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Summer programming classes in Decatur area
Summer classes for students rising to 4th-12th grades begin next week at 
START:CODE, located in the Decatur / Toco Hill area.
Elementary-level classes, which teach the Scratch programming language, meet once per week for six weeks. Middle- and high-school students meet once per week for four weeks, and learn Python and Java in addition to Scratch. These older students can move into app development as they build programming skills.
Weekly camps in Midtown for rising 1st-7th graders
Midtown International School, located near Piedmont Park, still has spaces available in its summer camps.
Each camp lasts one week and is open to students entering grades 1-7. The campers each week will be divided into an older group and younger group.
Camp themes range from ancient civilizations to volcanoes to visual art.
Midtown International School opened in fall 2013 with an academic approach designed for “innovative” learners.
Aviation camps at Fernbank Science Center for rising 4th-9th graders
Fernbank Science Center in Decatur is now accepting applications for Aviation Camp, a one-week summer day camp for students entering 4th, 5th or 6th grade next fall. Two sessions will be held, June 16-20, and June 23-27, 2014.
First-time campers will learn about the principles of flight. Advanced campers with more experience will try out flight simulators and fly remote-control helicopters. Each camp also participates in a field trip during the week.
For rising 7th, 8th and 9th graders, Fernbank is offering Advanced Aviation Camp, June 30 to July 3. Students will explore the local aerospace industry with field trips and hands on activities.
Fernbank Science Center is owned and operated by DeKalb County Schools, but Aviation Camps are open to students from anywhere.
Aerospace camps at Southern Polytechnic
Middle- and high-school students can learn about the science of flight at aerospace engineering camp at Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta.
In this one-week camp, kids ages 12 to 18 will design, build and fly their own aircraft. They’ll build and launch rockets, use Computer Aided Design (CAD), and try out flight simulators.
Two sessions of this camp are full, but spaces remain in the June 23-27 and July 7-11 weeks.
GSU summer camp coming to Forsyth County
Georgia State University Saturday School has added a second week of summer camp, to be held at Lambert High School in Suwanee.
This CSI forensic science camp, open to students in kindergarten through 8th grade, will take place July 21-25, 2014. Registration deadline is July 7.
As always, admission to Saturday School programs requires that a child be gifted identified by his or her school; however, a new Saturday School student can be granted provisional admission until paperwork is submitted.
VOX Teen Communications summer program
If you have a teen who’s interested in digital media and the Atlanta scene, take a look at VOX Media Cafe. This three-week summer program gives teens ages 13-19 the chance to explore the city while learning about electronic journalism, including videography, photography, interactive media, writing and reporting.
Instructors come from local media organizations such as CNN/Turner Broadcasting, WABE and the AJC.
Each three-week session will enroll only 16 teens, enabling a hands-on, immersion experience.
VOX has been around since the 1990s, publishing an independent newspaper written by teens from around metro Atlanta. The summer program started in 2011.
Applications are now online for the camp and for scholarships to attend.
Plans for DeKalb County Schools 2014 Serendipity summer program
Every summer, the DeKalb County School District offers a day camp called Serendipity for gifted children enrolled in its public elementary schools.
Every spring, DeKalb County parents wonder when they are going to get the details of the program so they can plan their children’s summer schedules and get their kids registered. Two parents asked me about it this week, so I contacted DeKalb’s gifted coordinator, Donyell Atkinson. Here’s what she told me:
Serendipity 2014 is planned for June 16 to 19 at Brockett Elementary School in Tucker. The camp will meet daily from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
As for when parents can get full details and register, Ms. Atkinson writes, “Registration brochures will be distributed to the
local schools upon receipt from vendor.”
If you want to enroll your child, my advice is to check their backpack daily for the brochure.
Mercer offers “College for Kids” in Atlanta, Douglas, and Henry
Mercer Youth Programs give rising 1st-8th graders summer enrichment in math, science and creative writing at four Mercer University campuses.
“College for Kids” and “Youth University” are intended for children who want a challenge working beyond grade level. The camps have a morning session and an afternoon session. Children may take just one class to create a half-day camp, or choose both a morning and an afternoon class to construct a full-day camp.
Students are grouped by grade level, with different themes for each age.
These summer youth programs are offered at the Atlanta and Macon university campuses, as well as at the Douglas County and Henry County Regional Academic Centers.
Note: Science camps are open to rising 3rd-8th graders only, and are not offered at the Atlanta campus. However, the Atlanta campus hosts the Emagination technology camp, featuring workshops in robotics, computer programming, and digital art, open to kids ages 8 to 17.
Summer Camps at University of West Georgia
For those who live in the Carrollton area, the University of West Georgia is offering a series of week-long summer camps for rising kindergarteners through rising seventh graders. Most of the camps are half-day, but they are extremely affordable, starting at just $50 per week.
The camp flyer (PDF) lists all the available sessions, which include LEGO Robotics, wolves, and lots of STEM sessions. Registration is open now.
Gifted Atlanta 