The 2010 MIST Academy Summer Institute (MASI) is now accepting enrollment.  Click here for a PDF copy of our schedule, including information about all our MASI programs.


MASI is an enjoyable two week half-day summer camp designed for avid young learners grades 3-12.  Once again the Summer Institute will be held in Birmingham, Alabama.  For the first time we will also be holding four classes in Huntsville, Alabama. This year we made the decision not to run a boarding program so that our staff can focus entirely on providing the best possible program for MIST Academy students.

Each camp (with the exception of Math Explorers A which is a one week program) runs for 3 hours a day, 5 days a week, for two weeks. This year's programs include math camps for students entering grades 3-12, a robotics program for middle school students (TBA), and speech and debate programs for students entering grades 7-12 (excluding varsity speech and debate competitors). As with MASI 2009, we will add additional course offerings to our schedule if classes fill up (subject to instructor availability). Tuition for most courses is $600, though the Explorers A program tuition is $300 and tuition for each of the Robotics programs is $240.

Newcomers to the MIST Academy program should note that all MIST Academy students are already advanced students. This means that course work is already designed to challenge fast learners within these recommended age groups. Additional acceleration is usually not necessary and must be approved by an instructor.

Click each link below to learn more about our programs:



Math Explorers

The MIST Academy Math Explorers program is aimed at gifted elementary school students in grades three and above who enjoy math, logic, games, and puzzles.

In the Math Explorers program, students develop skills in enjoyable ways that they might not otherwise develop until long after they are already useful. Curriculum will aim students toward the fundamentals of algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, pattern hunting, probability, statistics, and topology.

The MIST Academy Math Explorers course is recommended for gifted math students entering grades 3, 4 and 5, but MIST Academy actually places students in classes by ability, not age or grade. Problems and lessons in this class will include some from the Math Olympiads (MOEMS) program.

  • Session II: Math Explorers C (primarily rising fifth graders) from 9 AM to noon Mon-Fri for two weeks: June 21-25 and June 28-July 2.
  • Session III: Math Explorers B (primarily rising fourth graders) from 9 AM to noon Mon-Fri for two weeks: July 5-9 and July 12-16.
  • Session IV: Maht Explorers A (primarily rising third graders) from 9 AM to noon Mon-Fri for one week: July 19-23.
Click here for a sample of the problems from the MIST Academy Math Explorers course.

Tuition for this two week program is $600 per student.  Tuition for the one week Explorers A program is $300. To enroll a student in this program, fill out a MIST Academy Registration form (if you have not already) and email or mail it to program director Mathew Crawford along with which course/section you are enrolling your student. Tuition checks can be mailed to the address listed here.


Introductory Problem Solving A

Of all the levels of mathematics taught at MIST Academy, the Introductory Problem Solving course is almost surely the most important. Covering the basics of algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, probability, and statistics, this class builds the foundation that almost every student of math, science, medicine, and technology will use down the road. This course gives students an excellent jump on the SAT and ACT. More importantly, it gives students a chance to dig deeper into the most useful concepts in mathematics.

The Introductory A Summer Program takes place during Session III from 9 AM to Noon Mon-Fri for two weeks: July 5-9 and 12-16.  Click here for the complete MASI schedule .

The Introductory A program will be taught by MIST Academy Executive Director Mathew Crawford and is for students who wish to begin building their foundation in basic algebra, counting methods, number theory, and geometry.

Click here for a sample of the problems from the MIST Academy Introductory Problem Solving course. (This sample covers all the Introductory classes. A more specific guide will replace this one soon.)

Tuition for this two week program is $600 per student. To enroll a student in this program, fill out a MIST Academy Registration form (if you have not already) and email or mail it to program director Mathew Crawford along with which course/section you are enrolling your student. Tuition checks can be mailed to the address listed here.


Introductory Problem Solving B

Of all the levels of mathematics taught at MIST Academy, the Introductory Problem Solving course is almost surely the most important. Covering the basics of algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, probability, and statistics, this class builds the foundation that almost every student of math, science, medicine, and technology will use down the road. This course gives students an excellent jump on the SAT and ACT. More importantly, it gives students a chance to dig deeper into the most useful concepts in mathematics.

The Introductory B Summer Program (Birmingham) will focus on basic algebra (Honors PreAlgebra) and will be taught by MIST Academy Executive Director Mathew Crawford and takes place during Session I from 9 AM to Noon Mon-Fri for two weeks: June 7-11 and 14-18. Click here for the complete MASI schedule.

The Introductory B Summer Program (Huntsville) will focus on basic algebra (Honors PreAlgebra) and will be taught by MIST Academy instructor Sergey Sarkisov at the UAH campus in room 105 of the Shelby Center. The course takes place during Session II from 9 AM to Noon Mon-Fri for two weeks: June 21-15 and June 28-July 2. Click here for the complete MASI schedule.

Click here for a sample of the problems from the MIST Academy Introductory Problem Solving course. (This sample covers all the Introductory classes. A more specific guide will replace this one soon.)

Tuition for this two week program is $600 per student. To enroll a student in this program, fill out a MIST Academy Registration form (if you have not already) and email or mail it to program director Mathew Crawford along with which course/section you are enrolling your student. Tuition checks can be mailed to the address listed here.


Introductory Problem Solving C

Of all the levels of mathematics taught at MIST Academy, the Introductory Problem Solving course is almost surely the most important. Covering the basics of algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, probability, and statistics, this class builds the foundation that almost every student of math, science, medicine, and technology will use down the road. This course gives students an excellent jump on the SAT and ACT. More importantly, it gives students a chance to dig deeper into the most useful concepts in mathematics.

The Introductory C (Birmingham) Summer Program will focus on algebra at an Honors Algebra I level and will be taught by MIST Academy Executive Director Mathew Crawford. This course takes place during either of two time slots:

  • Session II from 9 AM to noon Mon-Fri for two weeks: June 21-25 and June 28-July 2.
  • Session IV from 1 PM to 4 PM Mon-Fri for two weeks: July 19-23/26-30.
Click here for the complete MASI schedule .

The Introductory C (Huntsville) Summer Program will focus on algebra at an Honors Algebra I level and will be taught by MIST Academy instructor Sergey Sarkisov on the UAH campus in room 105 of the Shelby Center. This Intro C program will take place during Session I from 9 AM to noon Mon-Fri for two weeks: June 7-11 and 14-18. Click here for the complete MASI schedule .

Click here for a sample of the problems from the MIST Academy Introductory Problem Solving course. (This sample covers all the Introductory classes. A more specific guide will replace this one soon.)

Tuition for this two week program is $600 per student.  To enroll a student in this program, fill out a MIST Academy Registration form (if you have not already) and email or mail it to program director Mathew Crawford along with which course/section you are enrolling your student. Tuition checks can be mailed to the address listed here.


Intermediate A Honors Geometry

MIST Academy's Intermediate Problem Solving Summer Institute is aimed at students with a solid foundation in algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, probability, and statistics. From this foundation, the Intermediate Problem Solving class extends the depth of these topics, explores their intersections, develops creative problem solving principles, and helps students learn to write basic proofs.

The Intermediate Problem Solving course is listed for grades 7 through 10, but MIST Academy actually places students in classes by ability, not age or grade. The grade range has more to do with the competitions that make up some of the focus of this course. Problems and lessons are taken from many sources including the AMC 10, AMC 12, the Mandelbrot competition, Mu Alpha Theta, and even the AIME.

The Intermediate A (Birmingham) Summer Program will be taught by MIST Academy Executive Director Mathew Crawford and takes place during either of two time slots:

  • Session II from 2 PM to 5 PM Mon-Fri for two weeks: June 21-25 and June 28-July 2.
  • Session IV from 6 PM to 9 PM Mon-Fri for two weeks: July 19-23/26-30.

The Intermediate A (Huntsville) Summer Program will be taught by MIST Academy instructor Sergey sarkisov on the UAH campus in room 105 of the Shelby Center. This course takes place during Session IV from 9 AM to noon for two weeks: July 19-23 and July 26-30

Click here for the complete MASI schedule.

Click here for a sample of the problems from the MIST Academy Intermediate Problem Solving course.

Tuition for this two week program is $600 per student.  To enroll a student in this program, fill out a MIST Academy Registration form (if you have not already) and email or mail it to program director Mathew Crawford along with which course/section you are enrolling your student. Tuition checks can be mailed to the address listed here.

Intermediate B Complex #s and Algebraic Techniques

MIST Academy's Intermediate Problem Solving Summer Institute is aimed at students with a solid foundation in algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, probability, and statistics. From this foundation, the Intermediate Problem Solving class extends the depth of these topics, explores their intersections, develops creative problem solving principles, and helps students learn to write basic proofs.

The Intermediate Problem Solving course is listed for grades 7 through 10, but MIST Academy actually places students in classes by ability, not age or grade. The grade range has more to do with the competitions that make up some of the focus of this course. Problems and lessons are taken from many sources including the AMC 10, AMC 12, the Mandelbrot competition, ARML, and even the AIME.

The Intermediate B Summer Program covers algebraic techniques and complex numbers (including the geometry of complex numbers).

The Intermediate B (Birmingham) course instructor will be a co-author of the course text, Mathew Crawford, and takes place during Session III from 1 PM to 4 PM Mon-Fri for two weeks: July 5-9 and 12-16.

The Intermediate B (Huntsville) Summer Program will be taught by MIST Academy instructor Sergey sarkisov on the UAH campus in room 105 of the Shelby Center. This course takes place during Session III from 9 AM to noon for two weeks: July 5-9 and July 12-16

Click here for the complete MASI schedule.

Click here for a sample of the problems from the MIST Academy Intermediate Problem Solving course.

Tuition for this two week program is $600 per student.  To enroll a student in this program, fill out a MIST Academy Registration form (if you have not already) and email or mail it to program director Mathew Crawford along with which course/section you are enrolling your student. Tuition checks can be mailed to the address listed here.


Advanced Number Theory

MIST Academy's Advanced Problem Solving Summer Institute is aimed at students with well developed skills in algebra, counting techniques, geometry, number theory, probability, and statistics. From this foundation, the Advanced Problem Solving class takes a rigorous look at mathematics, developing new insights in parallel with proof writing skills.

The Advanced Problem Solving course is listed for grades 10 through 12, but MIST Academy actually places students in classes by ability, not age or grade. The grade range has more to do with the competitions that make up some of the focus of this course. Problems and lessons are taken from many sources including the AMC 10, AMC 12, the Mandelbrot competition, Mu Alpha Theta, the AIME, and math olympiads from around the world.

The Advanced Summer Program will be taught by Mathew Crawford and takes place during Session I from 2 PM to 5 PM Mon-Fri for two weeks: June 7-11 and 14-18. Click here for the complete MASI schedule.

Click here for a sample of the problems from the MIST Academy Intermediate Problem Solving course .

Tuition for this two week program is $600 per student.  To enroll a student in this program, fill out a MIST Academy Registration form (if you have not already) and email or mail it to program director Mathew Crawford along with which course/section you are enrolling your student. Tuition checks can be mailed to the address listed here.


Speech and Debate Camps

MIST Academy's Speech and Debate Institute is currently being planned by MIST Academy Director of Speech and Debate Brandon Yates.  Click here for the complete MASI schedule.  These classes are primarily geared toward students in grades 6-10, but may be suitable for others. Each student interested in enrolling in one of these Argumentation/Debate courses for the first time is asked to interview with us and give a short presentation outlined here.

  • Introduction to Public Forum and Model Congress/UN -- Available only if demand warrants.  This class is suitable for rising freshmen and sophomores.
  • Novice Policy Debate -- Available only if demand warrants.  This class is suitable for rising freshmen and sophomores.
  • Introduction to Argumentation -- Session IV (9 AM to noon) July 19-23/26-30.  This class is suitable for rising 7th and 8th graders.
  • Novice Lincoln-Douglas Debate -- Available only if demand warrants.  This class is suitable for rising freshmen and sophomores.

Lego Robotics Camp

The MIST Academy Lego Robotics Camp is an exciting hands on program that guides students through basic principles of engineering, physics, and computer programming in a team-oriented environment.

The instructor for this course is a dedicated parent volunteer who has taught Robotics classes at MIST Academy for a year now.  This year we plan to host two Robotics courses: Robotics I (beginners) and Robotics II (next steps). Due to the generous donation of time by the instructor, tuition for each of these courses will be only $240 per student.

  • Robotics I (beginners) -- July 5-9/12-16 (Mon-Fri) from 1 PM to 4 PM daily. 
  • Robotics II (next steps) -- June 21-25/June 28-July 2 (Mon-Fri) from 1 PM to 4 PM daily. 
Click here for the complete MASI schedule.  This program is geared toward students entering grades 6-10.