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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.
Virtual STEM camp for girls
STEM Gems summer camp, designed for girls rising to grades 6 through 9, will be held online the week of June 26-30, 2022.
Founded by engineer Stephanie Espy, STEM Gems aims to connect girls who have an interest in STEM with women who work in STEM careers, so that they can envision their own futures. To that end, girls participating in the summer camp will attend live interviews with select STEM professionals. The camp also includes hands-on activities.
Thanks to a grant, all campers rising to 9th grade will receive full scholarships. To request a scholarship, parents must complete a scholarship application by this Thursday, June 9.
Online research program for high-schoolers
Pioneer Academics is an international program which connects high-school students with university professors to conduct guided research in their fields of interest. The program is now accepting applications for summer 2022.
I haven’t done a lot to vet this program, so you should do your due diligence to see if it’s a fit for your child. Their website talks a lot about how good Pioneer Academics will look on college applications, but they also seem to have a genuine interest in giving students the opportunity to do formal research — something that can be elusive for high-school students.
If you want to learn more, your best bet is to sign up for an information session. Applications to the summer program are due by April 10.
Tuition for this online-only program is $6,450. A limited number of need-based scholarships are available.
Summer programs at Georgia Tech
Georgia Tech has opened registration for its online and in-person summer programs.
Summer STEAM Whistle Workshops will be offered as an online-only option. These are one-week courses during June and July for students who will be rising into grades 6 through 12. Middle-school courses vary, but have an emphasis on coding and robotics. Only one course, an introduction to computer animation, is offered for high school students.
The Summer P.E.A.K.S. program is scheduled to be held in person, with classes for students rising to grades 2 through 12. Programming is listed separately for elementary school, middle school, and high school students.
University of West Georgia summer camps for grades 3 to 12 now registering
[An update to last month’s post about summer programs at the University of West Georgia]
UWG has opened registration for the day camps it will offer this summer.
Academic camps for students rising to grades 6 through 12 are listed in the UWG registration system.
In addition, UWG will host West Georgia Youth Science & Technology camps for students rising to grades 3 through 7.
Summer research program at Georgia Tech for APS students
The College of Sciences at Georgia Tech is recruiting high-school students who attend Atlanta Public Schools for a new summer research program in the natural sciences.
The Summer Research Academy will match each student with a Georgia Tech laboratory in their field of interest within the sphere of natural sciences (think chemistry, biology, physics — disciplines that explore the natural world). Students will spend seven weeks completing a research project from start to finish, including reading scientific literature, planning experiments, analyzing the data they collect, and presenting their findings.
The program is open to students who will be at least 16 years old when the program begins in June. No prior research experience is required. Georgia Tech is especially interested in including students from groups that historically have been underrepresented in science and technology fields.
The Summer Research Academy is being funded by the College of Sciences, and therefore is free for participants. The application requires two essays, a high-school transcript, and two references. The deadline to apply is March 13.
Gifted Atlanta 