EPSA 2025 will be held June 9 through June 13 on the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus.聽
Theme: Philosophy and Creativity!聽
EPSA is an overnight camp for students who are curious about ethics and philosophy and who like to think deeply about important questions. Participants will discuss current issues and learn to support their positions with critical ethical thinking. Students will learn to start an Ethics Bowl team at their schools.
Attending EPSA is FREE for Arkansas students, and no prior study of philosophy or ethics required!
Rising 10th through 12th graders and homeschoolers are invited to apply by March 28 .
Potential students and their parents/guardians can contact Dr. Jana McAuliffe with any questions at [email protected].
Information about EPSA 2024
EPSA鈥檚 first annual session brought 23 high school students from around the state to the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock campus in June 2024 for five days of philosophical fun and community, at no cost to the participants!
This program 鈥� the only one of its kind in Arkansas 鈥攊nvited rising 10th through 12th graders who are curious about ethics and philosophy and who like to think deeply about important issues. Our inaugural theme was 鈥淓thics and Technology.鈥� EPSA classes included seminars that addressed philosophical topics and small-group activities focused on real-world ethical cases. Under the guidance of experienced college faculty and high school teachers, students considered a variety of philosophical concepts, encountered diverse points of view, developed skills in argument analysis and construction, and practiced civil discourse and disagreement on the ethical questions technology raises. Students worked with coaches in small teams, and at the end of the week they completed a small-scale Ethics Bowl.
In the evenings, students had time to unwind, watch films, and play games. They left EPSA with a deeper understanding of the topics covered, as well as the tools to start an Ethics Bowl Team or Philosophy Club at their own schools or in their communities.
Students who attended EPSA in 2024 said:
- 鈥淚鈥檓 now able to make decisions and think with multiple points of view in mind.鈥�
- 鈥淚 keep seeing things we talked about everywhere. I like how relevant the topic is to our daily lives.鈥�
- 鈥淓ven when I鈥檓 reading news articles, I find myself examining what values come to play in the issues mentioned, and what ethical concerns might be raised for both sides.鈥�
- 鈥淚 can鈥檛 stop thinking about how before I limited 鈥榯echnology鈥� to just electronics, but the camp really opened my eyes up to what can be considered technology.鈥�
- 鈥淚 made a lot of new friends! I鈥檓 sure we鈥檒l stay in touch.鈥�
Parents said their participating student:
- 鈥渟aid it was one of the best camps she鈥檚 attended鈥�
- 鈥渞eally liked getting to know more people, thinking deeply about new ideas, refining thinking skills, and the college experience鈥�
- 鈥渆njoyed being around like-minded students and enjoyed being in a cooperative environment鈥�
- 鈥渓oved the people and talks a lot about the issues that were discussed鈥�
- 鈥渓ove getting to know the faculty members鈥�
