The Luminary Project
The Luminary Project is a three-week residential program held on campus for mature rising 8th-12th graders. Students focus on one intensive course of study for six hours a day that is an equivalent to one full year of honors level high school content or one semester of college content. Courses typically involve content at a freshmen to junior level collegiate course. Many schools consider these courses for high school credit, although CBK cannot guarantee this transfer. As much as students think hard in the accelerated courses, they play hard in this deepened residential experience. Many students find that life-long friends are made during this program, and full community weekend activities and trips are part of an energetic, structured residence life program. Our students describe this program as “transformational.”
Luminary Students
Students entering grades 8-12 in fall 2022 or ages 13-17 (a student may not be 18 prior to the first day of the program)
Luminary Dates
Sunday, July 3 – Saturday, July 23, 2022 (including holiday)
Luminary Admission 2022 Scores
- Math/Science Admission
- SAT Math 540M
- ACT Math or Science 20
- Humanities Admission
- SAT Critical Reading 26 or EBRW 530
- ACT Reading or English 20
- or Portfolio Application
Luminary 2022 Courses:
Professional Photography: Before and After the Shutter Clicks (H)
Tricking a Rock Into Thinking: The Physics of Computing (M/S)
Androids, Aliens, and Atomic Engines: Reading and Writing Science Fiction (H/S)
Monsters in the Cosmos: Pushing the Boundaries of Modern Astrophysics (M/S)
Building Believable Physics in 2D Video Games: Simulation and Cohesive Design (M/S)
Adventures in Reality: Philosophy and Ethics in Our Tech World (H/S)
(denoted by (H)umanities, (M)ath, and/or (S)cience focus for eligibility)
Sadie on Finding a Sense of Self at CBK
Students will be housed in a traditional residence hall, which is locked at all times to outsiders. We are the only program in this building during the summer. Students live in wings of no more than 14 participants per Residential Assistant. Students live in nicely-sized rooms with two XL twin beds. The shared floor bathroom offers private showers.
Students will be assigned a roommate approximately the same age or they may make specific roommate requests—both students must request one another in their acceptance forms. Roommate requests cannot be guaranteed to be filled and roommates are not reassigned.
Residential Assistants are screened and selected for their ability to relate to students of this age and participate in a rigorous pre-program training that includes other campus personnel who are present throughout the program to ensure student safety.
Access to e-mail and phone calls will be available on a very limited basis only in order to prevent intensified homesickness. Students may not bring personal computers, cell phones, or any transmitting devices. Laundry is scheduled only twice during this program.
Students are required to live on campus and to participate in both the academic and residential life of the program. This may mean that students will miss sports practices or other extracurricular commitments at home. CBK is unable to accommodate competitions, performances, physical training regimens or lessons schedules. CBK operates as a closed campus and visitors are not allowed at any time during the program for student safety. Weekends are a critical part of the socio-emotional development of our community. The 4th of July is a program day with special events planned, but students do not go home.
Daily Schedule
Morning wing time and breakfast 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Morning Instruction 9:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Lunch 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Afternoon Instruction 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM
Afternoon Activities 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Evening Instruction 4:30 PM – 5:45 PM
Dinner 5:45 PM – 6:30 PM
Down Time 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Evening Activities 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM
Wing Meeting 9:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Quiet Time on Wings 9:30 PM – 10:30 PM
Lights Out 10:30 PM
Schedule and Activities
The schedule for this program is not as structured as younger students’ programs. We have a wide range of activities planned for afternoons and evenings for students to choose from as part of the community life of the program. However, in this program, students will have more unstructured time to schedule as they choose. Students are expected to adhere to the outlined schedule, regardless of how it may differ from life at home, for the safety and well-being of all students. Students are still held accountable for their whereabouts and personal responsibility at all times. Two full residential weekend programs and an off-campus trip are included.
During each activity period, residential staff offer a variety of options from which students choose to participate. From athletics to academics to fine arts, these opportunities give kids a chance to do something they love or try something new, and to take a well-deserved break from class. Activities are supervised and vary each day and each period. Due to the intensity of Luminary Project, down time is built in to the schedule.
Some activities are held in or near the residence hall, while others take place at the NIRSA award-winning CU Boulder Recreational Center, such as dance, yoga, weight- and cross-training, jogging, basketball, indoor soccer, and limited swimming or use of the climbing wall. Due to our proximity to the foothills, activities may also take place in the near vicinity at parks or on marked hiking paths into the mountains. CBK makes an effort every summer to attend a production at the Colorado Shakespeare Festival on campus.