The third major type of summer math camp focuses on problem solving. The Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program (MOSP or MOP) is the best of these, but it's the US math olympiad training camp; people qualify based on USAMO or USAJMO scores as opposed to applying.
As far as I know, the first non-MOP problem solving camp in the US was AwesomeMath, which started in 2006. Pretty quickly, others began popping up, and many have multiple locations. Students tend to be in middle school or the first couple of years of high school. The camps tend to split students up by level, and students in each level cover two subjects a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Lots of the camps have day camp as well as residential camps. I'll write only about the residential sites/formats here, but check the websites for day camp details.
Details about the various camps and the locations/dates for 2013 are below the fold.
AwesomeMath
AwesomeMath was started by Dr. Titu Andreescu. It's a three week long camp with the typical format -- a lecture and then problem solving session in the morning, and then a lecture and problem solving session on a different subject in the afternoon. The four main topics are combinatorics, number theory, geometry, and algebra, and each level of students focuses on two of the topics. In the evenings there are sometimes lectures about cool math topics, and there are usually sports, games, or other recreational activities. On Saturdays and Mondays there are weekend activities -- field trips and team problem solving competitions.
I went to AwesomeMath in its second year (2007), and it's changed a lot since then, but I spent a lot of time with the other people in my apartment -- girls about my same age. I was placed into a level by my contest scores and my preference of topics. They tried to keep each of the levels about the same size.
The website is www.awesomemath.org. In 2013, AwesomeMath will be at University of Texas Dallas from June 9 to June 26, Cornell from June 30 to July 20, and UC Santa Cruz from July 28 to August 17. The early and regular application deadlines have already passed, but the late deadline is in May. The application involves an admissions test and two letters of rec. Returning students just have to register; they don't have to apply.
Math Zoom
Math Zoom was started in 2007 or 2008 and is three weeks long. It has the same class format, but there's also an hour of supervised study in the evenings. Saturdays and Sundays are mostly recreational activities and field trips. At the California location, students have the option to go home on weekends if they are local or have family in the area.
Math Zoom has a different application process in that it's possible to automatically qualify by qualifying for AIME or doing well enough on the AMC 8, Mathcounts, or ARML. Returning campers are also automatically admitted. Other applicants have to submit an assessment test, a parent statement, and a recommendation letter. Math Zoom this year is being held at Yale from June 23 to July 13 and Cal State Fullerton from July 21 to August 10. The regular application deadline is April 22, and the late application deadline is in May. The website is http://www.mathzoom.org/camps/summer-camp.
Idea Math
Idea Math was started by Zuming Feng. There are seminar-style morning and afternoon math classes with computer science class in the evenings. There are more levels of courses than at the other problem solving camps; check the curriculum portion of the website for more details.
In 2013 Idea Math's residential campus will be Carnegie Mellon, and the camp will be held from July 3 to July 19. The application involves a personal statement and a recommendation letter. Returning students just have to register. The application deadline is in mid May. The website is here: http://ideamath.org/SummerPA.htm.
Note: Idea Math has day camp only locations in Boston and San Jose.
MathLinks
MathLinks was started by Valentin Vornicu, is relatively new, and has a slightly different format from the others. There are math classes in the morning and then seminars in the afternoon, followed by a group activity. There is optional study time along with recreational activities in the evening. Like at AwesomeMath, weekends are Sunday and Monday, and there are usually field trips.
In 2013 MathLinks will be at San Diego State from July 7 to July 27. There are at most 100 students. The application involves a description of mathematical background. The website is http://mathlinks.us/.
MathPath
MathPath focuses more on theoretical math, but they have some problem solving. I wrote more about it here.
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