Summer camps scheduled

Penn State Hazleton's Continuing Education Office is once again hosting summer youth camps for students entering grades 1 through 9 in fall 2015. Camps scheduled at this summer are as follows:

Week of June 22-26

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Critter Camp, grades 2-5, $165.

Each Critter Camp day will include a high-energy, minimally structured hunt to find and learn about as many different plants and animals as possible. You can share your discoveries and use our lab facilities to examine your specimens under the microscope and use them in simple experiments and creative projects. You will also be taken on a field trip to a local stream on one of the five days. The goal of the camp is to spark your enthusiasm for the natural world.

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, Penn State Basketball Camp, boys entering grades 4-9, $99.

This camp will stress fundamentals of the game of basketball, including proper shooting technique, ball-handling, passing and proper individual/team defense.  The camp will also feature skill competitions for the different age groups as well as a Shootout Competition, One-one-One Competition and 3-on-3 games. There will also be an academic and classroom success program.  

 

Week of July 6-10

Morning session (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon)

Math-tastic Adventures, grades 1-3, $99.

Get ready for a weeklong adventure that will take you on an exciting journey around the mathematical realm! You will explore fractions using food, investigate geometry and patterns in nature and art, use computer games to explore operations and computations, conduct measurements and surveys during outdoor games, and use math strategies while playing sports.

Lego Mindstorm Camp, grades 2-5, $99.

Lego Mindstorms are used in this camp. The activities are compelling, hands-on robotic challenges, guided by facilitators. After a challenge is introduced, you will work in teams to design, program, and test your robots. You will be encouraged to try different strategies when designing and programming the robots. Through this approach you can develop skills involved in teamwork, communication, problem solving, engineering, and troubleshooting - and learn that often there is not one answer to a practical problem, but a number of possible solutions.

Broadcasting: Hey, I'm on the Radio, grades 6-9, $99.

If you love listening to the radio and wonder what it takes to be a good disc jockey, this is the camp for you. Is it really just as easy as pushing a few buttons and playing tunes? In this class, you'll find out what's involved with being "on the radio." You'll learn about sound editing using the program Audacity, where you can actually see what you say. You'll record your own radio show and we'll play all the shows at an end-of-the-week radio party. Come learn the tricks of the radio trade! Taught by Cathy Donnelly of Froggy 101, WILK and 102.3 the Mountain.

Afternoon session (Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.)

Lego Learning, grades 1-3, $99.

Do you like building, creating and designing? Do you love working with Legos? This camp is for students with big imaginations! Using Legos, students can explore and learn about design, engineering and art. Campers can use creative thinking skills as they take on various team and solo challenges.

Sing Your Heart Out!, grades 2-5, $99.

Strengthen your voice and explore the music world. Learn where your voice actually comes from and how to sound like a pop star. Tone, breath control, pitch - we'll learn it all, even how to tweak the words so you don't go flat. Once we learn all these techniques, we'll prepare for an end-of-the-week singing performance. Don't worry, no nasty judges to deal with, just a good time. Taught by Cathy Donnelly of Froggy 101, WILK and 102.3 the Mountain.

Volleyball, grades 6-9, $99.

Beginners to experienced players will benefit from this week of fun while learning key volleyball fundamentals. By incorporating drills and team games, you will learn the essential elements of serving, serve receiving, forearm passing, setting, hitting, blocking, team serve reception, team defense and transition to offense. Campers wiII also work on leadership and teamwork exercises.

 

Week of July 13-17

Morning session (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon)

Lego Learning, grades 1-3, $99.

Do you like building, creating and designing? Do you love working with Legos? This camp is for students with big imaginations! Using Legos, students can explore and learn about design, engineering and art. Campers can use creative thinking skills as they take on various team and solo challenges.

Super Cool Experiments for Kids Camp, grades 2-5, $99.

Kitchen chemistry can be a real blast! This camp will use everyday household items to explore chemical reactions, states of matter, and more through hands-on, inquiry-based activities. The young chemists will have the opportunity to explore everyday household items to begin answering the "why" questions they ask when exploring on their own. The goal of this camp is to provide students with a basic understanding of chemistry in a fun, exploratory manner.

Afternoon session (Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.)

Wizards and Cauldrons, grades 1-5, $99.

Children are introduced to literature, mythology and logic through the imaginary world created by J.K.Rowling in the Harry Potter novels. Join teams and play quidditch for muggles. Which house will the "sorting hat" place you in? Wizards and Cauldrons is a week of reading, writing, science, logic, art, fun and games! A note for parents: If you are unfamiliar with the J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter novels, ask your kids to translate. Be assured that the orientation of this camp is literature, science, math and art. Campers: Feel free to dress as your favorite character on the first day of camp!

 

Week of July 20 to 24

Morning session (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon)

Vex® Robotics, grades 2-5, $99.

Learn to build and use the VEX® Robotics Design System to compete in races, obstacle courses, maze solving and more. Increase your technical knowledge and skills while you design and build your robots and ready them for a challenge.

Vex® Robotics, grades 6-9, $99.

Learn to build and use the VEX® Robotics Design System to compete in races, obstacle courses, maze solving and more. Increase your technical knowledge and skills while you design and build your robots and prepare them for a challenge.

Afternoon session (Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.)

Create Your Robot, grades 2-5, $99.

This camp is designed to give students an introduction to what a robot is and how robots sense the world around us. It's the perfect introduction to the exciting field of robotics, offering a hands-on experience as students build and experiment with different robots. Students will have their choice to build one of 20 different robots, from the Dancing Robot or the Fearless Explorer Robot to the Infrared Racer Robot or the Abracadabra Magic Spell Robot. Students will experience fun using hands-on labs while learning skills in communications, problem solving and engineering.

Engineering for Girls, grades 6-9, $99.

Come learn about green energy alternatives with a focus on wind-generated power. Use your engineering talents to build your own electricity-generating wind turbine. Use math to measure the energy output of your designs and make them more efficient. Employ computer simulations and drafting software to create computerized design models. Discover the science behind earths wind patterns and energy resource issues. Present your projects to family and friends at the end of class. This will be a fun, hands-on process with a team emphasis. Students also take part in campus field trips to connect with real-world scientists.

 

Week of July 27-31

Morning session (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon)

The Nuts and Bolts of Jewelry, Really!, grades 4-6, $99.

A hardware store isn't only for your plumbing and electrical needs anymore! It's also a great find for creating unique pieces of jewelry. From bracelets made from washers to earrings made from miscut keys, let your imagination run free as you find hidden gems in a hardware store. We'll create rings, bracelets, necklaces, anklets and more using items from your local hardware store. You'll never look at a hardware store in the same way!

Afternoon session (Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.)

Ready, Set, Weave, grades 4-6, $99.

We'll explore the use of a rigid heddle loom, a simple device with a hard-sounding name. It's relatively easy to use, great for beginner weavers but also a challenge for more seasoned weavers ready to explore endless possibilities. We'll learn how to plan a simple fabric design, warp the loom, make a basic tabby weave, use a shuttle stick and bind off the weaving. The fabrics created on the loom could be used for a scarf, placemat, coasters, tote bag, table runner or a pillow.

 

Week of August 3-7

Morning session (Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to noon)

Clay and Sculpture Creations, grades 1-3, $99.

Students will exercise their creativity and imagination as they discover the world of three-dimensional art. Students will explore sculptural form and self-expression as they work with a variety of materials including clay, mosaic, papier mache and more.

Solar Powered Kids, grades 2-5, $99.

Mini solar building kits teach campers the benefits of solar energy while they create a toy that is both fun to play with and requires no batteries. The newest member of this popular line is the 6-in-1 educational solar lit, an excellent beginner building kit designed to teach how solar power is used to drive a small motor. Children use the 21 snap-together parts to build six different working models including an air boat, windmill, puppy and two different planes.

Afternoon session (Monday through Friday, 1 to 4 p.m.)

Wizards and Cauldrons, grades 1-3, $99.

Children are introduced to literature, mythology and logic through the imaginary world created by J.K.Rowling in the Harry Potter novels. Join teams and play quidditch for muggles. Which house will the "sorting hat" place you in? Wizards and Cauldrons is a week of reading, writing, science, logic, art, fun and games! A note for parents: If you are unfamiliar with J.K.Rowling's Harry Potter novels, ask your kids to translate. Be assured that the orientation of this camp is literature, science, math and art. Campers: Feel free to dress as your favorite character on the first day of camp!

Junior Engineers, grades 2-5, $99.

Great hands-on learning and building! Students will creatively build and modify machines through basic engineering skills using our unique Lego kits. Concepts learned include basic engineering skills, simple machines, forces in motion, and problem solving and communication skills.

 

The registration form can be downloaded at www.hn.psu.edu/CE/youth.htm. Registrations are also accepted in person at the Slusser/Bayzick Building between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

A limited number of scholarships are available for camp participants. Call 570-450-3110 for details and an application.

Campers should be dropped off at the gymnasium in the Physical Education Building between 8:30 and 8:45 a.m. and picked up at the same place. Camp staff members will walk students to and from class. The University does not permit unsupervised children on campus.

Early drop off and late pickup is available for $35 per child per week. Early dropoff is at 8 a.m. and late pickup is at 5 p.m.
Campers may bring a snack and drink with them. Food cannot be refrigerated, so plan accordingly. All-day campers are reminded to bring their lunch and a drink.

For more information, contact the Office of Continuing Education at 570-450-3110.