VOX ATL taking applications for summer multimedia program and youth poet laureate
VOX ATL, a non-profit organization that calls itself “Atlanta’s home for uncensored teen publishing and self-expression” and has a mission to uplift the voices of young people, has two opportunities for area teens.
This summer, VOX will host two sessions of its long-running Media Cafe. a two-week program that introduces teens to multimedia production, journalism and public speaking. Media Cafe includes hands-on experience with writing, video editing, podcasting, graphic design and more, as well as field trips and the chance to meet creative professionals who work in Atlanta. The program is open to ages 13-19. The application deadline is April 15, but spaces will be filled on a rolling basis, and each session has a limit of 12 participants, so it’s best to apply as soon as possible. To learn more, visit the Media Cafe page.
VOX ATL also has joined forces with Urban Word NYC to select an Atlanta Youth Poet Laureate. Teens ages 13-18 are invited to apply for the honor. The Youth Poet Laureate will have their writing published, be eligible to compete in regional and national Youth Poet Laureate competitions, and receive their choice of either $500 or the resources needed to publish their own poetry chapbook. Deadline to submit the online application is April 15.
Georgia Tech spring workshops and summer camps
Registration is open now for a slew of programs at Georgia Tech, from Saturday morning workshops to summer camps.
- Spring break STEAM camp for grades 6-8, April 3-7 (details in my post from February)
- K.I.D.S. Club for grades 2-5, various topics, Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m. to noon
- STEAM Workshop for grades 6-12, various topics, Saturday, April 15, 9 a.m. to noon
- Virtual STEAM Whistle Workshop for grades 6-8, app and game development, Saturday, April 15 (This session is full. You can join the waiting list, but the odds of a spot opening up are slim.)
- First Generation College Institute, residential program for rising 8th to 12th graders, June 23-25. This is an introduction to scholarships, financial aid, campus life, etc., with some STEM learning sessions during the weekend. The program is for prospective first-generation college students. Cost is $25, which includes housing and all meals. Registration deadline is April 10.
- FBI InfraGard Cyber Security Camp, summer program for rising 9th to 12th graders, June 12-16. Students will learn about technology, engineering and cybersecurity in classes taught by experts from the FBI, Georgia Tech, and private companies. Application deadline is March 25 at 5 p.m. Students will be selected based on their applications. To find details, go to the main Summer P.E.A.K.S. page and scroll down to find Cyber Security Camp.
- Summer P.E.A.K.S. day camps for rising 4th to 12th graders, various STEM topics, June 5 to July 28.
Georgia Tech has available funding to give scholarships for in-person programs. If a student qualifies for free or reduced price lunch at their school, they are likely eligible for a BOOST Scholarship.
Updated information on DCSD Serendipity
My apologies for this second post, but I just received additional information about the Serendipity program from the DeKalb County gifted office. Most important is that the registration deadline is this Friday, March 24.
Session 1 is actually May 30 to June 2, not May 30 to June 1. This session will be held at Stone Mountain Middle School.
Session 2, June 26-29, will be held at McNair Middle School.
DCSD has confirmed that there will be no registration fee for Serendipity 2023. Additionally, participating students will be provided with breakfast and lunch each day of the program. However, transportation is not provided.
Registration open for DeKalb County’s Serendipty summer program for gifted students
Note: See the updated post to get more detailed and accurate information about Serendipity.
DeKalb County School District (DCSD) has opened registration for its 2023 summer programs, including the Serendipity enrichment program for gifted-identified students.
Serendipity will hold two sessions: May 30 to June 1 (3 days) and June 26 to June 29 (4 days). (Correction: Session 1 is May 30 to June 2.) Topics will range from visual and performing arts to world language and computer technology. Serendipity is open to students currently in grades 1-6 who have been identified as gifted through DCSD’s identification process.
Other DCSD summer camps include Girls Who Code for high-school girls and Aviation Camp for grades 4-6.
To enroll in any DCSD camp, a student must be enrolled in a DCSD school. The camps are provided by the county at no cost.
More information on all DCSD summer camps is online.
Summer writing camps at Atlanta History Center on sale this week
Atlanta History Center is offering a $50 discount this week on its 2023 summer writing camps. These day camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and are held on the campus of the history center in northwest Atlanta.
Each week’s camp has a different theme, from historical fiction to news writing.
Note: The page linked above lists all of the camps being offered this summer; however, only camps designated as writing camps are eligible for this sale. History camps will not receive the discount.
No code is needed to take advantage of the sale, which ends March 24.
Spring break day camp at Georgia Tech
The CEISMC program at Georgia Tech will offer a day camp for students in grades 6 through 8 the week of April 3-7, 2023.
Students sign up for each day separately, so they can attend anywhere from one day to the full week. Each element of STEAM — science, technology, engineering, arts and math — will be highlighted one of the five days.
The camp will meet daily from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. A fee of $100 per day covers camp activities, all needed materials, lunch and a snack. Extended care is available until 5 p.m. at no extra charge.
To find out more about the camp and to register, go to the main CEISMC student programs page, scroll down to the section called “Quick Registration Links for STEAM Workshops,” and look for the listing called “Spring Into STEAM: Spring Break Camp.” Click on the “Details” button on the right to bring up a window that describes each day’s programming. The Details window also contains a registration button.
One-day app design “Hackathon” at UWG
The University of West Georgia is planning a “Hackathon” event where middle- and high-school students will conceptualize and design software to solve a problem. The program will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, on UWG’s main Carrollton campus.
The Hackathon program’s youth track is open to students aged 13 to 18. The youth track program does not require any programming or coding knowledge. Mentors will help the students with the technical aspects of their designs. (A separate advanced track for high-school and college students 18 and up does require basic programming skills.)
Students will work in teams. They can sign up with people they already know and want to work with, or find a team onsite.
Registration is $30, plus a $3 processing fee. If a family is unable to pay the fee, UWG will attempt to make arrangements for the registration. See the “How much does it cost to participate” area of the page linked above for contact information for financial assistance.
Emory Math Circle registering for spring 2023
The Math Circle program at Emory University is now registering for its spring 2023 classes.
Math Circle is an enrichment program for middle-school and high-school kids who are fascinated by mathematics and who want to explore math topics beyond what’s taught in the typical classroom. Classes meet twice a month on Saturdays. In-person classes will begin this Saturday, January 28. Note that it is possible to join a class after it has begun meeting; registration will remain open until February 17.
Classes will be offered both in person and online.
You can get more information and register at the Math Circle website.
Any students attending an in-person section must show proof of vaccination (including a booster shot). Masks are optional, in accordance with Emory University policy.
Emory Math Circle is free, but donations from families that can give them are appreciated.
Georgia Tech February workshops for grades 2-12
Registration is open for K.I.D.S. Club and STEAM Workshop sessions being held Saturday, February 18 at Georgia Tech.
K.I.D.S. Club is open to students in grades 2 through 5. Topics for 2nd and 3rd graders this session are flight mechanics, “TinkerLab” and rollercoasters. For students in grades 4 and 5, there are two tracks to choose from. One track will design a chair and learn about electrical engineering; the other will study application design and health science. (Important note: Application design is a two-part course. Part two will be held on March 11.)
STEAM Workshops are for students in grades 6 through 12. For grades 6 to 8, track one will learn about robotics and chemical engineering; track two will spend the full three hours learning about gardening in the time of climate change; track three will spend three hours on LEGO Robotics. Grades 9 through 12 will design a robotic car using Micro:bit.
Cost to attend is $65 per student. Need-based scholarships, funded by the Georgia Department of Education, are available. Visit the CEISMC BOOST Scholarship page to learn more about scholarship eligibility and submit an application.
UPDATE: SAT and ACT testing for 7th graders restored
In April 2022, in a post about new talent search programs, I wrote that the SAT and ACT were no longer available to students in 7th grade. Taking these above-grade exams can be useful for highly advanced students, and sometimes test scores are requested by summer programs or other selective programs.
I can happily report that, after a lawsuit, both the ACT and the College Board (administrators of the SAT) are again allowing students under age 13 to take their exams on regular Saturday test dates.
Gifted Atlanta 