ذكذكتسئµ

Science by the Sea Camp Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and the liberal arts

July 13 - 17 

Residential at ذكذكتسئµ 

Science by the Sea is a week-long summer program at ذكذكتسئµ in Santa Barbara that invites high school sophomores and juniors to explore physics and chemistry within a Christian community. Students will explore topics such as relativity, quantum physics, chemical reactions, celestial motion, and cosmology. Hands-on investigations will include measuring the speed of light, studying radioactive decay and cosmic rays, analyzing atomic spectra and chemical reactions, and observing the heavens with ذكذكتسئµâ€™s campus observatory. 

The camp is for

  • High school sophomores and juniors (rising juniors / seniors) who enjoy science and mathematics
  • Students considering further study in science, mathematics or related fields
  • Those eager to experience authentic, college-level science and mathematics
  • Students who are interested in how scientific discovery shapes — and is shaped by — philosophy, theology, and society 

What students will gain

  • Engagement with authentic, college-level science and mathematics
  • Direct mentorship from faculty engaged in research
  • Practice collaborating on experiments and communicating scientific results
  • Insight into the rigor and rewards of  majoring in science
  • Exposure to diverse career pathways in scientific and technical fields 

Residential

Participants will reside on the ذكذكتسئµ campus, where conversations will extend into meals, evening conversations, and informal mentoring from current students. 

Tuition

Tuition: $1,500. Includes immersive academic experiences, dorm housing, meals, supervised labs, and activities that strengthen college readiness.

We have some scholarships available. Please contact sciencecamp@westmont.edu for more information. 

How to Apply

Reserve your spot by submitting the $200 deposit through a secure online (the deposit will be subtracted from your tuition). 

In addition, please submit your application survey by filling out this , which gives us more information about you and your interests. 

Join our mailling list

Fill out this form to join our mailing list to stay up to date on important details like application procedure.  

Faculty & Staff

Dr. Ben Carlson
Ben Carlson, Ph.D.

Physics
Searches for new fundamental particles at the Large Hadron Collider and the architect of Science by the Sea. 

Stephanie Cowell
Stephanie Cowell, M.S.

Chemistry
Teaches general chemistry.

Jen Ito
Jennifer (Ito) Gee, Ph.D.

Physics
Science by the Sea co-lead and director of the ذكذكتسئµ Observatory

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Anna Aboud, Ph.D.

Mathematics
Pursues effective and efficient processes in mathematics, data science, and 
mathematics education. 

Steve Contakes 2025
Stephen Contakes, Ph.D.

Chemistry
Teaches chemistry and thinks about the interface of science and faith. 

Kyle Hansen Mathematics
Kyle Hansen, Ph.D.

Mathematics
Measures the geometric complexity of algebraic structures.

Bob Haring-Kaye
Robert Haring-Kaye, Ph.D.

Physics
Smashes atoms together at large-scale particle accelerator laboratories.

Sara Morrisset, Ph.D. Headshot 2024
Sara Morrisset, Ph.D.

History 
Sara conducts archaeological excavations on the Peruvian south coast. 

Araceli Espinoza, M.S.
Araceli Espinoza, M.S.

Staff
Director of Community and Campus Partnerships for Admissions. 

Lori Ann Banez
Lori Ann Baأ±ez

Staff
Director of Career Resource Center. 

Schedule (tentative)

Arrival day 

Explore astronomy, classical physics and philosophical perspectives 

Quantum physics, chemistry and a trip to the campus observatory 

Explore mathematics then take a trip to the beach

Explore data from the Large Hadron Collider, then work on team projects, such as measuring the speed of light.  

Discuss what you have learned, then prepare and practice your team presentation 

Morning: Student presentations with parents present (if able to attend) 

Afternoon: return home 

Logistics

Flying:
We encourage students to fly into the Santa Barbara Airport (SBA), as it is the closest airport to the ذكذكتسئµ campus. Science by the Sea staff are able to offer transportation to and from SBA and ذكذكتسئµ. The  offers service to the Santa Barbara area from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Staff are also able to offer transportation to and from the Santa Barbara Airbus stop at La Cumbre Plaza. If you anticipate needing transportation to and from SBA or the airbus stop, please be in touch with us. 

Driving:
To ذكذكتسئµ from Los Angeles
Take 101 North to the Olive Mill exit. Turn right onto Olive Mill Road. Turn left onto Hot Springs Road. Turn right onto Sycamore Canyon Road at the first stop sign and continue for 1.1 miles. Turn right onto Cold Springs Road at the second stop sign. Turn left into the first ذكذكتسئµ campus entrance and follow the signs to the parking area.

To ذكذكتسئµ from San Francisco:
Take 101 South to the Coast Village exit (on the left). Turn right onto Coast Village and take the second left on the roundabout onto Hot Springs Road. Turn left onto Sycamore Canyon at the first stop sign and continue for 1.1 miles. Turn right onto Cold Springs Road at the second stop sign. Turn left into the first ذكذكتسئµ campus entrance and follow the signs to the parking area. 

More information coming soon!

Who will supervise my son/daughter during the program?
Members of the staff will be present throughout the program. Trained undergraduate mentors will live in the residence hall with students and coordinate daily activities. ذكذكتسئµ's assistant director of residence life supervises the mentors and serves on-call for the duration of the program.

How do I get in touch with my son/daughter during the program?
We expect that you will check in with your son or daughter directly by email, cell phone, text and/or other remote means. In cases of emergency when you cannot reach your son or daughter directly, please contact resident director. 

Can I come visit during the program? 
We encourage you to use this brief period as a practice run for the “real thing,â€‌ when your son or daughter will begin navigating young adult life from a distance. We ask that you refrain from planning visits to campus while the program is in session. The exception is Saturday morning, where students will get to showcase their work! We applaud the decision each of your students has made to give a portion of their summer days to this endeavor. We also applaud each of you as parents/guardians for providing them with the tools, direction, and parenting necessary to guide them while they are away from home.

What will happen if my son or daughter becomes ill or is injured during the program?
Should your son or daughter become ill or injured, our staff will quickly the situation to determine whether it is necessary to seek medical treatment at the local emergency room or walk-in clinic. If transport is necessary, two members of our staff will accompany your son or daughter. Our staff will certainly be in touch with you in this event. Please ensure that your son or daughter brings a copy of his or her health insurance card. Fees for services will be the responsibility of the student and his or her parents.

What happens if my son or daughter contracts Covid during the program?
We will be closely monitoring student health throughout the program. In the case of a Covid exposure, we will provide tests on site and follow relevant quarantine protocol. In the case of a positive test result, the student can safely isolate in their room until the parent/guardian is able to pick them up. Our staff will certainly be in touch with you in this event. The parent/guardian of a student who tests positive for Covid is responsible for picking them up from campus as soon as possible.

What types of activities will my son/daughter participate in during Science by the Sea?
Activities both within and beyond the classroom may include hiking, kayaking, biking, paddle boarding, ice skating, roller skating, laser tag, or the like. Participants assume the risks associated with all program activities.

What are the behavioral expectations for participants in the Science by the Sea program?
We point you to the policies for the Trailhead camp, which will be very similar for Science by the Sea. Trailhead Student Handbook.

ذكذكتسئµ Residence Hall
As a Science by the Sea participant you will stay in one of the ذكذكتسئµ residence halls. 

Applications open: early March and are open on a rolling basis. 

Save your space by filling out the registration . 

More information coming! 

You should plan to arrive Sunday, July 12 and depart Saturday July 18. 

Students who have completed at least 2 years of high school by the summer of 2026 are eligible to apply and will enroll in at least one more year of high school. e.g., sophomores/juniors in the Spring 2026. Over the summer -- will be rising juniors and seniors. 

Yes! There are two other camps for High School students at ذكذكتسئµ over the summer. Check these out: 

June 13-18:
June 7-26 (3 weeklong options): Trailhead 

Have a question that is not answered here? Send an email inquiry to sciencecamp@westmont.edu and we will get back to you! 

Please send a message to sciencecamp@westmont.edu with the name and contact information of the student, and we will personally connect with them.