Term Dates:
Term 1: July 7 - 18
Term 2: August 18 - 29

Classes run Monday - Friday for a total of 10 sessions per term

For Summer 2025, we are pleased to offer the following classes:

• Creative Voices

• Private Lessons

• Collaborative Role-playing, Improvisation, Storytelling, and Problem Solving

• Film Studies

• University Preparation

Creative Voices

In order to explore their voices and their potential to communicate ideas clearly and powerfully, children require tools and practice. Creative Voices is designed to help developing minds connect ideas and feelings to the words they speak. Students will use their imagination in educational exercises, games and songs, to develop their strong, confident and creative voices.

All Summer Creative Voices classes are taught by Mr. Holmes with the help of an additional teacher (Ms. Akulenko, Ms. Cook, Ms. Konrad, or Ms. Sengotta). Please note the additional teacher may be subject to change.

Age: born in 2020, 2021, or 2022 (must be at least 3 years old on the first class)
Maximum Class Size: 10 students
Class Length: 50 minutes of instruction
Term Length: 10 sessions, Monday to Friday at same time each day
Class Format: In Person only
Tuition: $73 per class

PRIVATE CLASSeS

Private classes form the core of our program for one reason—they work. Our curriculum builds effective and confident communicators, using literature as source material to hone speaking and writing skills, develop critical thinking ability, and inspire students to be better people.

Collaborative Role-playing, Improvisation, Storytelling, and Problem Solving

Problem solving, improvisation, team work, creativity, critical thinking, empathy, verbal expression, imagination, storytelling ... There are an incredible range of skills that tabletop role-playing games develop and strengthen which are applicable to the classroom and beyond for university applications, in-person interviews, and video interview assessments. BASA is proud to announce the creation of its first ever Group Class where students will join together in a Dungeons and Dragons adventuring party with Mr. Wong as their game master. 

Over ten days, students will learn how to:

• Work together with fellow students to collaboratively tell an adventure story

• Exercise their creative problem solving and divergent thinking skills 

• Develop empathy and imagination through a character of their own creation

• Take responsible risks in improvised interactions and discussions

• Actively listen to others in a group setting and utilize team member's strengths to accomplish goals 

Space in this class will be limited and priority will be given to AmBASAdor volunteers and Faculty Assistant employees who have demonstrated a long-term commitment to the BASA community, initiative and attention to detail,  and the ability to work collaboratively in a safe and supportive manner with their fellow BASA volunteers and employees.

Film Studies - East Asian Representation in Hollywood Media

This Summer, BASA is pleased to announce that we are launching our first ever media studies course which will examine a brief history of East Asian representation in Hollywood films from the 1990's to now. For ten days, students will examine iconic movies through the past thirty years to understand how East Asians are portrayed in modern American and Canadian society by watching films, participating in a guided discussion, and writing a critical response. Additionally, the course will begin with a brief survey of Asian American and Asian Canadian history as well as an examination of the portrayals of East Asians leading up to the 1990's. 

Over ten days, students will learn how to:

• Use different lenses to to examine texts and media in their lives

• Create a thesis and defend it through evidence and observations

• Write an analytical essay incorporating multiple sources and texts 

• Watch and consume media in a more critical manner 

• Recognize different forms of racism and othering in texts and media, both past and present

Grades: 8-12 (in Sept 2025)
Class Length: 3 hours
Term Length: 10 sessions, Monday to Friday at same time each day
Class Format: In Person only
Tuition Rate: $100 per class
Class Time: Term 1: July 7 to 18, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM

University preparation

Whether you have your Early Decision school already picked out and Common App draft fully written or you're staring blankly at your course planning sheet for next year, this University Application Preparation Group Class will have something for you. Over the course of two weeks, BASA will provide students with an overview of the university application process, with emphasis on how to prepare during your time in high school. Topics covered will include:

• Deep dives into the American and Canadian university application systems

• In-depth examination of university essay topics (Common App, UBC Personal Profile etc.)

• In-depth examination of university supplemental essay topics

• Video interview tips and techniques (Sauder Video interview, Western Engineering CASPer etc.)

• Resources available to assist with the university application process

Depending on registration demographics, some students might be offered more bespoke alternatives (alternate group class times, private class options etc.)