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Space Camp scholarships available
Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala., will soon begin accepting applications for its 2015 scholarship program. Full scholarships cover tuition, room and board for any week-long program, which includes Space Camp, Aviation Challenge, or Robotics summer camps.
Scholarships are awarded in four categories, one of which is academic achievement. Participation in a gifted program qualifies a student to apply in that category.
To apply, a student must be in 4th to 12th grade. Application deadline is Dec. 15, 2014, but the application process is rather involved, so if you’re interested, get started.
Debate teams for grades 4 and up
Ivy Bridge Academy is seeking students in grades 4-12 for its debate teams. The debate program is offered on the weekends at the established campus in Johns Creek and the newly opened school campus in Cumming.
As you’d expect, students learn how to conduct research, organize ideas, and speak confidently before an audience. The debate teams compete in two regional tournaments per semester, as well as in a national tournament in the spring.
Johns Hopkins talent search is your ticket to recommended programs
This spring, I received a recommendation from a reader of this site for the summer programs run by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth. Unfortunately, when I called CTY for information, they said that their summer programs were open only to kids who had participated in their Talent Search program during the school year.
If you’d like to be eligible for future CTY programs, including academic summer programs held on university campuses across the country, you can enroll now in the 2014-15 Talent Search.
The CTY Talent Search is open to students in grades 2 to 8. It operates much like the Duke TIP talent search you may already be familiar with. (In fact, CTY was the regional talent search program that Duke TIP was modeled after.) Your child will need qualifying scores on a standardized test to enter the program. Once admitted to the CTY talent search, a student is able to take above-grade testing that provides greater insight into his or her academic standing. With qualifying scores on the above-grade testing, a child becomes eligible for CTY’s summer programs and online courses.
Both the talent search program and the above-grade testing have associated fees.
Two-week “Sinfo-Nia” camp for young musicians
The Still Waters Youth Sinfo-Nia will host its 25th annual summer day camp, July 7-18, 2014, in downtown Atlanta.
A typical camp day includes musical instruction / rehearsal, lunch, a bit of free time, and occasionally a guest lecturer or performer. The camp is designed for strings players (violin, viola, cello, double bass) of all levels, and for advanced students in other orchestral instruments (woodwinds, brass, percussion).
You can request an application package through the web site and register now by mail, or bring your child’s registration and payment on the first day of camp.
Sinfo-Nia Arts has music programs throughout the school year as well.
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.
Gifted Atlanta 