Even though only a quarter of the student population is enrolled this term, the campus is still bustling with people as many athletic camps and conferences use the College for their summer home.
Director of Conferences and Events Linda Hathorn said she has a list of 64 summer programs on campus, ranging from the Alumni College to basketball camps.
Many of the programs use College residence and dining halls for the campers. Hathorn said there are rarely major problems like camp kids wandering into College fraternity houses.
Men's Basketball Coach David Faucher, who has been part of a basketball camp for the past 10 years, agreed. He said he sleeps in the dormitories every night and would not hesitate to throw a kid out for breaking the rules.
"There are basically only three places they are allowed to be -- the dormitory, the dining hall or the gym," he said. "You break the rules and you go home."
Faucher said although many campers, who range in age from eight to 18, are from local areas, there are some from places such as North Carolina and Japan. He said Dartmouth's coaches and campus are a draw for many children.
"It's a nice environment, a nice social program for them to get together and meet new people," he said. Faucher's campers are staying in Hitchcock and Russell Sage residence halls.
Hathorn said like in real estate, the key to the College's success in hosting programs is "location, location, location."
"Actually, it's because of the coaches and because of the location," she said. "We are Dartmouth, an Ivy League institution, with top notch coaches."
"Who wouldn't want to spend a week here in the summer?" she added.
Assistant Men's Tennis Coach David Jones, who is the assistant at the Reebok Hardcourt Tennis Camp, said the program draws about 56 kids each week to five different sessions.
He said the camp even sets up tours for campers who are interested in Dartmouth. Tennis campers this year are staying in North Massachusetts Hall.
Even though there are boys and girls ranging in age from 10 to 17, Jones said there are no problems keeping the campers out of trouble.
"We try to work them hard enough during they day so they are tired at night," Jones said with a laugh. "Check-in is at 8:30 and you can't leave the dorm."
But tennis and sports campers are not the only visitors to the College over the summer. There are a number of "older" groups up here for the summer.
One such program is the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. CASE is bringing together about 250 people in late July for a week-long conference, Director of Operations Norma Walker said.
Walker said the meeting is a "summer institute in educational fundraising for people employed at colleges who want to learn their craft better."
She said the meeting has been at Dartmouth for the last 20 years because the College "has the space we need and a desirable location."
And there also are programs for younger, non-athletes. Director of Debate and Forensics Ken Strange said the College hosts two programs over the summer for "experienced" high-school debaters.
One program, called the Juniors Debate Workshop, involves 44 students who are going to be juniors in high school, Strange said.
The other program is called the Dartmouth Debate Institute. More than 100 students from across the nation attend the program, Strange said.
"Students in both programs are experienced debaters who participate in tournament competitions throughout the year," he said.
He said students from about 30 different states come to the College to sharpen their research and debating skills.
"It introduces lots of talented students to Dartmouth -- a large portion apply to Dartmouth whether they intend to be debaters or not," he said.
It also helps the debate team recruit skilled debaters. The College's teams has reached the final four of the national championship in 13 out of the past 15 years, and won the title three times.
"Even Duke [University] basketball isn't that good," Strange said.
