Your Pre-Arrival Checklist
Your time at Duke Pre-College will be full of learning, engaging, exploring and more. But, there are a few things we need you to do before your time on campus starts. Make sure you've done all of these by their due dates to ensure a smooth transition into your program.
- Complete your CampDoc profile by May 30. You should have received an invitation to this via email. This profile holds all of your medical records and necessary paperwork to participate in the program.
- Submit your language assessment by May 30 (international students only).
- Activate your NetID. You should have received this in an email. The link expires after 72 hours. Please reach out to Pre-College for a new link and complete this process before your session begins.
- Arrange for transportation to and from Duke's campus. Students arriving by car must be accompanied by a guardian. No one, regardless of age, can arrive alone, or utilize rideshare. Students traveling alone via flight can utilize the Pre-College airport shuttle.
- Review the packing list.
If you have any questions about how to complete these tasks, please reach out to our Pre-College team at precollege@duke.edu.
A letter from your residential team
On behalf of the Pre-College Program’s Residential Team, we want to say welcome to Duke University. You are already aware of what your academic day will look like. On this page, we have included all the activities and experiences we have planned for your afternoons and evenings. The key part to any successful pre-college experience is INVOLVEMENT. Joining clubs, intramural sports, community service and leadership are all things college students experience over their time on campus. We hope you will enjoy all we have planned and we are so excited to greet you in just a few weeks. Best wishes and stay safe.
- Duke Pre-College Residential Team
Afternoon and weekend programming
RA Group Meetup
After classes each day, you will be directed by the academic staff to the quad where you will meet up and check in with your residential advisor. All residential students will be broken up into groups of 16 - 20 students with two residential advisors. Think of this RA as your “go to” person for questions or concerns. Your RA will join you as you go to afternoon service-learning or college connections courses.
Middle School Students - Community Service Generator
“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”
The act of community service can be profound. It gives you the power to create positive change. You should feel pride and accomplishment afterwards. But what if there are no service projects that really speak to you? In this curriculum, middle school students will get to design their own service projects to be implemented in their schools this fall.
Over these courses you will voice your opinion on the issues facing students today. We will help you articulate your “Why” statement, outlining to everyone why this is an important issue. You will form groups around your cause and be guided through the process of creating a mission statement, setting goals, creating a social media presence and more. We’ve enlisted the help of noted leadership facilitator, Chris Molina (https://forcollegeforlife.com/chris/) and lifelong educator and community service advocate, James A. Rode to lead you through the process with the assistance of the Duke Pre-College Residential Advisors.
High School - Leadership & College Connections
Leadership (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
In these classes students will explore ideas that are so important to life, but not always taught in schools. How do we listen and communicate with others effectively? What is resilience? How o do we deal with people who are not like us? Your facilitator for these courses will be noted leadership facilitator, Chris Molina. Check out his bio and story here: https://forcollegeforlife.com/chris/ .
College Connections (Tuesdays, Thursdays)
The idea of college is exciting, but the process can be complex. In these classes students will touch on different topics such as financial aid, the application process and more. Our goal is to give you a better understanding of college readiness.
Clubs & Activities
We have designed a variety of recreational activities for you to enjoy after dinner. These activities are led by our residential staff. When you arrive on campus for registration, you will fill out your preference forms for what activities your prefer. Note: There is a limited amount of space in each activity. To allow all students a chance at different activities, students will rotate among their top preferences. The residential staff will make every effort to create more space in popular activities.
Middle School Clubs/Activities
Dance/Theatre
Step into the spotlight this summer with our Dance/Theatre Club! This fun and energetic program invites middle schoolers of all experience levels to explore the performing arts through movement, acting, improvisation, and creative expression. Each session will include warm-ups, theatre games, dance routines, character-building activities, and short skit rehearsals. Students will build confidence, teamwork skills, and stage presence while discovering the joy of storytelling through performance. The program will end with a performance at the Talent Show to celebrate students' creativity and hard work!
Student Maximum 16
Crafting
Get creative this summer in our hands-on Crafting Club, designed especially for middle schoolers who love to make, build, and design! Each session offers a chance to explore a variety of fun unique crafts — from painting and collage to jewelry-making, DIY décor, paper crafts, and upcycled art. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced crafter, you'll learn new techniques, express your creativity, and take home your own unique creations. The Crafting Club encourages imagination, problem-solving, and a whole lot of fun in a supportive, social environment!
Student Maximum 16
Gaming
Get ready for a summer of excitement, strategy, and friendly competition in our Games & Gaming Club! Perfect for middle schoolers who love to play, think, and team up, this club features a mix of indoor games, board games, card games, and light outdoor challenges. Students will engage in everything from classic board games and creative group challenges to team-building activities and brain-teasing puzzles. With a focus on fun, cooperation, and critical thinking, this club offers the perfect blend of movement, strategy, and social connection. No video games—just real-world fun and face-to-face play!
Student Maximum 16
Pokemon Go!
Get ready to walk, explore, and catch ‘em all in our Pokémon GO Summer Adventure Club! This exciting outdoor activity combines the fun of the popular mobile game Pokémon GO with real-world movement, teamwork, and exploration. Students will team up to visit PokéStops, battle in gyms, complete challenges, and learn about local landmarks—all while practicing safe, respectful gameplay. Along the way, they'll build communication skills, learn map-reading and strategy, and enjoy screen time in an active, social way. Whether you're a Pokémon Master or just starting out, there's something for everyone in this fun-filled summer journey!
Student Maximum 16
Book Club
Explore new worlds, share ideas, and spark your imagination this summer in our Reading & Writing Club! Perfect for middle schoolers who love stories—or want to learn to enjoy them—this club combines fun reading adventures with creative writing activities. Each session will include group reading, book discussions, journaling, and writing short stories, poems, or even graphic novel scenes. Students will build confidence in their literacy skills, connect with peers over shared stories, and discover their own unique voice as writers. This is a supportive, low-pressure space where imagination leads the way!
Student Maximum 16
LEGO Club
Unlock your imagination brick by brick in our Summer LEGO® Builders Club! This hands-on program invites middle schoolers to explore design, engineering, and storytelling through creative LEGO® building challenges. From free builds and themed competitions to group projects and simple STEM-based tasks, students will practice critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving—all while having a blast. Whether you’re an experienced builder or just love to create, this club is the perfect place to build big ideas, make new friends, and bring your imagination to life!
Student Maximum 16
Sports
Get moving, get active, and have a blast this summer with our Middle School Sports Activities Program! Designed for all skill levels, this program offers a variety of team and individual sports to promote physical fitness, teamwork, and sportsmanship in a fun and supportive environment. Students will rotate through classic games like basketball, soccer, and kickball, as well as relay races, fitness challenges, and fun variations of traditional sports. Whether you're competitive or just want to stay active and make friends, there's something for everyone on the field and court!
High school Clubs/Activities
Music Rehearsal
For music students prepping for solo & ensemble, recitals, scholarship competitions or other performances. Practice rooms are made available to rehearse with a short master class at the end of the evening. Students will be able to collaborate with other students if desired. Students should bring their instruments and sheet music with them.
Student Maximum: 10
Yoga
Beginner Hatha and Vinyansa yoga classes for beginners. Learning breath work, yoga poses, and building strength in your daily practice. Students bring your yoga mat
Student Maximum: 20
Creative Writing Workshop
For students interested in storytelling, poetry, screenwriting, or personal essays. Each session will involve guided prompts, peer sharing, and mentorship on writing techniques. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to a collective anthology by the end of the program.
Student Maximum: 20
Intramural Soccer
Team Up and play! A great activity to play with 5v5 teams set up. Students will be supervised by an RA at all times.
Student Maximum: 20
Intramural Basketball
Students will be able to team up and play 5v5 pickup basketball games in both indoor and outdoor settings. Students will be supervised at all times by an RA.
Student Maximum: 20
Journalism and Media Club
For students interested in journalism, blogging, or media production. Students will learn the basics of reporting, interviewing, and editorial writing. Sessions will focus on crafting articles, conducting mock interviews, and producing a mini digital or print newsletter by the end of the program. Students should bring laptop/tablet
Student Maximum: 20
Study/Work Session
Are you taking summer classes or working with a private tutor? For students that are looking to spend some time studying for any subject, we'll take this time to allow you to get ahead!
Student Maximum: 20
Trivia!
A different theme each night! Break into groups of 4 or 5 and play the game. Topics for trivia vary from time to time, so feel free to give it a try! Prizes for the winner!
Student Maximum: 20
Game Night
Students can enjoy a variety of games at game night! Whether they're into card games, traditional board games, or other games, they'll find a fun game to play!
Student Maximum: 20
Each night will end with a large group social for students to relax and have fun. Each night is themed to make it more fun so be prepared for luaus, glow nights and cookie decorating to come your way. We understand that not all students enjoy large social environments, so we will also provide smaller spaces for games and quiet time. Students are also allowed to be in their dorm. All socials, lounges and dorms are monitored by residential advisors. On the weekend we have a few social events planned, but be prepared for the annual tradition Blue Devil Days! Your RA teams will compete in a series of indoor and outdoor events for a day of fun and celebration. Who will take home the Blue Devil Day crown?
We want you to get a taste of Durham while you are here. The amount of trips and the location will differ based on the length of your program. Here are our planned destinations.
Durham Farmers Market (HS Only) https://www.durhamfarmersmarket.com/
Every Saturday morning the Durham Farmers Market is alive with the sounds of music and the smells of fresh food. Come stroll through our vendors and pickup locally grown and produced food. Each weekend boasts a different set of musicians and artists for entertainment.
Note: Consider bringing spending money.
Durham Bulls Baseball Team
https://www.milb.com/durham
The Durham Bulls are a AAA minor league team with its stadium 10 minutes away from Duke University. This excursion will include dinner voucher, the game, and on Saturdays…fireworks!
Frankies Fun Park
https://frankies.com/
Frankies is an amazing night of fun including mini golf, arcade, go carts and more! This excursion will include a full dinner buffet and $35 fun card for students to use.
Bowlero Durham
https://www.bowlero.com/location/bowlero-durham
Bowlero is a Durham classic with lanes, dining and arcade space for all. This excursion includes full dinner buffet, bowling lanes for 2 hours and a $20.00 fun card for students to use in the arcade.
Travel to and from Duke
With the exception of participants flying as unaccompanied minors and those flying alone and arriving at Raleigh-Durham Airport and utilizing the Duke Pre-College shuttle, all participants must arrive and depart with a parent or guardian present. Staying alone overnight in a hotel before or after the program, walking to or from campus, or arriving via car or rideshare without a parent or guardian are all not permitted.
Participants have a required orientation at 7:00 p.m. ET on arrival day. Parents will be invited to a required virtual orientation prior to the start of the program. There will also be an optional parent presentation on arrival day immediately following check in.
Arrival
For minors arriving alone, all flight arrangements should be made into Raleigh/Durham International Airport. All flights must be scheduled to arrive before 5:00pm on your arrival day.
Students should check their phones immediately after landing. Our staff at the airport will make contact with them via text. Students should follow signs to baggage claim to meet up with our staff. They will be in their blue, Duke Pre-College t-shirts and can be identified by their nametags and signage. Students will remain in baggage claim with staff until our contracted airport shuttle arrives to take them to Duke University.
Duke Pre-College staff will be monitoring your student’s flight status from our on-site office. Only contact the office in cases of delay or cancellation.
Unaccompanied Minors - Parents will be contacted by email 1 week before their arrival day with the information needed to share with the airlines.
Parents are not permitted to ride the shuttle to campus.
Arrival day procedure
- Save this number to your cell phone: 910-477-4188. This is the number for our staff at the airport.
- Turn on your cell, or take it off airplane mode, when directed by a flight attendant and be on the lookout for a text message from Duke Pre-College Staff.
- Make sure you have all carry-on items and proceed directly to your terminal’s baggage claim area (see map on last page) to retrieve your luggage.
- A staff member wearing a blue Duke Pre-College shirt will be waiting in baggage claim to direct you to the shuttle.
- Terminal 1: Staff will be near Baggage Claim 3 and the Information Desk.
- Terminal 2: Staff will be between Baggage Claim 3 and 4, behind the Information Desk.
- Duke Pre-College staff members will guide you to our shuttle. The first shuttle will begin around 10:00 AM. Any students arriving before 10:00 AM should wait in the baggage claim area for our staff to arrive.
- If you cannot find a Duke Pre-College staff member, try not to panic! Call or text the Duke Pre-College staff member who sent you a welcome text. Do not arrange your own transportation to the university.
- Duke Pre-College staff members will be at the airport watching the arrival day boards and will see the delayed flight and new time of arrival. We will still pick you up if you arrive after 5::00 PM.
Missed or Cancelled Flights - If you miss a connecting flight or your flight is canceled, please call or text the Duke Pre-College Program On-Site Office with your name and new flight details.
Unaccompanied Minors - Parents will be contacted by email 1 week before their arrival day with the information needed to share with the airlines.
Special Note to Parents - Traveling to an unfamiliar airport can be nerve-racking both for the student and their parents. Please be assured that our staff will be searching for your child upon their arrival. If your child calls you and cannot locate our staff, please make sure they stay in Baggage Claim and follow the instructions above. Remind your child to call our Airport Team. Please do not call on their behalf as this will only delay the process of locating them. If a student calls or texts directly, we can help them navigate the airport and locate a staff member. We highly recommend students save this number into their cell phone before leaving home.
Departure
Shuttles to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU) will be scheduled from 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Students flying alone have to use the shuttle and must have a flight booked during or before 5 p.m.
Our staff will assist students with their luggage and get them to the appropriate terminal for check-in.
Departure day procedure
- Confirm your airport shuttle time. This will be assigned by the office. Typically we will coordinate 2-3 shuttle times for Departure Day. Shuttle lists will be distributed to each Resident Advisor and copies will be posted in each dorm.
- The morning of Departure Day all students will follow the same Check Out procedure. Once you are checked out of your room, you will leave your luggage in a designated storage location until morning activities are complete.
- Students should gather their things and be in the bus pickup location 15 minutes before their shuttle departs. On average, a student will leave campus 3-4 hours before their departure flight to allow time for traffic and getting through airport security.
- Be aware that shuttles are scheduled to run until 2:00pm. Parents were told to book flights between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, the plan being that our last shuttle would be at 2:00 PM to meet this time frame. Students with later flights may need to wait at the airport for their flight.
- If your flight is cancelled, don’t worry. In most cases, the airline will assign you to a later flight. If the airline is unable to find a flight on the same day, call the Duke Pre-College office. A staff member will pick you up at the airport and drive you back the following morning. Remember that you have a better chance of rescheduling a same-day flight if your original departure flight is earlier in the day.
Arrival
Those traveling by car should plan to arrive on campus before 1:00 p.m. ET on the first day (Sunday) of their program. Prior to the program start date, families will receive instructions on drop-off location, parking, and check-in. All participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian on arrival day and no participant, even if they are 16 or over, may arrive alone by car.
Departure
On departure day, we invite families to join their students for final presentations. After presentations are completed, students may be checked out by a parent or guardian. Students departing the program by car must be checked out by 12:00 p.m. ET.