CREATIVE THINKING, HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, SPORTS
Geared to elementary, middle school and high school students
Register: 724-334-6010
Seven new Kids in College programs that combine creative thinking with hands-on activities and three sports camps that develop individual skills are set for June, July and August at Penn State New Kensington.
Designed for students in grades one to nine, the week-long camps feature a variety of topics including, science, foreign customs, creative writing, music, reading and babysitting, as well as cheerleading, basketball and wrestling. Participants can learn about the world or develop new skills while having fun.
For first- to third-graders, three programs allow students to discover the world around them. Deep Freeze in Alaska (July 11-15) explores the native Inuit people and provides videos of the Northern Lights. Earth's Energy (July 18-22) focuses on experiments with energy and light from space. Un Poco de Toda (July 11-15), which is Spanish for "a little bit of everything," serves as a springboard to learning a new language. The three camps are $80 each and limited to 12 students.
For second- to fifth-graders, Imagineering Camp (July 18-22) features experiment with gravity, fluids and buoyancy, and electricity. In addition, activities will demonstrate the science behind levers and pulleys and trajectory and projectiles. The cost is $80 and the class is limited to 12.
For fourth- to sixth-graders, It's Good to Be Green (July 18-22) unleashes the power of ordinary objects. Students will experiment with different ways to power the world of tomorrow. The cost is $80 and class size is limited to 12 campers.
For fourth- to eighth-graders, Monsters That Matter (July 18-22) is a combination of reading and creative writing. Classic monsters like Frankenstein and Dracula will be discussed in the context of pop culture. Fiction, Fantasy and Magic (July 18-22) features book discussions and writing exercises on Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and "The Chronicles of Narnia." Participants will have the opportunity to create their own fantasy fiction. The cost is $80 for each class and the number of students is limited to 14.
For sixth-ninth-graders who play a band instrument, Summer Jazz Workshop (July 11-13) allows them to learn the various aspects of jazz and to perform in front of an audience. The cost is $140 and the class size is limited to 20.
Teenagers, 13-years and older, can get information and safety tips at Babysitting (June 20-24). The introductory camp highlights the babysitter's role, responsibilities and relationships with parents and children. The cost is $80 and the class is limited to 12.
For sports enthusiasts, three camps featuring Penn State New Kensington coaches will teach youngsters the fundamentals of the sport. Coach Doug Joseph will host a Wrestling camp (July 5-8) and participants will receive personalized instruction on technique, takedowns and pinning. Cost is $110 and includes a t-shirt.
Coach Holly Spohn's Cheerleading camp (July 18-22), geared to students in the first through sixth grades, emphases the essential cheerleading skills such as cheers, proper hand and body movements, and basic jumping techniques. The cost is $85 and includes a t-shirt.
Coach Doug Schneider offers instruction for boys and girls with two Basketball camps (June 20-24). Shooting, ball handling, passing and defense will be covered. The cost is $110 and includes a t-shirt.
The Kids in College program is funded by a grant from the Grable Foundation whose mission is to enrich the academic, artistic and social experiences for at-risk youth living in the Alle-Kiski Valley. A limited number of scholarships are available. Students are encouraged to register early.
For 21 summers, the Office of Continuing Education has offered a variety of academic and sports activities for students in grades one through 12. Each year, more than 400 youths participate in the campus camps and learn by doing.
For more information, call 724-334-6010.
For a brochure on the youth programs, information on scholarships, or to register, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/CE/41091.htm online.
ABOUT KIDS IN COLLEGE
New STEM Programs
Young students' imaginations will soar to great heights this summer as Penn State New Kensington continues to blend its traditional Kids in College program with the Pennsylvania STEM Initiative.
The Pennsylvania STEM Initiative is a statewide effort dedicated to preparing the commonwealth for global competitiveness through a strategy of enhanced education and career development opportunities for students. STEM initiatives are efforts designed to increase the number of grade-school students, especially females, minorities and the underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers while continuing the development of effective strategies to retain, recruit and re-train our incumbent workforce in these critical fields.
In support of this new national and state initiative, Penn State New Kensington has included additional STEM-based camps in the annual Kids in College schedule. A variety of topics ranging from science, rocketry, robotics and imagineering to painting, writing, acting and digital movie-making will be offered throughout the summer. In addition, SAT preparation and multimedia classes, as well as sports camps, will be offered from June to August.
"We are excited about the growing movement of the nationwide STEM Initiative that is spawning new camps," said Nancy Miller, area representative for the campus' continuing education office. "We encourage families with financial need to participate in the scholarship program."