College for Kids to be held at William Woods University

6/13/2012 Mary Ann Beahon
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (573) 592-1127

 

While most kids are using their summer to sleep in, students from Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Jersey and several other states, ranging from grades three through nine, are learning how to build rockets on the campus of William Woods University.

The College for Kids: A Summer Exploration, Inc.’s summer program will be at William Woods University for the seventh year, starting June 17.
 
Throughout the week students can choose from several major courses lasting three hours each morning and a two-hour minor course of study each afternoon. Students have opportunities to sample weeklong, intensive, cognitive-oriented studies such as biology, chemistry, classical studies, psychology, rockets and historical mysteries.
 
“College for Kids courses are designed with gifted students in mind, inviting them to direct their considerable talent and energy toward interdisciplinary projects and practical problem solving,” said the director, Sue Craghead of Fulton.
 
“The students engage in service-learning, present facts in a mock trial setting and learn advanced math and science by having the opportunity to dissect and mix chemicals. We nurture students as critical thinkers and creative problem solvers.”
 
Classes such as American Sign Language, Adobe Photoshop and CKNews give students the opportunity to learn new skills. Introductory exploration courses, such as fine arts, acting, volunteering and fitness help meet the needs of gifted students through self-expression and communication dynamics.
 
“College for Kids students surprise even themselves by how much they can learn, achieve and grow in just one short week,” Craghead said.
 
Another class, Pay it Forward, teaches students the importance of community service and helping out. The students will learn the importance of “paying it forward” by doing community service with many different organizations in the Fulton community.
 
Evenings at the camp are filled with team-building and leadership activities. Children participate in such things as talent shows, film-making nights, inspirational speakers and interactive creative problem solving, while also having fun.
 
Local businesses and organizations, such as Center Court, Columbia Sign Service, Inc., Columbia Public Schools, Fulton Public Schools, Fulton Police and Fire Department, Missouri School for the Deaf, SERVE Inc., and William Woods University, assist the program in various ways throughout the week.
 
College for Kids: A Summer Exploration, Inc. was started in 1989 by teachers of the gifted who formed a program for children who wanted to continue learning during the summer.
 
“College for Kids is often a haven for gifted students who find there are others just like them, who value a love for learning, enjoy being challenged at school and have passionate interests,” said Craghead.
 
“It is rewarding and exuberating to see kids who have a hard time finding others like them in school come to the camp and connect with people who they will become lifelong friends,”
 
She added, “Some of our students have became roommates in college and have even married! College for Kids has a 98 percent return rate; once students come and see what College for Kids is all about, they come back year after year.”
 
The program has three sessions: June 17-22 for students in third and fourth grades, June 24-29 for students in fifth and sixth grade and July 8-14 for students in seventh through ninth grade.
 
For more information, go to http://www.collegeforkids.net or contact Craghead at (573) 642-2935 or by email at collegeforkids@hotmail.com.