): 3,000 RMB (ASEEDER Visa Worry-Free Guarantee Service: In the case of visa rejection, eligible applicants will either receive a full refund of the visa service fee or a complimentary re-application, and the full program fee will be fully refunded, ensuring no financial loss. )
3. Lunch and dinner fees. Students are expected to dine independently or with peers near the teaching facilities or the hotel. The average cost per meal is approximately USD 20-35.

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