ECC's Kids' College offers interactive classes
Registration is open for Kids' College, a summer enrichment day camp offering a variety of classes of every interest to children and teens ages 6 to 15.
The program runs Monday to Thursday, June 11 through July 26, in half-day sessions that last four days. All classes are held at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.
The program embraces a noncompetitive, nourishing learning environment and helps children stimulate their minds and satisfy their blossoming passion for art, entertainment, foreign language, cooking, sewing, science and technology.
Children should be registered as soon as possible, as space is limited. All classes are taught by experienced instructors. Materials are provided for the classes, unless otherwise noted.
Kids' College classes include:
• Summer Manufacturing Camp: In this new, all-day camp, students ages 14 to 16 are introduced to the inner workings of manufacturing, including computer-aided design, welding and sheet metal cutting with hands-on projects in ECC's shop facilities. Industry professionals will present students with firsthand information about careers, and students will tour a local manufacturing facility. Students also will design and make their own cellphone holders.
The class is taught by ECC faculty members George Rosa, assistant professor of HVAC, heating, ventilation, A/C and refrigeration; Marc Hucek, assistant professor of welding; and Christopher Sikora, assistant professor of computer aided design. The class runs June 25 to 28 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cost is $149.
• Garden Party Sewing Camp: Sewing 4 Fun Inc. brings another unique sewing camp experience this year as children ages 7 to 10 learn to make matching skirts for themselves and their 18-inch dolls. In addition to the skirts, the children will get to make a tote or backpack, which just might become a favorite summer accessory. Machines, tools, and supplies are included. The class runs June 25 to 28 from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $165.
• Geology Camp/Fossils: Rocks and fossils tell a story and provide valuable records of the plant and animal life and environmental conditions from millions, or even billions, of years ago. Students ages 8 to 12 will learn about fossils - especially the Illinois state fossil. They also will explore the ECC campus to identify some of the rocks in landscaping and even in the ground. There also will be an opportunity for children to create their own mold and cast fossils. The class runs July 9 to 12 from 1 to 4 p.m. Cost is $169.
• Natural Science and Art: Students ages 9 to 11 will have fun learning about the world around them through art projects. They will build a volcano, create an ocean scene, make an astronomy mobile project and more. Media will include papier mâché, paper arts and acrylic paints. Project complexity will be adjusted for age level. The class runs July 9 to July 12 from 9 a.m. to noon. Cost is $169.
• Painting: Students ages 9 to 15 will learn the basics of painting with acrylic paint and explore historical styles. They will create paintings based on student interest and have finished pieces at the end to share. Project complexity will be adjusted for age level. The class runs July 16 to 19 from 9 a.m. to noon for ages 9 to 11; 1 to 4 p.m. for ages 12 to 15. Cost is $169.
• Sewing Tubby Wubby Critters: Sewing 4 Fun will guide students ages 7 to 15 through the process of creating several individual critters, one of which will they will design. These collectible critters are all hand sewn. Additional hand-sewing techniques and survival sewing skills also will be taught in this camp. All tools and supplies are included. The class runs July 16 to 19 from 1 to 4 p.m. Cost is $169.
• White Light, Galaxies, Lasers, and Then Some: Children ages 7 to 12 explore science as a fun process of investigation. Each day, students will conduct experiments and test ideas. Dancing, swirling, pulsating laser light will be part of the Laser Light Show. They will work with a light blitzer as a laser light flashes to music. Students will conduct experiments with a laser pointer, plus lenses and mirrors, as they have fun and learn. Students will build and take home their own kaleidoscope, spectroscope, periscope and constellation watcher. Additionally, they will watch the constellations and learn about all the planets as they take a 3-D adventure into outer space. The class runs July 16 to 19 from 12:30 to 4 p.m. Cost is $195.
For the full list of Kids' College courses and additional information, visit elgin.edu/kidscollege.