While most Lycoming College students are enjoying their summer breaks, the campus continued to serve as an environment for learning.
More than 200 area elementary and middle school-aged students in grades two through eight were on campus July 23 to 27 for the 26th annual Lycoming College for Kids and Teens program.
Workshops, held each day from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., were taught by dedicated and enthusiastic local volunteers and were designed to enhance creativity and problem solving while providing students with a variety of fun, academic opportunities.
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A “Grossology” student works on a papier mache eyeball.
"The classes are one-of-a-kind and more thrilling because they take place in an actual college lab," said Robin Van Auken, College for Kids director.
Each student participates in a morning and afternoon workshop, which gives them the opportunity to explore two topics of their choice.
This year's program offers more than 20 different courses in subjects ranging from art to history and science.
Examples of classes include Aeronautical Engineering, Ancient Egypt, Buds and Bugs, Candid Camera, Grossology, Weblogs and Social Media, and Young Inventors.
Classes take unique and stimulating approaches to teaching students a variety of subject matter. For example, students in the Wizards Workshop are taught concepts in chemistry, optics and physics through Harry Potter-themed activities. Junior Journalists gives them the opportunity to write, edit and report for the Lycoming College for Kids online newspaper.
Other classes teach students about simple machines using mechanized Legos, allow them to develop their own photographs and teach them how to create crystals and volcanoes.
"For more than 25 years, College for Kids has been the go-to summer program for parents who want to engage their children in unique, educational opportunities," Van Auken said. "The program is so successful that many of the students begin as first-graders, take classes each year until they're in high school and often return as teen volunteers. Some even return as adults to teach the very classes they enjoyed."
