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Marketing and University Communication UW-Green Bay, CL 815 2420 Nicolet Drive Green Bay, WI 54311-7001 (920) 465-2626 E-mail: hildebrs@uwgb.edu Last update: 10/1/07 |
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In
the News Archive - Year:
August 13, 2003 UWGB's Summer Discovery empowers kids By Bradley D. Spychalski During the first two weeks of August at University of Wisconsin-Green
Bay's Summer Discovery, kids in kindergarten through six grade have tackled
more interesting challenges than reading a textbook or taking a test.
"The kids are doing everything from hands-on rocketry to wilderness
trails," said Mona Christensen, coordinator of Summer Camps. "We have
a pom team, a kitchen, multicultural art, puppets, meal planning, inventions,
mud pie creating and oceans of fun."
In its 11th year, Summer Discovery is an enrichment program for preschool,
elementary and middle school kids. The program, which is sponsored by
the UWGB Office of Outreach and Extension, offers more than 60 two-and-one-half-hour
morning or afternoon classes that cost $60 each, with some of the classes
having additional materials fees.
"The programs are in mornings or afternoons, or the parents can use
the camp as a form of childcare and keep them here all day," Christensen
said before the classes started. "We've enrolled over 700 kids for the
next two-week programs in August."
Kids can register for one or two classes per day either morning or afternoon,
or both. A lunch period is held between sessions.
"People start registering in spring, because it is only the first two
weeks in August that this program runs," Christensen said. "Some of the
classes are very popular and they fill up rather quickly."
Teaching the classes are all Discovery Enrichment Academy instructors
who work creatively with the children, while providing a positive learning
environment. The teachers are Green Bay elementary and middle school teachers,
as well as professionals from the community.
On Friday, final presentations took place for kids who were enrolled
during the first week of August. The campers and their teachers gathered
to share their discoveries, projects, productions, songs and creations
with their family and friends.
"Final presentations are open to the public, but they are designed to
show parents what their kids did for the week at camp," Christensen said.
For morning campers Cameron Vankirk and John Richardson, their class called
Innovative Inventions helped them explore the who, what, where, when,
why and how's of the most fascinating inventions while producing their
own inventions for the final presentation.
"We got to design our own inventions on paper," said Vankirk, a seventh
grader from Edison Middle School. "We got to study about different structures
and inventions, and then we made our own advertisements to show off today."
John Richardson, a Langlade Elementary School student, invented the
Ultimate Lazy Boy Chair that comes with a soda dispenser, a canned potato
chips dispenser, a built-in remote control and options for heating and
massaging. Richardson described his invention as "perfect for dorm rooms."
Other presentations at the morning session included the play "Pecos Bill"
by the Drama on Stage class, a puppet show of the "Frog Prince" by the
Puppet Party class and a rocket launching grand finale ceremony from the
class Lift Off.
F.Y.I.
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