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2025 Courses

1. Acting ­­– Julie Roberts Boggess
Learn various acting techniques, from method acting to improvisation. Free your creativity and become more comfortable in front of an audience. Learn to break down a script and prepare a monologue. Through imagination, improvisation, vocalization, and movement activities, you will have fun and become prepared for the stage.

2. Actually, It IS Rocket Science! ­­– Ecil Miller
This course explores the fascinating world of aerodynamics through three key topics: rocketry, the Magnus effect, and parachute systems. You will develop a comprehensive understanding of the forces at play in the design and performance of rocket-powered vehicles, the unique role of rotating bodies in altering airflow, and the principles behind effective parachute deployment and design.

3. Ages Through Art ­­– Melody Haase
Have you ever wondered why Pollack's paintings look like a colorful paintball explosion? Or why Picasso's paintings look like x-rays? How about the hidden meaning of keys in a Renaissance painting? In this class, we'll discover the amazing styles and secrets of the Renaissance, Impressionism, Cubism, and Modern Art movements. Get ready to discover the secrets and create your very own masterpieces! Unleash your creativity and have fun with art!

4. "America the Beautiful" ­­– Why It Truly Is!  ­­– Bethany Spencer
Explore the majesty, grandeur, and diversity of America with a focus on our National Parks, forests, lakeshores, riverways, coastlines, and scenic byways. Discover places you never knew you wanted to visit!  Become a travel planner, mapping out a future journey (or journeys!) for yourself by delving into videos, slide shows, photographs, scrapbooks, photo and art books, atlases and maps, brochures and postcards, and National Parks magazines.  Discover why America used to be called the "Great Melting Pot" and why now it's more like a tossed salad!!  Finally, learn why you never really have to leave America's shores to have the most spectacular travel experiences you can imagine.

5. Bucket Drumming ­­– Felicia Shepherd
If you love making music with others and performing, this class is for you! We will learn the basics of how to read music and build rhythms (beginners welcome!), as well as explore different drumming styles and grooves. We will use buckets, trash cans, or even chairs to make music - think STOMP! As a group, you will perform both during class and for all the campers at the end of SCATS!

6. Clowning ­­– Nick Wilkins (“Broadway the Clown”)
Study the art of clowning with an emphasis on clown history, clown skills, and the different types of clowns. Learn about clown makeup application, costuming, improvisations, gags, slapstick comedy, stilt walking, unicycle riding, balancing, prop building, juggling, magic, and balloon sculpture – all from a Ringling Brothers-trained clown.

7. Crime Scene Investigation ­­– Angela Hill
Get ready to step into the shoes of a real crime scene investigator! Over the next few weeks, we'll uncover the secrets hidden in fingerprints, footprints, DNA, and more, using scientific techniques to crack the case. From analyzing a messy crime scene to piecing together the evidence, you'll learn how patterns and clues can reveal the truth. Prepare to sharpen your observation skills and think like a detective as we solve a final crime!

8. Discover Russian ­­– Ekaterina Myakshina
Do you love adventure and discovering new things? Then get ready for a fun virtual trip across Russia! You’ll learn the basics of the Russian language and explore incredible natural sights in the world’s largest country. Hop on a virtual train from Moscow to Vladivostok, and along the way, discover cool towns, tasty food, and people. Join us for an exciting journey filled with language, culture, and fairy tales!

9. Disease Detectives: An Introduction to Epidemiology ­­– Ecil Miller
Become a disease detective! In this minds-on, hands-on class, students will explore how illnesses spread, investigate real-world outbreaks, and learn how scientists track and stop diseases. Through simulations, lab experiments, and team challenges, you'll learn to think like an epidemiologist and help solve public health mysteries.

10. Double Threat: Writing and Performing Original Monologues ­­– Julie Roberts Boggess 
If you are a writer and a performer, this is a class for you! Throughout the two weeks, you will create two original monologues: one comedic and one dramatic. You will work on improving your performance skills and feeling more comfortable in front of the camera. This class is perfect for any skill level and is sure to help you grow as a writer/actor.

11. Eco Explorers: Protect. Explore. Act. ­­– Rachel Johnson
Get ready to explore how changes in the environment shape the survival and success of living things! Through outdoor investigations, creative challenges, and real-world action projects, you'll uncover the ways ecosystems respond to change — and how your actions can make a real difference.

12. Exploring Order Through Dystopian and Sci-Fi Short Stories ­­– Nona Croom
Let's explore the ideas influencing authors when writing dystopian science fiction together, studying authors such as Ursula K. Le Guin, Carrie Vaughn, and Ray Bradbury! We will analyze character and plot development and explore how societies respond to rigid systems of order. Through discussions, research, and engaging activities, we will explore questions such as who decided what order should look like, and what happens when it is taken too far? You will have a chance to take over the world with your own dystopian short story.

13. The Legacy of Ancient Greece ­­– Brooke Morgan
Explore the fascinating world of ancient Greece and its mythology! In this engaging and interactive summer camp class, students will embark on a journey through the rich tapestry of ancient Greek culture and mythology and discover how it continues to shape the world we live in today. Through a blend of storytelling, discussions, and creative activities, students will gain a deeper understanding of the patterns throughout mythology and the profound impact that ancient Greece has had on various aspects of modern society. 

14. Math in Game Shows ­­– Nick Skaggs
Game shows have become a staple of American television and entertainment. Contestants have been making deals – and sometimes saying "No Deal" – to try and win money and prizes for decades. This class will explore the math behind some of our favorite game shows to discuss strategies and advantages. If this class sounds interesting to you then come on down, because you could be the next contestant for this class.

15. Nature's Shifting Story: Discovering Scientific Change ­­– Amber Weinberg
Have you ever wondered how mountains form, why animals adapt, or what causes a chemical reaction? In this class, we’ll explore how scientific processes like erosion, evolution, and energy transformations constantly shape our world. From shifting continents to adapting species, you’ll discover how change is a powerful force in nature. Get ready to investigate, experiment, and uncover the science behind the natural changes all around us!

16. Nazi Germany & The Holocaust ­­– Ron Skillern
The Holocaust, the persecution and murder of six million European Jews and millions of other victims during World War II, was a horrific event in history, and its causes and consequences remain relevant today. Through critical reading, research, and discussion, you will examine the implications of the Holocaust in your life. We will explore the nature of indifference, racism, and genocide as well as our roles as citizens of a democracy. The course will include an introduction to the Holocaust, Nazi propaganda, antisemitism, and documentation of victims

17. Patterns in the Real World ­­– Kennedy Smith
Have you ever wanted to explore real-world data and patterns? This course is for you! You’ll work with your classmates to look at different types of data, figure out what it means, and connect it to real-world problems. At the end of the course, you’ll create a project to show how data can be used to solve problems or make a difference. Along the way, you’ll practice working as a team, sharing your ideas, and thinking about how what you’ve learned can help your community.

18. The Power of Pop Culture ­­– Avery Wilmurth
Ever wonder how your favorite music stars, TikTok creators, or social media influencers seem to take over the world? In this class, we’ll dive into the power of pop culture—from viral dance trends to powerful social campaigns. We’ll explore how celebrities use their fame to shape opinions, set trends, and even kick off social movements. By looking at who has the power (and how they got it), you’ll see how pop culture goes beyond entertainment—it’s shaping the world we live in.

19. Problem Solving ­­– Nick Skaggs
Have you ever wondered how you can attack big issues (identity theft, rising sea levels, environmental impact)? Do you think that you are too small and these problems cannot be solved by you? This class will show how anyone can think about large issues that affect us all and take one step at a time to solve these problems. We will dive into ways to think creatively and how to approach reasonable solutions that can be applied to real-world scenarios.  

20. "Sound" Decisions ­­– Matthew Nelson
Every instrument began somewhere, sometimes as an artistic experiment, sometimes as a mistake, and sometimes built to create a specific sound. Throughout time, from the lyre to the synthesizer, sounds change. Music changes. Are you ready to discover how shape, materials, and craftsmanship affect sound? This might be your chance to design the next “big” noise. In this course, you will explore the differences of many instruments, use tools to measure changes in sound, and design instrument prototypes of your own.

21. The Surprising Chemistry of Change: Fun with Reactions! ­­– Chrissy Bramer
Dissolve mercury dimes in acid to determine the amount of silver in them, investigate colligative properties by making ice cream, turn milk into a bioplastic, and make rockets using rubbing alcohol to explore combustion reactions. This class will teach the basics of chemistry and apply knowledge with memorable experiments. 

23. Why Things Change and How We Grow ­­– Brittany King
Have you ever wondered why everything keeps changing—your friendships, your interests, even how you see the world? In this class, we’ll explore the idea of change through big questions and bold thinkers like Alan Watts, who says change is part of being alive; Sam Harris, who challenges how much control we really have; Jordan Peterson, who believes change helps us grow up strong; and Ben Shapiro, who says facts and logic should guide how we deal with it. Through stories, games, creative projects, and lively debates, you’ll explore how change shows up in your own life—like starting a new grade, making tough choices, or becoming more independent. You’ll learn how to face life’s twists and turns with curiosity, confidence, and a sharp mind. If you like asking deep questions (or just arguing for fun), this class is for you.

24. Voices of Change: Community Building Rhetoric ­­– Kaylee Moore
Are you passionate about making a positive difference in your community? In this class, we will explore how individuals from the past and present have used their voices to promote issues that are important to them, to strengthen and promote change in their communities. We will study the art of rhetoric: analyzing persuasive arguments that effectively reach the target audience. By the end of this course, you will begin to exercise your own voice to promote the issues you care about in your community. 

 

 

 


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 Last Modified 6/20/25