HISTORY AND MISSION OF THE ORGANIZATION
The mission of Austin Diocesan Educational Enrichment Program (DEEP) is to provide a fulfilling enrichment experience to Catholic school students who qualify. Each year the summer camp serves the gifted students who attended prior DEEP summer programs along with others from Austin area Catholic schools who meet the qualifications. Students are presently enrolled in grades 3-5 when they are selected. The Diocese of Austin and the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, Dr. Ned Vanders, have provided encouragement from the beginning of the project and support the changes being made to bring about new growth.
In 2008, DEEP had its inaugural year as a two-week camp for talented and gifted students in grades 3-5. Seventy-five to eighty students participated in the first year of the program. The summer camp was designed after the DeBusk Enrichment Center for Academically Talented Scholars (DECATS) program that was established by the DeBusk Foundation located in the Dallas area. The DeBusk Foundation continues to offer grant monies to the Austin DEEP program to assist in managing the financial costs of the camp.
In 2009 the Austin DEEP program added another grade level (grade 6) to increase the number of students able to participate. The program provided enrichment through new experiences and challenges utilizing multiple intelligences. Scholars were chosen from the seven Catholic elementary schools located in Austin, Texas. Students were recommended by the staff at their schools on the basis of percentile scores from the formal testing done by the schools.
In 2010 DEEP returned to serving students of grades 3-5 because it was felt that the age group was too wide to properly serve the students. This step returned the program’s attendance to the same total as in 2008. To increase the number of participants, three additional Austin area Catholic schools were invited. This was a positive step for the program and for the students attending the camp.
Austin DEEP 2011 was redesigned as a three-week program so a deeper concentration of learning could be experienced by the students. More content was added to the courses and more activities, using the students’ multiple intelligences, were used by the staff. The parents welcomed the change as there were 142 students enrolled in the camp. It was a great turn-out for the initial three-week camp!
For more Information contact:
Keith A. Youngpeter
Director, Austin DEEP 2012
P. O. Box 1563
Georgetown, Texas 78627
Phone 512-246-4455
Fax 512-246-4454
Forms and Other Information
2012 Austin DEEP Application Timeline
2012 Parent Orientation Meeting and Camp Schedule
Austin DEEP Course Descriptions
Austin DEEP Student Emergency Care and Contract Forms
Holy Family Catholic School Site Map
