While THINK participants are closely supervised, they are ultimately responsible for their own behavior. Program staff and instructors work in partnership with students to uphold program policies with the shared goal of creating and maintaining a safe, healthy program environment. Students are assigned a program assistant, who will serve as their primary contact during the program. Program assistants live in the dorms alongside students, attend classes, and supervise activities.They are available to offer assistance and support during the program, as well as implement program policies.
We operate in conjunction with the University of Nevada, Reno which helps determine our program policies. Given the age of our THINK participants, the level of care and supervision appropriate for a “traditional” undergraduate student at the freshman level is not necessarily synonymous with what is appropriate for our program participants. It is imperative that THINKers be supervised with the intention of keeping them healthy and safe during their time at the University. While most students are able to easily consent the policies at THINK, other students who are accustomed to greater levels of independence may find these rules too restrictive (e.g. curfews; restricted technology use; direct supervision; campus boundaries). With the goal of every student having a positive and enriching experience at THINK, we encourage those who may find a structured program environment challenging to consider whether THINK is a good fit. We are happy to discuss any specific concerns or questions regarding these program policies in further detail prior to applying to the program.
All Davidson staff members are CPR and First Aid certified. We request health information and supporting required documents prior to the program, which is reviewed by our health supervisor. The health supervisor will follow-up with families as needed. On arrival day, the health supervisor will be on site to collect medications, answer questions, and to briefly meet each student. The health supervisor will remain on call throughout the program.
Additionally, students have access to the university's Student Health Center which is open on weekdays.
All medications will be turned into the health supervisor upon arrival. These include prescriptions and over-the-counter medicine such as vitamins, Advil, and allergy medication. Rescue medication, such as inhalers and EpiPens, may be kept by the student. Medications will be stored in a secure area and made available to the student per physician and/or package directions.
Prior to your arrival, we will connect with you on how you can contribute to health and safety before the program even begins. Each family will receive a copy of A Healthy Program Starts at Home in a spring newsletter (coming soon). Parents and participants will also review and agree to our Handbook (coming soon) which outlines communicable disease-related policies and practices.
Participants are required to submit a health physical, immunization records and health history information. This health information is reviewed by the health supervisor prior to the program and helps identify those who are at higher risk of certain communicable illnesses.
We currently follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health age-appropriate vaccination recommendations. Participants must provide a current record of completed immunizations as part of enrollment. Please refer to Nevada’s School Immunization Requirements for specific details.
We recognize that individuals have received vaccination waivers for various reasons. If a participant has not received one or more required vaccinations, they will need to submit exemption documentation to be reviewed by the health supervisor, who may follow-up for further details and clarification. If a vaccine-preventable disease or outbreak occurs in the participant’s local region at any point prior to the program, they may be required to not attend the program in order to protect both the participant and other program participants that may be at risk. If a vaccine-preventable disease or outbreak occurs in the Reno/Tahoe area, and the participant is not immunized for that illness, they may be dismissed immediately for their safety and the safety of others. Parents will need to make travel arrangements to have their child return home within 24 hours of notification. In either of the scenarios listed above, no refunds will be given for any program costs.
Upon arrival, a health screening will be conducted by the health supervisor for each participant and staff member. The health supervisor will determine if a person poses a health risk to the group, or if they have a concerning symptom(s). On a case-by-case basis, the health supervisor will determine what action needs to be taken, including not admitting the person into the program, closely monitoring the individual or isolating the person at the program until symptom free.
While participants are in our care, we remain diligent in reducing the risk of illnesses spreading. Each day, staff and participants will engage in several practices to keep our program community safe and clean, including the following:
Should a communicable disease occur, Davidson Summer Programs will implement our response plan. In this response, the health supervisor and staff work to identify the problem and isolate those with the confirmed or suspected communicable disease. Arrangements will be made for carry-out meals, delivered by program staff, if the health supervisor determines that an individual should be temporarily isolated.
Questions? Email Summer@davidsongifted.org or call (775) 852-3483 ext. 6
The following disclosure is provided pursuant to Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS) 598.1305:The Davidson Institute for Talent Development is a Nevada non-profit corporation which is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)3 tax-exempt private operating foundation. We are dedicated to supporting the intellectual and social development of profoundly gifted students age 18 and under through a variety of programs. Contributions are tax deductible. Profoundly gifted students are those who score in the 99.9th percentile on IQ and achievement tests. Read more about this population in this article.