Fun, educational summer programs for talented youth
by Jeanne Baron
May 2, 2011 | WMU News
KALAMAZOO--Local youngsters may choose from several programs being offered this summer through the Academically Talented Youth Program administered by the Lee Honors College at Western Michigan University.
The programs are half-day classes that run Monday through Friday for one week and cost $100 per week. Space is limited, so students are encouraged to enroll early. The deadline to register is Wednesday, June 1.
Class offerings for 2011 are designed for students in the middle grades. Although gifted youths are targeted, any eligible-age student may enroll. This year's offerings include all four courses from last summer plus two new ones, a chess camp and a pottery-related program.
Academically Talented Youth Program
Course list
- Graphic Novels, 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, June 20-24, Room 2335 Schneider Hall, for those entering grades 7 to 9. Students are encouraged to bring their own work in progress to this course. They will learn how to take their ideas from sketchbooks to real books and how to work with software such as PhotoShop and Manga Studio.
- Web Page Design, 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 20-24, or 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, July 11-15, Room 3394 Rood Hall, for those entering grades 6-9. During this course, students will develop Web pages and learn basic programming concepts as well as create an interactive Web page that includes a virtual pet.
- Pinhole Photography: Build Your Own Working Camera, 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, June 27-July 1, Room K1201 Kohrman Hall, for those entering grades 7 to 9. Students will make a simple pinhole camera and study the basic principles of photography. They also will develop their own black and white paper negatives in a darkroom and make prints from the negatives.
- Ceramic Face Jugs, 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 27-July 1, Room K1201 Kohrman Hall, for those entering grades 7 to 9. Students will stretch their creativity as they use stoneware clay to create a face jug--a unique vessel originally made by African American slaves. They will study, design and create their own jugs while exploring different techniques for building clay items by hand instead of with the help of a pottery wheel.
- Poetry Workshop, 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, July 11-15, Room 2209 Rood Hall, for those entering grades 7 to 9. Students will read and discuss poets from today as well as different cultures and times until they find voices that resonate with theirs. They will create original poems during each class and learn how to take some of the poems off the page through a series of interactive and multi-media exercises.
- Chess, 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday, July 18-22, Room 3363 Rood Hall, for those entering grades 6 to 9. Students with a basic understanding of chess rules will receive a mix of instruction and play time in a fun-filled environment. Whether they are interested in casual or competitive chess, this course will improve the students' skills.
For a downloadable registration form and detailed information about WMU's Academically Talented Youth Program summer courses, visit wmich.edu/honors/atyp or contact Kelly Schultz in the Lee Honors College at atyp-info@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3230.
