Archive
Apply now for fall session of STEM program at Fernbank
The Science, Engineering, Math and Aerospace Academy (SEMAA) program at Fernbank Science Center in Decatur is now accepting applications for its fall session for students in grades 4 to 8.
Sessions will be held on seven consecutive Saturday mornings, beginning September 14.
SEMAA is sponsored by NASA, so participation is free. NASA provides guidelines for the program; however, be aware that the local SEMAA program is not run by NASA personnel.
Although the stated mission of SEMAA is to increase participation in the sciences among under-served populations, admission is open to all, regardless of ethnicity.
You do not have to be a resident of DeKalb County to apply. Spaces are limited and will fill quickly.
Fall computer programming classes at START:CODE
START:CODE, a computer programming lab in Decatur for kids and teens, has opened registration for its fall sessions.
Here’s what they’re offering:
- Elementary lab for 4th and 5th graders, starting in early September. This is a six-week program in the Scratch programming language.
- Starter labs for students in grades 6-12. This is an ongoing program that teaches kids to work in Scratch, Python and Java. You can enroll anytime.
- Homeschool labs, which meet in early afternoons, starting next week. Students begin by learning Scratch and Python; those who complete the first class can continue to a class in Java.
Registration open for Atlanta Public Schools’ 2013 summer programs
Atlanta Public Schools is now accepting applications to its two summer programs: Xanadu, for rising 1st to 5th graders; and the Xanadu Arts and Sciences Academy, for rising 6th through 12th graders.
These programs, which are operated by APS’ Office of Gifted and Talented Education, are open to all, not only to APS students; however, the fees are significantly higher for non-APS students. Scholarships may be available based on financial need.
To apply for either program, you first register online to select your classes. Then, you must present required documents, to show your child’s gifted status, and pay your fees. That must be done in person at the APS Office of Gifted and Talented. Check the FAQ for more information about the process.
Bear in mind that only when you have made your payment is your child’s spot in a class confirmed. In other words, registering online does not hold you a space in the classes you want. Only completing the payment process guarantees your spot.
Good luck!
Lots to choose from this summer at Georgia Tech
Still looking for summer camps for 2013? Georgia Tech has a whole list of summer camps being held on its campus.
The selections include robotics, music production, drama, musical theater, mobile app development, game design, and aerospace engineering.
Camps range from age 8 all the way up to college freshmen. Cost per week is roughly $200-$300 for most options.
Juilliard summer camp for young jazz musicians
The Juilliard School, an icon of music education, will hold its annual Jazz Summer Camp June 17-21, 2013, at North Atlanta High School Center for the Arts. Workshop classes are taught by Juilliard faculty and students and include combo work, individual practice and jam sessions.
Applicants should be 12-18 years old and passionate about jazz. The camp is open to students who play trumpet, saxophone, trombone, guitar, piano, double bass, or drums.
The Atlanta brochure (PDF) has all the details. Application deadline is May 1.
Limited spaces available at campMODA LEGO camps
Kids ages 6-14 can learn to build and operate LEGO robotics at the 2013 campMODA, a program of the Museum of Design Atlanta.
Younger children (6-8) use LEGO WeDo kits to build models and control them via computer software. Older campers (9-14) use LEGO NXT to build models from scratch and write their own programs to control their models.
Some weeks of campMODA are already sold out, but as of this posting, five weeks in June and July still have spaces open.
The camps are held at Colony Square in Midtown.
Information for DeKalb’s 2013 Serendipity summer program
You can’t register yet, but here is the basic information about this summer’s session of Serendipity summer camp, a program of the DeKalb County School District.
Dates: June 10-13, 2013 (That’s not a typo. The camp is four days long.)
Location: Midvale Elementary School
Open to: Students currently in grades 1-5
Serendipity camp is open to children who participated in the gifted program at a DeKalb County public school during the 2012-13 school year. If you have a student in DeKalb’s gifted programs, you should receive a flyer from the school with more details. The county’s gifted coordinator, Donyell Atkinson, told me the full information should go home by the end of April. Registration will take place from the end of April until mid-May.
Rising juniors and seniors invited to UGA Pre-College summer program
If you have a high-school student itching to try out college life, the University of Georgia offers them that chance with the 2013 Pre-College Summer Program.
In this two-week program, students immerse themselves in the independence of college life, living on campus, eating in the campus dining halls, and taking advanced classes in three, liberal arts topics. One note on that: The web page for the program claims the courses are taught by “UGA faculty and staff,” but the course list shows the instructors are all Ph.D. students.
The application deadline is June 7. The application includes two essays, teacher recommendations, and a transcript, so allow yourself some time to pull things together.
Need-based financial aid is available.
UGA Summer Academy offers camps for kids 11 and up
The University of Georgia is now accepting applications for its 2013 Summer Academy, a collection of week-long camp experiences in a wide range of topics. This year’s camps include creative writing, 3D animation, fashion design, robotics, and the ever-popular mini medical school, as well as lots more.
Students can enroll in Summer Academy camps as day campers, if you live close enough to Athens to commute. Or if you prefer to have your child get a taste of campus life, most Summer Academy sessions are available as overnight camps.
Need-based scholarships may be available to cover up to half the cost of the camps.
Georgia Debate Institute this summer at UGA
For the third consecutive year, the University of Georgia will offer the Georgia Debate Institute, a residential camp for high-school students, open to debaters of all experience levels. The institute offers a one-week session or a two-week session.
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. There is a $100 discount for registration prior to May 1, 2013.
Gifted Atlanta 