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Bona summer camps sizzle with educational enrichment

in FEATURES by

By Jillian Hammell

Assistant Features Editor

As the spring semester winds down at Bonaventure, talk of summer activities floods campus. However, Bonaventure will not become a ghost town with tumbleweeds rolling down the sidewalks. Groups of middle and high school students will occupy the grounds from July 21 to August 3 for Bonaventure’s second annual summer camp.

According to a university press release, Bonaventure is currently accepting applicants to attend eight academic camps targeted toward kids aged 13 to 16. The camp is divided into two sessions. The first session that will take place from July 21-July 27 includes courses titled STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Arts, Mission to the Red Planet and German Culture, Language and Arts. From July 28-Aug. 3, computer animation and narrative writing, community leadership, holistic health and field biology will be offered at a price of $600. Young students will be able to delve into these different fields and gain interest in a possible career path.

Larry Sorokes, vice president for Grants Administration and Lifelong Learning, developed the academic summer camp last year. Sorokes said the camp provides students with a positive and educational outlook of Bonaventure. The camp also serves as a way for alumni to introduce their sons or daughters to their beloved alma mater, according to Sorokes.

“We want to give young people a chance to experience academics on campus in a hands-on, enriching way, and while the campus is relatively quiet,” Sorokes said. “Many alums look for ways to give their children a taste of the Bonaventure experience that they recall fondly.”

Sorokes hopes that 15 to 20 students will participate in each of the eight programs offered. Along with the academic opportunities, students will have a chance to see through the eyes of a Bonaventure student.

“They stay in the dorms and get their meals in the Hickey,” Sorokes said. “All necessary academic materials are provided and most classes are being taught by our faculty.”

This year, the summer camp welcomes world-renowned historian Bernhard Macek. Macek, visiting from Vienna, Austria, will teach the German Culture, Language and Arts course. Ludwig Brunner, executive director of Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, helped organize this camp.

“Sorokes asked me for ideas for the German Culture, Language and Arts camp,” Brunner said. “I knew of Macek because I am also from Vienna, Austria. Macek has published several books and has the credentials to help the students get a feel for the language. He also has the ability to give them an understanding of art in general.”

Students will have the opportunity to engage in projects within the classroom, according to Lauren Matz, associate professor of English. Last summer, Matz, along with Dalton Hunkins, professor of computer science, worked with four female participants on the Computer Animation and Narrative Writing camp.

“It was a great deal of fun,” Matz said. “The girls had so much enthusiasm about the activities.”

Matz mentioned that the students were to create a four-minute animated film in the course.

“They wrote the script, designed animation, recorded the soundtrack, etc.” Matz said. “It was very funny because they chose to create a spoof of ‘Twilight.’”

Students also have the opportunity to be part of a mock crime scene investigation, which brings their learning outside of the classroom. David Hilmey, assistant professor of chemistry, helped organize the science programs.

“Students will have the chance to use chemistry and instrumentation to collect evidence of a ‘crime’ that was committed,” Hilmey said. “Last year, students were stationed at the local river and experimented with different equipment to acquire the clues.”

Not only will the visiting students focus on academics, they will be able to interact with one another and enjoy field games, karaoke night, ice cream and movie night and scavenger hunts.

“The high school students are getting a really good experience when they visit Bonaventure’s summer camp,” Matz said. “We expect bright students to attend and hope to see the familiar faces on campus in the future.”

hammeljl12@bonaventure.edu

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