WCS Summer Camps Offert Art And Science
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
JoElla Smyth, WCS summer school and camps coordinator, said there will be three weeks of enrichment programs at Edgewood Middle School. The weeks of camp will be July 7-11, 14-18 and 21-25. Camps are 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $100 per camper but scholarships are available.
“Three weeks of summer camps and they will reach kids who have completed anywhere from second grade all the way up to those who have finished up seventh grade,” she stated.
Science Central again is partnering with WCS to offer one new science camp this year. Summer Science Sampler, offered July 7-11, will include “Ancient Adventures,” “Claws, Jaws & Paws,” “Don’t Spring a Leak!” “Glues, Brews & Goos” and “Volcano!”
“We’re going to do all these mini labs including paleontology, archaeology, reptiles. Become a max mixer and turn everyday substances into your own weird concoctions. They’re going to create their own volcano. I think this camp looks fun to me. And that’s for kids ages 5 to 11, so that’s very early,” Smyth said.
The group will be split into two, one for ages 5 to 7 and the other for ages 8 to 11, if enough kids sign up. The split will allow the younger kids to have more support.
Back by popular demand is the Lego® robotics camp.
“We’re actually offering it for two weeks because last year we ran out of room and we had a waiting list and kids didn’t get in,” Smyth said. “It is a fun one.”
The first week of robotics will be July 14, with the second week scheduled for July 21-25. It is for ages 8 to 11. Campers do not get to keep the robot because they are supplied by Science Central.
“We have taken over the robotics piece so big in Warsaw that people are sending their kids here from Fort Wayne and from some of the surrounding communities because this is where it is. This is where kids can actually get this experience. Our parents used to take their kids to Fort Wayne, and now it’s in their own back yard,” Smyth said.
For those students who are more “right brain,” several art camps will be offered.
“I think parents of kids that really enjoy the arts should absolutely come out and take a look,” Smyth suggested.
“Art in the Great Outdoors” is offered in two parts. Part one is being offered July 7 to 11 and July 21 to 25, and is for students who completed second to fourth grade. Part two is July 14 to 18 and is for students who completed second to sixth grade.
“We would like kids in either week that fits their schedule and we’re offering one art camp every week so maybe pick the one week that works. If your kid likes art, that is one camp I think your child would enjoy,” she said. “We’re really hoping to load that up because they’ll go outside, they’ll do drawings, nature, creations and they’ll will have an art show at the end of summer camp to show what they’ve learned and they get to take those projects home.”
For two other camps, WCS is partnering with Ivy Tech Community College.
“Ivy Tech is going to offer a 3-D automated design camp where they will actually learn CAD and 3-D printing,” Smyth said.
Students will go to Edgewood and have breakfast. They then will load a bus and be transported to Ivy Tech’s manufacturing building.
“The kids will actually go in-house and actually be hands-on learning how to create and they will walk away with one product they have created themselves. They’ll get to create their own ideas and see what it looks when you put it into reality,” Smyth explained.
That camp, “3-D Automated Design Camp - CAD and 3-D Printing” is July 7 to 11 and for students who completed fifth through seventh grade.
A second week offered at Ivy Tech is July 14 to 18 and also is for students who completed fifth through seventh grade. It is “3-D Automated Manufacturing Camp - CAD/CAM CNC Machining.”
Smyth stated, “It’s actually life skills. If they can learn how to do this now, these are the kind of skills we do need people to have when they’re working at Zimmer, DePuy, Biomet, our orthopedic industry. So this is a really nice way for kids to build some basic life skills that are actually transferable to what you want to do when you grow up. Maybe it’ll spark an interest in some kids who want to head down that CAD path or engineering path.”
Ivy Tech came to WCS to partner with it to offer these camps. Ivy Tech is providing the teachers, location and equipment. It received a grant to help support the camp.
“At the end of the week, parents will have a chance to come in and see what the kids have learned,” Smyth said. “Ivy Tech put together a pretty nice piece.”
Another new camp being offered this year is the Science Summer STEM Academy for fourth through seventh grade. Each elementary school got to pick two fourth-graders, two fifth-graders and two sixth-graders, and each middle school got to pick two seventh-graders to be invited to a special summer program in June.
“It is amazing what we’re going to be offering,” Smyth said. “We’re actually going to bring out the STEM bus, and we’re hoping we’ll be the ones that get to launch it. And these kids will get to go in to see it first, and the first lesson will be taught on the bus in front of Edgewood in the summer.”
The four units of study for the Academy will be “Biomedical Engineering – Knee and Joint Exploration and Design,” “Robotics – We Do Programming,” “Electrical Engineering – Snap Circuit Exploration and Design” and “Robotics – EV3 Construction and Mission.” The last unit was developed by NASA.
The Academy is 17 days. Parents and students had to commit to the 17 days, and there is a waiting list to get into it.
After each two units, the students will do a showcase for parents.
STARR Summer Camps is set up for two different weeks and is for students with more significant disabilities.
“Last year we ran one week of camp and it really was popular. These are kids who don’t always get to go to camp,” Smyth said.
Volunteers step in and make it possible for these kids to get out of the house and have fun and go out into the community.
Smyth has been working with teachers Barb Martz and Jennifer Phillips to put the camps together. They’ll get two chances at camp, but don’t have to attend both weeks. The first is July 7 to 11 and has a fruit theme, with the second July 21 to 25 with a vegetable theme.
“They’ll be doing some field trips out making fruit smoothies, frust popsicles, they’ll go to Kelaney’s, the Post Office, the blueberry patch. They’ll take Zumba classes and play games. The second time they’ll be cooking zucchini bread, veggie pizza, fried green tomatoes. They’ll go on a community trip to Winona Lake trails, Pottery Bayou, the Splashpad. The program is very specifically designed for those students typically who are there at the high school level but are moderatley to more severly disabled,” Smyth said.
“We do have scholarships and we do have openings for all of our camps because we don’t want a child not to go to camp,” Smyth said. Every year the Warsaw Education Foundation and private donors help WCS raise the money for the camps and to ensure that all kids who want to attend can.
“The first year we did camps I thought, ‘Is there an interest in the community?’ But you know it’s not just your traditional athletic camp. Those are all good, but this actually is one that enriches you academically and through the arts,” Smyth said.
Camps offered by colleges may cost $195 to $250 for three to four days. WCS is offering a week of camp for $100, and it can help provide funding, Smyth indicated. They also are open to the public.
Camp applications are available online at http://www.warsaw.k12.in.us/wcs-summer-programs.html and at each of Warsaw’s elementary schools. It is not too late to sign up.
“I like the fact we have a mixture of academics, arts, technical, technology, science - just a really nice mix. That excites me a lot to look at that. I do know that we’re one of the very, very few that offers this many options for kids during the summer. I know we’ve built our program into one of the biggest in Indiana,” Smyth said. “... We’re doing a lot of great things for kids and that’s what it’s all about.”
For more information, contact Smyth at 574-371-5096 or email [email protected][[In-content Ad]]
JoElla Smyth, WCS summer school and camps coordinator, said there will be three weeks of enrichment programs at Edgewood Middle School. The weeks of camp will be July 7-11, 14-18 and 21-25. Camps are 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $100 per camper but scholarships are available.
“Three weeks of summer camps and they will reach kids who have completed anywhere from second grade all the way up to those who have finished up seventh grade,” she stated.
Science Central again is partnering with WCS to offer one new science camp this year. Summer Science Sampler, offered July 7-11, will include “Ancient Adventures,” “Claws, Jaws & Paws,” “Don’t Spring a Leak!” “Glues, Brews & Goos” and “Volcano!”
“We’re going to do all these mini labs including paleontology, archaeology, reptiles. Become a max mixer and turn everyday substances into your own weird concoctions. They’re going to create their own volcano. I think this camp looks fun to me. And that’s for kids ages 5 to 11, so that’s very early,” Smyth said.
The group will be split into two, one for ages 5 to 7 and the other for ages 8 to 11, if enough kids sign up. The split will allow the younger kids to have more support.
Back by popular demand is the Lego® robotics camp.
“We’re actually offering it for two weeks because last year we ran out of room and we had a waiting list and kids didn’t get in,” Smyth said. “It is a fun one.”
The first week of robotics will be July 14, with the second week scheduled for July 21-25. It is for ages 8 to 11. Campers do not get to keep the robot because they are supplied by Science Central.
“We have taken over the robotics piece so big in Warsaw that people are sending their kids here from Fort Wayne and from some of the surrounding communities because this is where it is. This is where kids can actually get this experience. Our parents used to take their kids to Fort Wayne, and now it’s in their own back yard,” Smyth said.
For those students who are more “right brain,” several art camps will be offered.
“I think parents of kids that really enjoy the arts should absolutely come out and take a look,” Smyth suggested.
“Art in the Great Outdoors” is offered in two parts. Part one is being offered July 7 to 11 and July 21 to 25, and is for students who completed second to fourth grade. Part two is July 14 to 18 and is for students who completed second to sixth grade.
“We would like kids in either week that fits their schedule and we’re offering one art camp every week so maybe pick the one week that works. If your kid likes art, that is one camp I think your child would enjoy,” she said. “We’re really hoping to load that up because they’ll go outside, they’ll do drawings, nature, creations and they’ll will have an art show at the end of summer camp to show what they’ve learned and they get to take those projects home.”
For two other camps, WCS is partnering with Ivy Tech Community College.
“Ivy Tech is going to offer a 3-D automated design camp where they will actually learn CAD and 3-D printing,” Smyth said.
Students will go to Edgewood and have breakfast. They then will load a bus and be transported to Ivy Tech’s manufacturing building.
“The kids will actually go in-house and actually be hands-on learning how to create and they will walk away with one product they have created themselves. They’ll get to create their own ideas and see what it looks when you put it into reality,” Smyth explained.
That camp, “3-D Automated Design Camp - CAD and 3-D Printing” is July 7 to 11 and for students who completed fifth through seventh grade.
A second week offered at Ivy Tech is July 14 to 18 and also is for students who completed fifth through seventh grade. It is “3-D Automated Manufacturing Camp - CAD/CAM CNC Machining.”
Smyth stated, “It’s actually life skills. If they can learn how to do this now, these are the kind of skills we do need people to have when they’re working at Zimmer, DePuy, Biomet, our orthopedic industry. So this is a really nice way for kids to build some basic life skills that are actually transferable to what you want to do when you grow up. Maybe it’ll spark an interest in some kids who want to head down that CAD path or engineering path.”
Ivy Tech came to WCS to partner with it to offer these camps. Ivy Tech is providing the teachers, location and equipment. It received a grant to help support the camp.
“At the end of the week, parents will have a chance to come in and see what the kids have learned,” Smyth said. “Ivy Tech put together a pretty nice piece.”
Another new camp being offered this year is the Science Summer STEM Academy for fourth through seventh grade. Each elementary school got to pick two fourth-graders, two fifth-graders and two sixth-graders, and each middle school got to pick two seventh-graders to be invited to a special summer program in June.
“It is amazing what we’re going to be offering,” Smyth said. “We’re actually going to bring out the STEM bus, and we’re hoping we’ll be the ones that get to launch it. And these kids will get to go in to see it first, and the first lesson will be taught on the bus in front of Edgewood in the summer.”
The four units of study for the Academy will be “Biomedical Engineering – Knee and Joint Exploration and Design,” “Robotics – We Do Programming,” “Electrical Engineering – Snap Circuit Exploration and Design” and “Robotics – EV3 Construction and Mission.” The last unit was developed by NASA.
The Academy is 17 days. Parents and students had to commit to the 17 days, and there is a waiting list to get into it.
After each two units, the students will do a showcase for parents.
STARR Summer Camps is set up for two different weeks and is for students with more significant disabilities.
“Last year we ran one week of camp and it really was popular. These are kids who don’t always get to go to camp,” Smyth said.
Volunteers step in and make it possible for these kids to get out of the house and have fun and go out into the community.
Smyth has been working with teachers Barb Martz and Jennifer Phillips to put the camps together. They’ll get two chances at camp, but don’t have to attend both weeks. The first is July 7 to 11 and has a fruit theme, with the second July 21 to 25 with a vegetable theme.
“They’ll be doing some field trips out making fruit smoothies, frust popsicles, they’ll go to Kelaney’s, the Post Office, the blueberry patch. They’ll take Zumba classes and play games. The second time they’ll be cooking zucchini bread, veggie pizza, fried green tomatoes. They’ll go on a community trip to Winona Lake trails, Pottery Bayou, the Splashpad. The program is very specifically designed for those students typically who are there at the high school level but are moderatley to more severly disabled,” Smyth said.
“We do have scholarships and we do have openings for all of our camps because we don’t want a child not to go to camp,” Smyth said. Every year the Warsaw Education Foundation and private donors help WCS raise the money for the camps and to ensure that all kids who want to attend can.
“The first year we did camps I thought, ‘Is there an interest in the community?’ But you know it’s not just your traditional athletic camp. Those are all good, but this actually is one that enriches you academically and through the arts,” Smyth said.
Camps offered by colleges may cost $195 to $250 for three to four days. WCS is offering a week of camp for $100, and it can help provide funding, Smyth indicated. They also are open to the public.
Camp applications are available online at http://www.warsaw.k12.in.us/wcs-summer-programs.html and at each of Warsaw’s elementary schools. It is not too late to sign up.
“I like the fact we have a mixture of academics, arts, technical, technology, science - just a really nice mix. That excites me a lot to look at that. I do know that we’re one of the very, very few that offers this many options for kids during the summer. I know we’ve built our program into one of the biggest in Indiana,” Smyth said. “... We’re doing a lot of great things for kids and that’s what it’s all about.”
For more information, contact Smyth at 574-371-5096 or email [email protected][[In-content Ad]]
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