Backyard Bird Count for young scientists
It’s a little late notice, but this weekend — including Monday — is the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, which gives ordinary folks the chance to help collect data on local bird populations. All you need to do is spend 15 minutes recording the number and types of birds you see in one location, then send your data to the scientists. Your work helps ornithologists study how bird populations are growing, declining, or changing their ranges.
If you’ve got a shutter-bug in your home, they can enter the GBBC photo contest by sending in a picture by March 1.
If this weekend just won’t work for your young bird watcher — or if one weekend a year isn’t enough — you can count birds anytime using eBird, which collects data from all over the world for ornithologists, educators, and conservation biologists.
Tellus workshop teaches the basics of digital astronomy
Kids can learn to capture photographs from the Smithsonian’s robotic telescopes by taking part in the Digital Astronomy Workshop, Friday, March 1, 2013, from 8 to 11 p.m. at the Tellus Museum in Cartersville.
The workshop will teach participants how to instruct the telescopes to capture images for download. As “homework,” these newly trained digital astronomers will be expected to process and share their best images with Tellus. Some of the images may be displayed at the museum.
Open to ages 8 and up. $15 for Tellus members, $30 for non-members. Call 770-606-5700, ext. 417 to register.
On your marks, get set . . . CEISMC!
Georgia Tech promises to go live tomorrow with registration for its P.E.A.K.S. summer programs for elementary, middle school and high-school students.
For elementary school kids (rising 4th-6th grades), there will be three, one-week sessions on LEGO Mindstorm robotics.
Middle-schoolers (rising 6th-9th grades) have more choices, including robotics and app development.
For high-schoolers (rising 10th-12th grades), there are sessions covering architecture, finance, app development, roller coaster physics and more.
All camps are Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Georgia Tech campus. Instructors are a mix of Georgia Tech professors, Tech students, and math and science teachers from the metro Atlanta area.
Scholarships for current 7th graders with financial need
High-achieving, seventh-grade students whose families have limited incomes are encouraged to apply for the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s Young Scholars program. Applications are being accepted through March 21, 2013.
The Young Scholars program pays for enrichment activities — such as summer camps, music lessons, and distance learning classes — for students who are academically solid and financially challenged. (Wondering what “financially challenged” means? Applicants must have adjusted family income of $95,000 or less, and the Foundation reports that the average family income of its scholars is $25,000 a year.)
Students must apply during their seventh-grade year. Those selected enter the program in 8th grade and continue as Young Scholars through high school.
The application package requires tax forms and teacher recommendations, so give yourself time to get everything together.
VOX summer program for teens interested in media
Just added to our Summer Programs page: VOX Media Cafe, a summer program for teens ages 13-19 who are interested in journalism, creative writing, photography, videography and design — essentially, the tools of modern storytelling.
Instructors include volunteers from local media organizations such as CNN and the AJC, as well as other local writers and artists. Each week-long session will enroll only 12 teens, enabling a hands-on, immersion experience.
VOX has been in operation for many years, publishing an independent newspaper written by teens from around metro Atlanta. The summer program is now in its third year.
Applications for the camp and scholarships to attend are online now.
Summer Science Academy at Emory registering now
The Emory University School of Medicine is now accepting registrations for the 2013 Summer Science Academy, open to students who will be in high school in the 2013-14 school year.
The academy, which is operated by the Office of Multicultural Medical Student Affairs, is an effort to open the world of science to girls and members of minority groups, who are statistically under-represented in scientific professions. However, all students are welcome, without regard for gender, race or ethnicity.
The two-week program offers lectures, labs and field experiences in scientific areas including chemistry, biology, genetics and human disease. Students can attend a day program or choose a residential program and live on the Emory University campus.
The deadline to apply for the residential program is March 15. Applicants will be selected based on their interest level, grades and letters of recommendation.
For the day program, registration is first-come, first-served.
Financial assistance may be available.
DeKalb School of the Arts accepting applications for 2013-14
DeKalb School of the Arts has released its application for admission for the 2013-14 school year, and is hosting information sessions for prospective students.
DeKalb School of the Arts is a public school within the DeKalb County school system which offers intensive education in the visual and performing arts. Students must apply and audition for admission.
Information sessions will be held at the school on Monday, Feb. 11, and Wednesday, Feb. 20, at 6 p.m.; and on Saturday, March 9 at 10 a.m.
Applications for School of the Arts are due by March 29, 2013.
Winship Cancer Institute summer program offers hands-on experience in biomedical research
Current high-school juniors with an interest in biomedical research can apply now for the Winship Summer Scholars Research Program, to be held at Emory University’s Winship Cancer Institute.
Students who are accepted into the program will first learn about the science of cancer in a classroom setting. Then, each student will be paired with a research scientist or clinical oncologist who is actively engaged in research at the Emory University School of Medicine. These mentors will guide the students as they work in biomedical research labs on the Emory campus.
Program dates are June 3 – July 12, 2013. The application requires a transcript and letters of recommendation. Application deadline is Feb. 11, 2013.
Note: This program is open only to rising seniors attending high schools in the greater Atlanta area.
DeKalb school choice season is upon us
Open enrollment for school choice in DeKalb will take place from Feb. 11 to March 1, 2013. This includes enrollment for the county’s high achiever magnet schools.
If you’re thinking of applying for a school outside your attendance zone, this week is a good time to get ready. Two big things to do now to prepare are:
1) Check out the school choice catalog to learn about the options and the enrollment process. (Note: This is the 2012-13 catalog. The 2013-14 catalog isn’t yet available, but I’ve been assured by the county office that the information hasn’t changed, other than the enrollment dates.)
2) Create your “e-portal” account so you will have access to the system to apply for enrollment at the school of your choice.
If you want to learn more about your options, the DeKalb County School District will host its annual School Choice Expo Fair this Saturday, Feb. 2, at Stonecrest Mall from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Spring break technology camp in Roswell
Creative Career Academy in Roswell will offer a day camp during spring break, April 8-12, 2013. Campers will learn computer animation, game design, app development and web design.
The camp is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. daily. Most campers will be between 10 and 16 years old, but slightly younger kids are welcome.
Creative Career Academy also offers after-school programs in technology, art, foreign language and more, and has some classes during daytime hours to accommodate homeschool students. They also have a summer camp, although the complete summer line-up is still under development.
Gifted Atlanta 