Three immersive programs. One powerful goal: help students become capable, creative, and confident.

DIGIVATIONS blends story, nature, sound, design, and leadership into an experience that feels like adventure—but delivers real growth.





Intentional Programs Designed to Foster Healthy Mindsets:  Empowerment, Confidence Building.

DIGIVATIONS COMMUNITIES Pre-Collegiate Summer Academy
(Residential & Commuter, ages 13-18, July 12–August 1, pick one, two or three week sessions)
Design the magic. Test reality. Build work that matters.
Older students take on deeper projects—SoundQuest, systems thinking, design, ethics, and leadership—with mentorship, feedback, and presentations that help them grow into real-world creators.  DIGIVATIONS COMMUNITIES are where imagination becomes real. Students design systems, build working prototypes, and demonstrate their work to world-class faculty and industry leaders.

​This is the “level up” experience:

Live 150 yards from the campus at Cornell University at DIGIVATIONS House,.  A camp and academy fusions where literary and media themes bring STEM, ARTS & Humanities (ancient civilizations through classics) to life incorporating live action role-playing (larping), theatrical combat, world building (AI through metaverses), design thinking and hands-on creating, making and prototyping serve as the key vehicle for students to build their college app portfolios. 

Interactive multidisciplinary seminars  (not for credit) taught by  international faculty/Nobel Laureate, industry experts and graduate students with visits to Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art; Cornell’s High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS); Cornell’s Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility; Laboratory of Orinthology, the Dairy Bar, and the Botanical Gardens. Students actively engage with such faculty and industry experts through meaningful and robust question and answer sessions and conceptual framework analysis and hands-on activities. 

Innovation classes taught by Co-Founder Dr. Steven Berman focus on the regenerative impact of emerging technologies, as well as the attributes of humanity which engage collaboration through creative, intellectual and sensory qualities to solve local and global challenges.

Hands-on projects empower youth to solve quests, create future unicorn prototypes & art, write short stories, plays, musical & theatrical performances based around the UN 17 Sustainable Development Goals and their 169 targets.

Project presentations and performances are evaluated by faculty, and Certificate of Completion.

Students still have Houses and quests—but now they step into roles, stewardship, and responsibility.
Best for: teens ready for serious creation, responsibility, and a portfolio of real work.
[Request Info] [Apply Now]

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Why parents choose DIGIVATIONS

​Students come home braver, more socially confident, and more motivated—because they’ve been taken seriously and challenged well.
DIGIVATIONS XGENS 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals Institute & Model UN Academy 
(Residential and Commuter ages 13-17, July 26-Aug 1, 2026)
Immersion in design thinking, arts & humanities, diplomacy, STEM & technology policy lead to innovation & leadership enabling real world solutions to the SDG’s 169 targets & themes: ECONOMIC, FOOD & WATER SECURITY; ENVIRONMENTALISM; SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE;  FUTURE OF WORK IN AN AI WORLD; & SOCIAL JUSTICE.

[Request Info] [Apply Now]
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DIGIVATIONS CAMP DEMIGOD INSTITUTE
(Residential and Commuter, Ages 10–13) July 5–11

This is the program built on DIGIVATIONS’ legacy of story-based immersion—rooted in the spirit of the world’s first overnight Camp Half-Blood, alongside the creative DNA of Harry Potter Camps and Camp Fandom.  It is a world you step into & BELONG. Students join Houses, go on quests, and learn through play, movement, sound, and story—surrounded by forests, gorges, clock tower bells, and open skies. 

What your child will actually do:

Camp days are active, collaborative, and deeply structured (even when it feels like magic): DIGIVATIONS@Cornell is a camp and academy fusion where literary and media themes incorporating live action role playing (LARPING) serve as the key vehicle for students through which they learn from international faculty/Nobel Laureate, industry experts and graduate students with visits to Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art; Cornell’s High Energy Synchrotron Source (CHESS); Cornell’s Spacecraft Planetary Image Facility; Laboratory of Orinthology, the Dairy Bar, and the Botanical Gardens. Strategy games where teamwork beats speed; Theatrical combat where balance, ethics, and consent matter; SoundQuest listening walks (turning the environment into creative material); Creative studios where stories and music respond to choices; Nature is not “scenery”—it’s part of how students learn: Water teaches patience. Stone teaches time. Wind teaches adaptation. 

What parents notice by the end:

Students return: Braver and more socially confident; More curious—and more willing to try hard things; With confidence rooted in earned competence (not hype); Best fit for: imaginative students who thrive with story, movement, teamwork, creativity, & hands-on challenge.

[Request Info] [Apply]

XGENS Model United Nations is an educational and academic simulation of diplomatic decision making.  One week Session July 26-Aug 1, 2026

Learn about the UN, MUN and the Vienna Formula. Immersion in critical and design thinking, arts & humanities, diplomacy, advocacy, research, writing, STEM & TECHNOLOGY policy lead to innovation & leadership enabling real world solutions to the SDG’s 169 targets & themes.

Successful Participation may join our Model UN Delegation to travel to various international conferences.  
Jacob Lehman (right), DIGIVATIONS Theatrical Combat Instructor and Fight Choreographer. Learn more
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​Linus Haertjens Belgian Artist
Linus Haertjens is a Belgian artist whose work is rooted in curiosity, community, and socially engaged creativity. He has described his artistic practice as one shaped by new experiences, encounters with people, and a deep respect for alternative education—interests that also inform his work with young people.
At DIGIVATIONS, Linus brings an international artist’s perspective to workshops that connect visual art, imagination, and cultural exploration. His work in public and collaborative art helps students see how creativity can be both personal and communal, transforming ideas into images, environments, and shared experiences.
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William “Colby” Beserra, Associate Director of Board Games and Dungeon Master, is a senior in the Creative Writing department at the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, located in Houston, Texas. He has been with DIGIVATIONS since he was 11 years old, and has loved every second of it. Colby enjoys writing strange poems and fiction pieces, as well as the occasional confusing short play. His hobbies include playing Dungeons and Dragons with his friends, binge watching TV shows with his family, listening to Sammy Rae and the Friends, and making terrible jokes.

🚀 Introducing SoundQuest Studio: Where Young Composers Become Changemakers

We are excited to introduce SoundQuest Studio—a new creative platform where music, imagination, science, and storytelling come together.
Founded and led by award-winning composer and DIGIVATIONS Co-Founder Anne Deane Berman, PhD, SoundQuest Studio is more than a music program. It is a place where young people ages 9–17 use sound to explore ideas, systems, and stories—and, in the process, discover who they are and what they can create.
Through composition, listening, and world-building, students learn to think creatively, work collaboratively, and hear the world with greater clarity.
 Learn more.

Directors:

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Co-Founders Anne Deane Berman, PhD and Dr. Steven Lee Berman on the Cornell University campus, Ezra Cornell Statue
What is DIGIVATIONS?
DIGIVATIONS is a nonprofit education organization dedicated to innovation, creativity, and leadership through immersive learning experiences that integrate:
  • STEM
  • Arts & Humanities
  • Story, Sound, and Systems Design
  • Kinesthetic learning (including swordplay, Capture the Flag, and live-action role play)
Our programs are built on the belief that learning is deepest when students are active participants—moving, designing, listening, collaborating, and solving real problems together.
DIGIVATIONS operates summer camps, academies, institutes, and professional communities that combine NASA-inspired learning, storytelling, ethics, and leadership development.
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Our Legacy

Founded in 1998, DIGIVATIONS Institute has empowered thousands of students, educators, and professionals worldwide.
Founded by Anne Deane Berman, PhD and Dr. Steven Lee Berman, former UCSB and UCLA professors, DIGIVATIONS has been recognized with NASA awards for its pioneering STEM + Arts + Humanities + Kinesthetic educational models.



Our Founders’ Impact

Dr. Anne Deane Berman is an internationally recognized composer and educator whose work centers sound, story, and human systems.
Dr. Steven Lee Berman is an engineer, attorney, and technology entrepreneur whose work has generated over $300 million in research funding for the state of California and helped launch major international initiatives, including the California–Canada Strategic Innovation Partnership.
Together, they have spent their lives bridging academia, industry, creativity, and public good.


Empowering the Next GenerationThrough programs including:

DIGIVATIONS COMMUNITIES: Connecting students, educators, professionals, and organizations across disciplines who might not otherwise meet.These communities focus on:
  • Innovation pipeline development
  • Cross-sector collaboration
  • Mentorship and business development
  • Learning environments where ideas become action
  • The goal is not networking for its own sake—but meaningful collaboration that creates opportunity.
  • Summer Camps and Pre-Collegiate Academies
  • The world’s first overnight Camp Half-Blood
  • Harry Potter Camps
  • Camp Fandom
  • SoundQuest Studios
  • XGENS Model UN
  • Professional Development

DIGIVATIONS has served over 5,000 students, helping them:
  • discover confidence and purpose
  • earn scholarships
  • secure internships
  • launch meaningful academic and professional paths

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NASA Award Winning Curriculum
Our Curriculum: Designed to Grow With Your Child

​At DIGIVATIONS, curriculum is not a fixed set of classes. It is a developmental pathway—one that evolves as students mature, gain confidence, and take on greater responsibility.
From ages 10 through 17, students return to familiar tools—story, sound, systems, collaboration, and design—but use them in increasingly sophisticated ways. Each stage builds naturally on the last.

Ages 10–11: Belonging, Curiosity, and ConfidenceFor younger students, the curriculum is built around story, play, and movement.
At this age, children learn best when they feel:
  • safe
  • seen
  • included
Students join Houses or Cabins, participate in quests, and learn through games, listening, role play, and hands-on challenges. Academic ideas are introduced through experience, not lectures.
What changes for your child:
  • They gain confidence speaking up and working in groups
  • They learn to try unfamiliar things without fear of failure
  • They begin to see learning as something active and enjoyable
The focus is belonging first, skill-building second.

Ages 12–13: Skill, Agency, and CollaborationAs students grow, the curriculum shifts toward intentional skill development and shared responsibility.
Students still work within stories and immersive worlds—but now they:
  • make choices that affect outcomes
  • take responsibility for team success
  • begin connecting creativity to real-world ideas
They explore SoundQuest, design challenges, strategy games, creative studios, and interdisciplinary projects that blend STEM, arts, humanities, and ethics.
What changes for your child:
  • They learn how their actions affect others
  • They develop persistence and focus
  • They begin articulating ideas, not just participating
This stage is about learning how to contribute.

Ages 14–17: Leadership, Systems, and Real-World ApplicationOlder students move into DIGIVATIONS COMMUNITIES academy-level work focused on leadership, systems thinking, and meaningful output.
They design projects, conduct research, participate in simulations (such as Model UN), and present their work to peers and faculty. Mentorship becomes more individualized, and expectations increase.
Students are asked not just what they think—but why, for whom, and with what consequences.
What changes for your teen:
  • They take ownership of their work
  • They learn to defend ideas thoughtfully and ethically
  • They begin building portfolios and pathways toward college and future careers
This stage emphasizes judgment, responsibility, and purpose.

The Throughline: Who Students BecomeAcross all ages, the DIGIVATIONS curriculum develops:
  • Confidence rooted in competence
  • Creativity paired with discipline
  • Collaboration grounded in empathy
  • A sense of purpose and responsibility
Students don’t just accumulate skills. They learn how to think, how to work with others, and how their interests can matter in the world.
That growth—year after year—is the heart of DIGIVATIONS.

What Parents are Saying:

"My son Colby adores DIGIVATIONS, and I do, too! Steve and Anne Berman are brilliant, heart led scholar/teacher/mentors who know how to engage and challenge children to grow and learn and take responsibility for creating a better, stronger, kinder world. It’s nothing short of life changing."  
​- Annie Arnoult, parent (2018-2024)

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"Just wanted to share our experience with DIGIVATIONS as our son was able to join for the January Yale Model UN session.  Patrick did not have previous MUN experience but had always wanted to attend.  Anne, Steve and Jacob were so supportive and able to prepare him in a short time.  Their insights, deep experience, and valued connections created a great learning experience.  Patrick learned valuable lessons on communication and teamwork.  Additionally, he made connections and friends across the US and globe.  We are very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with DIGIVATIONS and recommend for anyone who might be interested in expanding their extra curricular activities."
- Christyann Andrianopoulos, parent (2024)

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"Your programs are extraordinary, but your genuine concern for the success and well-being of every student in your Institute reflects the heart from which your programs are derived."
- Karen Best, parent (2020-2024)

Alumni Spotlight

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Emily Grunert has been a camper at Camp Demigod since her love of Percy Jackson led her to the discovery of the camp the first year it was established in 2013. In 2017, Emily spent her first summer as staff and has returned in the following summers. In 2020, Emily was a member of the Virtual Camp Demigod staff focusing on music and biology lessons (DNA). "I've had so many great experiences at camp and they're something I'll always carry close to my heart." She feels like Camp Demigod has had a big part in her life and helps her be more confident, open-minded, and inquisitive. Emily is a student at Western Washington University, pursuing a B.S. in Biology. She is an undergraduate researcher studying ciliary signaling in cells using the techniques of immunofluorescence staining and microscopy. This research was sponsored by Pfizer (formerly SeaGen). She has presented her research at WWU Scholars Week, winning People’s Choice for Best Poster as well as presenting her research to Pfizer. She is active in her WWU community, participating in the WWU Advancing Excellence and Equity in Science program and other campus organizations. In Summer 2024, Emily will be pursuing research at University of California Los Angeles as an Amgen Scholar, studying the stem cell precursors to blood cells. As a first generation college student, Emily finds passion in advocating for unrepresented demographics in science. Emily is always looking for new experiences and loves learning new things. Some of her greatest joys include reading, science, music, helping younger campers, and making people smile. She hopes that she can make the Camp Demigod experience just as magical for the campers as it was when she first stepped onto camp grounds.

2025 Speakers:

If you or your DIGIVATOR would like to join any one of the talks virtually for a donation, please reach out for dates and times.


Top Row:

Roald Hoffmann: Polish-American theoretical chemist who won the 1981 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. He has also published plays and poetry. He is the Frank H. T. Rhodes Professor of Humane Letters Emeritus at Cornell University

​Paul Weiss: UC Presidential Chair, Distinguished Professor of Chemistry & Biochem, Bioengineering, and Materials Science & Engineering at UCLA, Co-founder and Chief Scientist at Greenbox Venture Labs

Second Row:

​Steven Morely:  A proven senior technology executive, inventor, and business mentor/advisor/educator who is passionate about turning great ideas into successful businesses that help people.  His 45-year career as a serial startup entrepreneur, senior technology executive, and entrepreneurial mentor/advisor/instructor has successfully proven this dedication working with companies large and small. He has been part of founding six startups, including Qualcomm, where he spent 20 years as a Vice President starting and growing several business units including their integrated circuits and cellular phone development.  
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Jacquelyn (Jacki) Morie, PhD:  Virtual Reality pioneer. Taught at UCLA, USC's ICT, Otis College of Art and Design, in Immersive Experience Design.

Third Row:

​Michael Zyda: Emeritus Professor of Practice, USC Dept of Computer Science, Founding Director of USC's Computer Science Games Program

​Chuck Dages: Former Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and Chairman, Board of the Entertainment Technology Center at USC. Former entertainment executive at Warner Bros. and CBS.  Member Of The Board Of Advisors at Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy.

Fourth Row:

Charis Martin: Content Expert in Ancient Cultures, MA University of Edinburgh

​Dr. Steven Lee Berman: Co-Founder, CEO & General Counsel at DIGIVATIONS entities. Entertainment and IP Attorney, Materials Engineer, Former UCLA professor, Advising, counseling and creating new educational and industrial enterprises and industry-university-government strategic partnerships in fields ranging from advanced materials including nanotechnology; next generation computing and AR/VR; biomimicry; biotechnology; commercial space; design thinking; genetics, intelligent cities, infrastructure and transportation; quantum technologies, among others.

Fifth Row:

Anne Deane Berman, PhD: Co-Founder, Academic Dean at DIGIVATIONS entities.  Composer (Carnegie Hall) and pioneer of Interactive Immersive Environments as former Assistant Professor & Researcher, Iowa State University's Virtual Reality Applications Center and UCSB's Center for Research in Electronic Art & Technology.  

Jacob Alan Berman: Co-Founder, Faculty and Part Time Chef at DIGIVATIONS entities. Cornell 2026, Anthropology, Performance Media Arts.  Composer, Filmmaker, Writer, Activist, Jewish Educator.

​Alumni Participants:

Ari Turobiner: Elon University, 2025, Cinema and Television Arts

Emily Grunnert:  Biology and Anthropology, Western Washington University Amgen Scholar UCLA

Adam Boyd: Entrepreneur & Game Developer, Prince Edward  Island.

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Hover over each picture to learn their identity

Speaker Spotlight:
Pioneer in VR Heritage - Bernard Frischer, PhD, Digital Archeologist who ensures the survival of the classical world through Virtual Heritage experiences (platforms for virtual tours that transport you across space and time to experience ruins in countries including Egypt, Greece and Italy).

Alumni Participants

 Transportation by Charter Bus available from NYC.

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GRANDPARENT HIGHLIGHT: ​

This camp has meant so much to my grandson and all of us! Thank you so much for what you do. -Vicki W.
There is no other camp like Camp Demigod! My grandson has been attending the camp for 8 summers. His best friends in the world are his camp friends and he has found his passions from the multi-disciplinary NASA award winning curriculum. Bravo Dr. Anne and Dr. Steve and thank you for creating such an amazing, creative, unique and fun experience!  - Elizabeth D.
PARENT HIGHLIGHTS:  

Recently our 14 year old daughter participated as a delegate of the DIGIVATIONS XGENS Delegation at the Yale Model United Nations (YMUN). It was an exciting, educational, challenging, growth producing and fun experience.  Dr. Steve Berman, Anne Deane Berman, PhD and their son Jacob Berman, guided our daughter through the YMUN process, and we are grateful she had this opportunity. It came about from being a camper! 

Our daughter loves the Harry Potter and Percy Jackson books and this drew her to the DIGIVATIONS CAMP DEMIGOD INSTITUTE. This has proved to be an investment our family made that is paying off. She loves the camp and returned last year as an Assistant CIT.  

Her social skills, self esteem and leadership abilities definitely grew from her time at DIGIVATIONS CAMP DEMIGOD INSTITUTE. She will be a CIT this summer and hopes to someday be a Counselor.  

The Bermans' care about each child and provide a unique, safe, fun, camp that has enriching opprtunities for growth.  ​
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-The Canty Family, NYC

Upstate New York, Cayuga Lake

With a backyard of incomparable rustic beauty, this very special campus environment is a playground sure to leave an indelible mark on your child.


DONATE & INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF INNOVATORS, MENTORS & LEADERS THROUGH DIGIVATIONS NASA AWARD WINNING EDUCATIONAL NON-PROFITS!

Hours

M-S: 9am- 9pm

Telephone

650-283-5440

Email

[email protected]      [email protected].     https://www.digivationsacademiesandcamps.org/