Institute for Educational Advancement

Academy students are creating miniature worlds 🌎️

In our Miniature World Design course, students become world builders, creating detailed miniature environments from cardboard, natural materials, and found objects.

Projects range from houses and villages to Jurassic landscapes, fantasy realms, and game-inspired worlds. Students design structures, craft tiny details, and develop the story behind their world—all while practicing planning, spatial reasoning, and creative problem-solving.

Happy Juneteenth!

Today, we're celebrating the day slavery ended in the US and recognizing the injustices African Americans continue to face in the US.

We recommend taking some time today to learn more about and celebrate Juneteenth.

- Christie’s Jubilee: A Birthday and Juneteenth Tale by Jennifer NeToi
- Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle and illustrated by Alex Bostic
- Freedom Celebration: A Juneteenth Party by Angela Dalton
- The History of Juneteenth: A History Book for New Readers by Arlisha Norwood
- Juneteenth: A Children’s Story by Opal Lee, illustrated by Peter Viska

Academy is off to a great start!

Students have been busy learning, creating, and connecting during Session 1.

You may have noticed a different backdrop in our summer photos. Academy classes are taking place at Sequoyah High School this summer while we work with the City of Pasadena on obtaining some required approvals for our Learning Center. Most importantly, students are enjoying the same engaging classes and friendship opportunities that define the Academy experience in this space.

The goodbyes were bittersweet 🥲

We already miss the Yunasa West campers but are glad they made it home safe and sound over the weekend.

Huge thank you to for having us again this year, to all of our Staff, Counselors, and Fellows for all your hard work, and to the campers for making it an unforgettable experience.

We'll see some of you and more next month at Yunasa East!

After a day of outdoor adventures, campers keep the party going after dinner 🪩

Every year, we host a dance party and movie night in the evenings for campers to have fun and spend time with each other. This year, the dance party even made it outside!

Adventures at Yunasa West 🪨

Campers are enjoying every minute of camp, whether they're on rocks, water, or solid ground!

Many gifted students struggle with perfectionism. How do we overcome it?

In Alli Krug's Gifted Support Group called Bridge-Building: How to Advocate for Your Child, she also talked about how gifted youth can overcome perfectionism.

Based on Achievement Goal Theory, most people have one of two mindsets: Performance or Mastery.

Those with a Performance Mindset tend to orient their goals around:
- External standards
- External motivation
- Fear of failure
- Binary outcomes (good/bad or win/lose)
- Competition with others
- Focus on the outcome
- Reactivity over mistakes

Those with a Mastery Mindset tend to orient their goals around:
- Internal drive, standards
- Intrinsically rewarding experiences
- Satisfaction in the process
- Seeing progress as the reward
- Competence
- Focus on personal growth
- Learning from flaws & mistakes

Having a Mastery Orientation can help overcome perfectionism.

So, how do you develop a Mastery Orientation?

Try using A, B, and C goals:
- A Goal: My ideal goal
- B Goal: What I could accept
- C Goal: If neither of the above happens, what can I learn and apply for next time?

Learn more from Alli Krug in her two-part Gifted Support Group Series, now available on YouTube:
- Bridge-Building: Advocating for Your Gifted Child: https://youtu.be/kNh4s1Om6dw
- World-Building: Crafting a Family Habitat for Thriving Gifted/2e People: https://youtu.be/I_0LkqR-hQQ

Connect with Alli at www.TrainMyAim.com

The weather has been lovely in Colorado! ⛰️☀️

Campers are having a blast making new friends, catching up with camp besties, and spending time outdoors.