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Design Camp Frequently Asked Questions

Do you offer financial assistance or scholarships?

Yes. Limited financial assistance and scholarships are available. Please see our Financial Assistance & Scholarships Page for more details.

Where does Design Camp take place?

All Design Camp activities are based at the College of Design at NC State University. High School Residential Camp participants are housed (double occupancy) in residence halls on campus.

How do I register for Design Camp?

Please visit our Design Camp Registration Policies page for all the information you will need on registering to attend Design Camp. This page is a great reference for the entire registration process, and we recommend reviewing it before you apply!

Who supervises the campers?

One of the best parts about Design Camp is our wonderful and energetic staff! Camp Counselors are all undergraduate and graduate students at the College of Design. They are the best possible ambassadors for their design disciplines and are eager to share their knowledge about design and applying to design colleges with camp participants. Our staff is carefully selected from a large pool of applicants to ensure the best possible camp experience for all of our participants.

Can campers drive themselves to camp?

We HIGHLY recommend that parents or guardians plan to drive their students to camp.

Parking for Day Camps is available, and while Design Camp will provide wayfinding maps for our drop-off and pick-up locations, families choosing to allow their student to drive and park on campus are FULLY responsible for the cost of daily parking and the logistics of locating the daily drop-off and meeting location for camp. For more information on costs and parking locations, please visit NC State’s Transportation – Visitor Parking website. 

Parking for Residential Camps is NOT available. Parking on NC State campus is very limited and not secured overnight, and students will not have access to, nor will they be able to check on their cars during camp.

Can I check my student out early from camp?

The program format requires that all campers participate fully during studio instruction, and all other activities scheduled throughout the program. Prior exposure to design is not required but the camp has a full and engaging schedule that builds on itself each day and requires daily attendance and mandatory participation. Therefore, it is HIGHLY recommended that parents and guardians avoid any circumstances (scheduling doctor’s appointments, family vacations, sport events, etc) which would require their student to be checked out early.

If a student MUST be checked out early from camp, we MUST have 24 hour notice via email (designlab_k12@ncsu.edu) so that we can ensure staff is available to assist a camper to the parking lot.

In the event of family emergencies, families will be provided with contact information to call Design Camp staff to request immediate pick-up of their student.

Can I make a roommate or group request for my student?

Please be advised, we DO NOT honor requests for students to be roommates or groupmates. We firmly believe that for the purposes of developing one’s design education and experience, and for the sake of other campers, it is beneficial for each student to be open to meeting new people and learning new things. For Residential Camps, please note not much time is actually spent in the dorms, as we schedule evening activities throughout the week, and students will be working in studios (under their counselors’ supervision) up to 10:00pm each evening, much like students studying design at the College level. We appreciate your understanding on this matter.

For Residential Camps, what should my student pack?

HERE is a sample packing list. Please note that linens (bed sheets, pillows, blankets, comforters, towels, etc) are NOT provided.

My student has dietary restrictions. What meal options are available?

Meal options will be available for a wide variety of dietary restrictions. Meals are provided by NC State University Dining, usually at Clark Dining Hall. To preview their dining options, you may visit their website: https://dining.ncsu.edu/location/clark/. You may also wish to review information provided by University Dining at: https://dining.ncsu.edu/nutrition/.

Students are allowed to bring their own snacks and are encouraged to bring a refillable water bottle to camp. 

For Residential Camps, any dietary restrictions or food allergies should be listed on the Medical Form in our registration system. 

Do you have any spots left? Should I go ahead and register?

If you want to go to Design Camp, it is best to go ahead and register as early as possible! Even if registration has been open for a while, it is worth submitting an application. If a camp of your choice is in waitlist status, you will not be charged the $100 deposit until we can offer a spot.

Do you offer programs for students during the school year?

Yes! We offer Weekend Workshops for high school students here at the Design Lab during the school year. Please visit our website for a menu of our programs.

To receive monthly updates on our programs, please sign up for our newsletter. We hope to see you at the Design Lab soon!

I have questions about the College of Design’s admissions process. Who should I contact?

For all questions regarding admissions and scheduling a tour at the College of Design, you need to contact the Student Services Office at design_admissions@ncsu.edu. College of Design undergraduate admissions information is also available here.