July 7 - 11   2008

Explore the insides of computers!  Hard drives, memory, video cards, sound cards, network components, motherboards, power supplies and more will be covered - and uncovered - for students to handle and (in some cases) dismantle.  Safety and safe handling of computer components will be stressed.  Small teams of students will assemble a computer from its base components, turn the computer on, and install a new operating system to make a fully functional machine.

Over the river and through the woods – get up close and personal with the Outdoor world on our beautiful UNC Charlotte campus! Learn about entom-ology (that’s bugs), ec-ology (the relationship between plants and animals and their environment), and other aspects of bi-ology (the science of living things).  This is a hands-on, shoes-dirty, fingers-in-the-mud Science camp, so if you thought science was dull, boring, classroom work, this week will quickly change your mind!

MathCAMMP is offered for rising grades 1 - 6.  We have a wide choice of afternoon classes to go with the morning MathCAMMP session: Robotics for grades 1 - 6,  Weather Camp for grades 1 - 2, Art Camp for grades 3 - 4, and Dragon Camp for grades 4 - 6 ...   

(Comprehensively Applied Manipulative Mathematics Program).  Designed to enrich and improve the elementary student's understanding of mathematics, this award-winning program emphasizes skills such as problem-solving, reasoning, and communication.  Each day, students will engage in carefully designed activities using manipulative materials and computer applications.  They will extend their learning through direct application to real-world problems presented in games, videos, stories, and outdoor activities.

PowerPoint Presentation on MathCAMMP at the North American Association of Summer Sessions meeting in Kansas City in November 2006.

   Robotics   (pm)

Basic Robotics for grades 1 - 3: Use high-tech educational robotics kits by Lego Dacta( to build hand- and battery-powered repetitive-motion machines.  In the process, children learn the physics of gears, pulleys, levers, and pneumatics.
Advanced Robotics for grades 4 - 6: Apply basic design principles to build complex machines using batteries, electricity and solar power.  Develop simple Lego computer programs that instruct their machines to perform movement sequences over varying time spans.

*Lego’s not just for little kids, you know!  Their kits are well-known and respected educational tools used in schools all over the world.

   Weather Camp   (pm) for grades 1 - 2

What causes the weather to be hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or windy?  In this exploration of the science behind the weather we experience, you will learn about hurricanes and thunderstorms, rain and drought, and all the different sorts of clouds.  We probably won’t be able to provide a June snowstorm for you, but you can look at beautiful pictures of snowflakes and learn about their shapes.  You can be the 2008 Camps on Campus meteorologist!

   Art Camp   (pm) for grades 3 - 4

After you’ve spent the morning exercising your logical left brain, it’s time to  balance things out by working with your creative right brain in this arty afternoon program.  Be prepared to get messy as you produce your own masterpieces!  See how geometrical shapes you’ll learn about in Math class are used as the building blocks of drawing – maybe your left and right brains aren’t so far apart after all. 

(Heads-up to parents: we will use materials and methods that make it hard to stay clean!)

     Dragon Camp   (pm) for grades 4 - 6

Children who are afraid of dragons should avoid this camp at all costs, but for those who are willing to risk being eaten, this is the camp for you!  Dragon Campers will have close encounters with dragons from around the world.  They will start their dragon quest in Europe where they will join forces with Saint George.  They will then venture to Asia where they will encounter Dragons from Japan and China.  For those who survive, we will create our own Chinese dragon which we will use to terrify everyone who is foolish enough to come to the Friday show.

For parents only: this reading- and writing-based camp is designed by Professor Mark West of our English department to spark interest in creative writing and reading for young people.

Students are introduced to Biology, Zoology and Genetics, as they become expert on one creature, investigate its characteristics, and study how it lives in relation to its environment. They will discover how characteristics are passed down from one generation to the next (that's Genetics), and practice dissection skills on their creature. We will share our research with the class as we view the other specimens. This camp is geared towards middle school students who love the excitement of scientific exploration and are not afraid to “get their hands dirty” in their scientific investigations.

July 14 - 18   2008

Take a look under the surface at what makes nature come alive!  What’s the difference between plants and animals?  (It’s not always as simple as you might think.)  You'll have the chance to examine all sorts of different life forms, and see how scientists research their behaviors and environments in the lab and the greenhouse.  Study identification and classification methods, learn how you can help conserve the natural environment, and research The Strangest Animal Alive!

August 4 - 8    2008

grades 8 - 10

Every move you make uses muscles, ligaments, neurons - and more that you may not realize.  Below the surface of your skin lies a complex network of systems that work together to achieve wonderful articulation and extraordinary feats of strength and flexibility. Get tips from trainers and exercise gurus, and then use both your brain and your brawn to optimize your exercise habits and understand the mechanics of your body.

Click here for the Anatomy schedule.

July 14 – 18   2008

The program for middle school students makes math come alive!  Kids will learn about some famous mathematicians and their discoveries.  One of the most interesting was Blaise Pascal, born long ago, in 1623.  When he was 11 he wrote his first paper, and his father’s reaction was to forbid him to study math till he was 15 so he could concentrate on Latin and Greek.  You might think he’d be happy not to have to do math, but that didn’t stop him: when he was 12, he got into trouble again, for writing his own proof that the sum of the angles of a triangle is equal to two right angles with a piece of coal on a wall.  His discoveries are still used today – and you’ll learn about the most famous one, called Pascal’s Triangle.  Get a workout for your brain cells by solving mathematical puzzles and problems, and exploring the connections between mathematics and art and music.

June 23 - 27   2008

Geometrical Art (am)

Art and Geometry get on really well together!  Whether you’re interested in Abstract Art or in Architecture, you’ll be fascinated at the connections you can make.  From cubists like Braque to abstract artists like Kandinsky, from the non-Euclidean geometry of Escher to the old-fashioned designs of Celtic knots and heirloom quilts – break down the  boundaries between Math and Art! 

Make Geometry come alive through construction, paper folding, and the cool Geometer's Sketchpad software. Learn to understand and appreciate the basic construction and properties of triangles, polygons, and circles. Investigate geometric relationships through continuous variation. Meet the challenge of open-ended problem-solving, and the thrill of discovering results not found in textbooks and possibly even unknown to your teachers. By the end of one short week students will create an animated project that integrates the geometric properties learned, and will use their new knowledge in real-life applications.

A note from the geometry leader:

The Geometer's Sketchpad is a software tool that enables users to construct and analyze geometric figures. This course will provide students with an introduction to the Geometer's Sketchpad software. After an initial orientation, students will complete a series of constructions and investigations designed to further their knowledge of geometry. The list of topics that will frame the investigations include basic constructions, properties of circles and triangles, transformations of geometric figures, the Pythagorean Theorem (and other notable theorems), and trigonometric functions.   So the students will spend most of the time learning to use this computer tool to model and examine mathematical problems.

North Carolina is our home and home to a wonderful variety of wildlife!  The rugged areas of the Appalachian Mountains provide an ideal habitat for black bears; we have 5 species of sea turtles; and in our skies you can see both permanent residents and migratory birds of prey.  Study their habitats; learn how to tell the difference between a kestrel and a kite; look for and make casts of animal tracks.  Discover the dangers that threaten all our wildlife neighbors, and what you can do to help. Be creative as you write your own animal myth and design your own mask.  You will be thrilled and amazed at the exciting birds that will visit from the Carolina Raptor Center!

Learn more at http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/index.php.

August 4 - 8   2008

grades 6 - 8

Jump in the water this summer, in this science-based study of our oceans and where they meet the land.   Learn about estuaries, where fresh water from a river meets salty seawater and where you can see herons, egrets, pelicans, turtles and more.  Fish depend on phytoplankton nurtured by the flow of clearer water, and pollution can have long-term impacts on the health of marine creatures and plants as wetlands are filled in and mangrove swamps destroyed. Learn about the impacts of hurricanes on not only the coast, but everything that uses the coast. Learn what your part in the ecosystem of the ocean really involves. The ocean depends on us and we depend on it!

Health and medicine are two of the hottest career topics today.  Now you can have first hand experience with professionals in the medical field.  Throughout  MEDCamp, students investigate how to treat sports injuries with athletic trainers, research laboratory tests with a pathologist, invent medicine with a pharmacist, videoconference with top medical universities such as UNC Chapel Hill and Duke,  experience work as a nurse in a clinic, advocate for health issues in the community and save a life using CPR and first aid.  MEDCamp gives students an in-depth look at health careers including the skills and knowledge base needed to become a health care professional.  This comprehensive hands-on program emphasizes the important role of science in health-related careers and incorporates exciting demonstrations, medical terminology and health career instruction.  MEDCamp offers site visits to local health facilities, guest speakers from local medical professionals as well as tours of the UNC Charlotte College of Health and Human Services, including Nursing, Exercise Science and Athletic Training.

Here is a link to the 2008 MEDCamp schedule.

This intensive week-long introduction to engineering and engineering technology is part of a National Science Foundation project and the NCJETS (North Carolina Junior Engineering and Technology Society) program.  It will provide exciting hands-on activities in a wide range of engineering and technology disciplines. Campers will work in teams in a variety of design and competition events, culminating in a showcase at the end of the week.

http://www.ncjets.uncc.edu

We really encourage girls to sign up for this great program - Engineering ISN'T just for boys, you know, and girls get lots of encouragement and mentoring here.  Here are a couple of pictures of some of our best Engineering Technology campers!

Caution: This camp is not for the faint of heart!

Students will focus on enhancing their research and writing skills as they are introduced to unsolved cases with claims of other-worldly encounters.  We will explore the 'spookiest' places on campus, indoors as well as outdoors, and we will create our own Tales of Mystery and Imagination*.  Although some of the evidence presented may have claims to be true, we invite the most scientific of skeptics to debunk these mysteries.

(*By the way, this is one of the very best collections of spooky stories, by the famous Edgar Allen Poe.)

grades 4 – 8

Become an Agent for Change this summer, as you improve your research, data collection, reading and writing skills through technology-rich learning experiences.  Then use these enhanced skills to learn how to speak out on issues important to you and to your family and community.  You will study the lives of leaders who have made a difference in our lives, and learn how you can serve and speak out on local, national and global issues.  Throughout the week, you will conduct interviews, write essays, and upload materials to the camp website.

8/4 – 8   2008

The curtain is going up!  Campers will receive age-appropriate instruction and gain experience in acting, singing, choreography and stage presence.  Given the outline of a story, they will write their own lines, rehearse and finally perform the musical for family and friends in the beautiful Robinson Theater for the Friday Show.  They will use music from classic musicals as well as popular modern songs.  Beginning vocalists, actors/actresses and dancers will be welcomed while the more experienced will be challenged.  Acting through the medium of song will develop teamwork and spark your creative potential!

In Chess and Other Board Games, beginning Chess players can spend half a day learning and practicing the Royal Game of Chess with National Master John Lane (who works with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools during the academic year).   The other half of the day will be devoted to the mental challenge of other board and card games like backgammon and checkers.  It’s a fun workout for your brain cells!

Chess for Experts is for chess players who already have experience at the “Royal Game”.  In this age of computers and 8-second sound bites, chess campers can concentrate on this one challenging activity for hours! Aspiring experts can hone their skills and learn advanced strategies by practicing with John Lane and other chess “addicts”.

July 14 - 18,   2008: Mystery Theater

grades 9 - 12

From acting and improvisational basics to more advanced theatrical techniques, sharpen your on-stage skills!  Whether you’re developing your improvisational talent, or want to work from a script, one (or more) of our Acting and Stagecraft workshops, set in beautiful Robinson Hall in our Department of Dance and Theater, is designed just for you.

Comedy Theater - Laugh and the world laughs with you (let’s just hope they’re not laughing AT you!)  Get ready to laugh - and, more important, to make the audience laugh in the Friday show.  From improv to character building, you’ll take a script and add your own unique characters for a comedic performance.  Sharpen your wit, hone your skills, perfect your timing, and prepare to have fun.

Mystery Theater – Law and Order and CSI, move over!  The trial of the century is a “who-dunnit”.  You’ll take a humorous look at both sides of the law as you work on a script to solve a mysterious crime.  This trial of wits pits the cops against the criminals in a monumental struggle to answer the baffling question – who’s the funniest?

So you think you can dance?  Even if you think you can’t (yet), all experience-levels are welcome here, as long as you have energy and interest!  Explore many forms of dance, including contemporary, hip hop, partner dances …  Express your jazzy self through African and Caribbean rhythms, let your abstract side come through with minimalist modern music, learn some cool new moves with Tiffany Kaiser, who also leads the popular Musical Theater camps.  Grow as a dancer and as a person, and have fun!  You’ll be starring in the Friday show, so make sure your fan club can be there.

July 7 – 11   2008

grades 9 – 12