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Your Adventure Begins This Summer

July 13 – August 1, 2025

Ready for an unforgettable summer? At Beacon's Summer for Success, you won’t just learn—you’ll level up! Spend three weeks living on a college campus, exploring new interests, and building the confidence and skills to take on your future.

Whether you’re mapping out your college game plan or just looking for a summer that’s fun, challenging, and different, this is your chance to discover how you learn best, tackle new challenges, and make lasting friendships along the way.

If you're a high school student who learns differently, this program is designed to help you build independence, understand your strengths, and get the tools you need to succeed in high school and college—all while having an incredible summer.

Choose your own adventure! We have three exciting track options to help you explore what excites you while building the confidence, skills, and independence to take on your future.

  • Discover new passions, tackle creative challenges, and get a taste of different fields in our Exploration Track
  • Uncover the magic of Disney in our Imagination Track
  • Explore the world of storytelling, entertainment, and hospitality in the Illumination Track

No matter which you choose, you’ll make unforgettable memories, connect with new friends from across the country, and gain real-world skills that set you up for success—all while having the best summer ever.

Group of students sitting on the grass lawn in front of a Beacon residential building

College is for discovering new interests and building confidence in your strengths—and that’s exactly what the Exploration Track is all about!

Choose from 24 unique hands-on, interactive courses designed to spark curiosity and challenge you in exciting ways. From psychology to digital media, creative writing to zoology, gaming to business—no matter what subjects you choose, you’ll discover new talents, gain confidence in your learning style, and leave with a better sense of where your future could take you.

Explore All Course Options
Group of students posing for group photo in front of Cinderella's Castle in Disney World.

Ever wondered how Disney became the global leader in entertainment, theme parks, and storytelling? The Imagination Track takes you behind the scenes to explore the history, business, and creativity that make Disney so iconic!

This track combines hands-on learning with unforgettable experiences, helping you see theme parks and entertainment in a whole new way. Whether you’re a Disney fan, an aspiring storyteller, or just curious about the magic behind the magic, this is your chance to explore, learn, and be inspired!

Group of students posing for group photo in front of a Dawn of Life Disney mural

Orlando is home to world-famous attractions—but what makes them so successful? The Illumination Track takes a deep dive into tourism, hospitality, and the psychology behind entertainment, from Disney and Universal to themed dining and live shows. In this track, you’ll visit major attractions, hear from industry pros, and discover career paths in hospitality and event planning.

Beyond the parks, you’ll enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, guest speakers, and immersive activities designed to help you understand why millions flock to Orlando every year—and what it takes to create experiences that leave a lasting impact!

2025 Track Options

Choose your own adventure! We have three exciting track options to help you explore what excites you while building the confidence, skills, and independence to take on your future.

  • Discover new passions, tackle creative challenges, and get a taste of different fields in our Exploration Track
  • Uncover the magic of Disney in our Imagination Track
  • Explore the world of storytelling, entertainment, and hospitality in the Illumination Track

No matter which you choose, you’ll make unforgettable memories, connect with new friends from across the country, and gain real-world skills that set you up for success—all while having the best summer ever.

Exploration Track: Try Something New, Find What You Love

College is for discovering new interests and building confidence in your strengths—and that’s exactly what the Exploration Track is all about!

Choose from 24 unique hands-on, interactive courses designed to spark curiosity and challenge you in exciting ways. From psychology to digital media, creative writing to zoology, gaming to business—no matter what subjects you choose, you’ll discover new talents, gain confidence in your learning style, and leave with a better sense of where your future could take you.

Explore All Course Options

Imagination Track: The Magic of Disney, Brought to Life

Ever wondered how Disney became the global leader in entertainment, theme parks, and storytelling? The Imagination Track takes you behind the scenes to explore the history, business, and creativity that make Disney so iconic!

This track combines hands-on learning with unforgettable experiences, helping you see theme parks and entertainment in a whole new way. Whether you’re a Disney fan, an aspiring storyteller, or just curious about the magic behind the magic, this is your chance to explore, learn, and be inspired!

Illumination Track: The Science Behind the Spectacle

Orlando is home to world-famous attractions—but what makes them so successful? The Illumination Track takes a deep dive into tourism, hospitality, and the psychology behind entertainment, from Disney and Universal to themed dining and live shows. In this track, you’ll visit major attractions, hear from industry pros, and discover career paths in hospitality and event planning.

Beyond the parks, you’ll enjoy behind-the-scenes tours, guest speakers, and immersive activities designed to help you understand why millions flock to Orlando every year—and what it takes to create experiences that leave a lasting impact!

Featuring Three Anthrozoology Course Options in 2025!

Do you have a special bond with animals? Explore animal husbandry and welfare science in Caring for Animals. Or take your passion into the field observing local wildlife in our Wildlife and Field Conservation course. Or grab your zookeeper hat for an adventure through the fascinating realms of animal development, evolution, and classification in our Zoology class. (Please note: students can only enroll in one anthrozoology Summer for Success course per summer.)

All Exploration Track Courses

Explore Further

Want to learn more about the Summer for Success? Here you can explore a few short videos about the program, including insights from past students, parents, and staff.

Comparing the Three Track Options

Not sure if you prefer Exploration, Imagination or Illumination? This brief video provides an overview of the three Summer for Success options.

Hear from a Summer for Success Student

What’s it like to be a Summer for Success student? In this brief video, hear from Ella (SFS’23) on what the courses, faculty and environment are like at Beacon!

Building Social Skills and Independence

Hear from Abbey, Summer for Success instructor, on her favorite thing about the program: how students build confidence and independence in preparation for college life.

Download the Brochure

For more information or to share this program with your family or students, you can access, print, or download a digital flipbook version of our current brochure.

Read Now

Scholarships

Scholarships are available for accepted students with demonstrated need and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. To apply, complete and return the scholarship application form below.

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How to Apply

Student Eligibility

To be eligible for the Summer for Success, you must be a current high school freshman, sophomore, junior or senior in the 2024–25 academic year and have a diagnosed learning disability such as dyslexia, ADHD, or a related condition.

Complete Your Online Application

To apply, please create a Beacon College online application account via the link below. Once you have completed the sign up form, you will receive an email to activate your account and create your password. You can then “Start a New Application,” and enter your anticipated high school graduation year to view the Beacon College programs you are eligible for and select the Summer for Success.

Begin Application

Submit Required Documents

In order to process your application, we will require:

  • Your high school transcript(s)
  • Two completed summer program reference forms
  • Proof of a learning disability (IEP, 504 plan, psychoeducational evaluation, or related documentation)

These can be uploaded through our online application system, emailed directly to admissions@beaconcollege.edu or emailed to your admissions counselor.

Complete a Family Interview

A family interview is also required to consider your application for admission. Upon receipt of your application documents, our Center for College Readiness staff will contact you to schedule your family interview.

More Information

The Summer for Success is our most popular program and fills up quickly each year. We encourage you to explore your summer options early and connect with our team if you have questions! We also offer live virtual information sessions regularly throughout the academic year where you can learn more and ask questions. Click the link below to sign up for an upcoming information session or to watch the most recent session recording.

Information Session

Learn More About Summer for Success

Do you have a question? Get in touch with the Center for College Readiness at summerprogram@beaconcollege.edu, or call 855-220-5376 (toll-free).