College Expands Programs for Little Kids, High School Students
Kids and teens looking for fun, constructive and challenging activities as well as a place to make new friends will have plenty of options at Kids' and Teen College at the College of Southern Maryland (CSM) this summer.
Become a science sleuth, dig for dinosaurs, act in a theater skit, sing in harmony with your peers, learn some dollar sense, create a Japanese anime piece, build a robot, experience a treasure hunt, or blast off into space.
“Summer 2006 was the first year our son Drew, 13, attended and he loved it. He proudly wore clown paint (Clowning Around), enthusiastically wrote some HTML (Web Page Development), and had a great time programming LEGO cars and creating crash scenes (Computer Robot Design). Drew will be back next summer,” said Colleen McClair, who described CSM's Kids' College as a “fantastic summer program.”
This summer, the college will offer more than 100 classes designed to relieve summer boredom and to provide a meaningful experience. This year brings additional classes for children ages 7-10 and teens 11-14 as well as expanded opportunities for other age groups.
CSM introduces a pilot Little Kids program for ages 5-6 and a high school program for ages 15 and up. Little Kids can choose a half-day of art or science, while high school students can participate in fine art or digital photography, improve research and study skills, or develop a dynamite college essay.
Kids and teens can choose to spend mornings, afternoons or all day at CSM for a week, two weeks or all summer long, explains Susan Ross, CSM's director of personal enrichment programs. “The schedule flexibility is perfect for all families no matter what their need. Children are supervised all day including breaks, lunches and classes,” she said.
Courses are offered at La Plata, Leonardtown and Prince Frederick campuses as well as some courses are at the Waldorf Center. Also, available at the La Plata Campus will be extended care through the St. Charles Children's Learning Center.
The range of camps and workshops is exhaustive, including classes in arts and crafts, business, dance, engineering, foreign languages, health and medical, information technology, language arts, math, music, personal development, photography, science, theatre and more.
Kids can solve a murder mystery, learn to speak Italian, engage in ooey gooey gross science, care for pets in pets/vets, or put together a newscast. Teens can build robots, decide on a verdict in a mock legal trial, perform CPR and manage sports injuries, learn how to budget and save money, or make mystery potions in the chemistry lab.
“This year the program will provide greater class variety for all of Southern Maryland's youth. Classes can be mixed and matched to best complement your child's talents and interests and to keep your child engaged in constructive and fun activities for a partial or full day,” said Ross.
Registration begins Feb. 14 and is available by mail, by fax or in person. For specific class information, registration forms and costs, visit www.csmd.edu/kidscollege or contactJohn Terlesky, 301-934-7634 or johnt@csmd.edu for academic enrichment classes, or Eileen Richards, 301-934-7706 or eileenr@csmd.edu for sports classes.