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FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE Contact: Marisa Bilicic
June 25, 2003
814-676-6591 Ext. 1215
Kids
In College Participants Experience a World of Wonders
OIL CITY, PA – What do you do with a llama? Area
youth are learning answers to this and many other questions at the Kids In
College summer program at Clarion University–Venango Campus. The program, which
offers Travel, Discovery and Technology Camps for youth in grades K-12, began
June 16th and will run through August 15th. It is run
through the campus’ Office of Continuing Education under the direction of Hope
Lineman.
A visit to an area llama farm was part of the
Travel Camp series offered at the campus. Participants learned about llamas and
how the animals are used as pets and for fiber and showing and how they can
handle an obstacle course. Other Travel Camps include one-day field trips to
Kennywood, the Pittsburgh Zoo, Splashlagoon and a ropes course at Wesley Woods.
Every youth participant receives a Kids In College t-shirt and a sack lunch on
the trips.
Kids In College Discovery Camps include classes
in soccer, crafts, voice techniques, drums and percussion, yoga, hiking, basket
weaving, bead art and more. One of the many new classes offered this year is a
patriotism course which presents elements of American patriotism with
age-appropriate activities. With concerns about terrorism and world events
impacting kids like never before, this class helps youth understand the heritage
of the United States and inspires patriotism.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer innovative
new classes such as the patriotism course as well as perennial favorites like
rocketry through Kids In College,” said Christopher M. Reber, executive dean of
Venango Campus. “More than 250 youth participated in programs last summer and we
hope to see that number grow this year.”
The big attraction is the Technology Camps,
which includes the rocketry course, and draws kids of all ages. Rocketry will
take students souring over the earth. They will make their own rocket, learn
about the principles of flight and launch their finished product at the
Clintonville Rocket Launch facility, but not before they have the opportunity to
watch staff at the facility launch a few of their own LARGE rockets!
Other technology offerings include computers,
which teaches students how to search the Internet, set up Webmail, and publish a
simple Website; electronics labs, which teach students about the functions
of transistors, diodes, circuits, and resistors;
and hot air balloons, which includes lessons on flight, buoyancy, density,
gravity and displacement. Students in the hot air balloon class will make their
own balloons and conduct a test flight right at the Venango Campus.
Of course, no youth program is complete without
Legos, and this year’s Kids In College program provides students with the
opportunity to participate in Lego Play Time, Solar Powered Legos and Mechanical
Engineering. Students building with Legos learn about single and separate
axles, steering, rollers, and friction. They build and work with models to
investigate fixed and movable pulleys and belt drives. The students also learn
the many small processes used in modern manufacturing plants and examine the
role of motion, speed, and movement of parts in the production of finished
products. The use of solar power is used to explain simple machines and adding
the concept of motorization.
For further information about the Kids In
College program, including available scholarships, people can contact Hope
Lineman at 814-676-6591, Ext. 1273 or by email at hlineman@clarion.edu.
Clarion University–Venango Campus provides
high-quality educational programs and personalized services to help students
succeed. Students can earn an associate degree, a bachelor’s or master’s degree
in select areas, obtain a one-year certificate or participate in a variety of
professional development and personal enrichment courses. Clarion
University–Venango Campus is committed to serving the needs of the community.
Special programs offered at the campus include Kids in College, Jump Start and
SeniorLink.
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