College for Kids registration now open

Posted on: May 8, 2012 1:00:00 AM

Contact: Della Elliott 619-644-7690 della.elliott@gcccd.edu

     As summer vacation approaches, College for Kids at Cuyamaca College provides the perfect combination of fun and learning for elementary and middle-schoolers, with a wide assortment of low-cost classes and activities.

     The program offered through the Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District’s Continuing Education program is available for youths, ages7 to14. Registration just opened, and classes are offered from mid-July to mid-August at Cuyamaca College.

     A new addition to the program is the Youth Boost Career Institute, three weeks of free career exploration for incoming seventh- and eighth-graders interested in the fields of health and medicine; green entrepreneurship; and science and engineering. Due to limited class space, students must submit a minimum 50-word essay signed by a teacher describing their interest in any of the three careers. The last day to submit an essay is May 31.

     Students will be able to talk to industry experts and work on career-related projects, such as creating a marketing plan for the youth entrepreneurship session, putting together a nutritional plan in the health and medicine session, or building a bridge in the science and engineering session. They will also be mentored by high school students selected from a district-supported teacher-preparation program.

     “This a great way to get middle-school kids to start thinking about careers and to give high school students interested in becoming teachers some experience,” project director Tonette Salter said. “In addition to a credentialed instructor, each class will have a high school student assisting. This is a pilot program that we’re hoping will be embraced by the community.”

     Another unique aspect of the grant-funded career institute is the green entrepreneurship segment, designed to introduce the idea of self-employment in the green industry. The three-week institute runs from 9 a.m. to noon Monday-Thursday, July 9-26. 

     “Offering fun and enriching classes during summer vacation is a great way to introduce future students to our colleges,” Chancellor Cindy L. Miles said. “The classes include a host of learning opportunities, including those that may spark an interest in a future career.”

     Besides the Youth Boost Career Institute, College for Kids is offering a series of weeklong summer day camps from 9 a.m. to noon and 1-4 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays featuring a wide variety of workshops in art, dance, fitness, science, media and more. Most workshops cost $80.

     A Children’s Theatre Workshop will help students discover their creativity through theater games, improvisation, singing, monologues, audition techniques and more. Students may sign up for one class or all four.

     Other classes include:  

• Egyptian Art: Hieroglyphics and Pyramid Building
• Egyptian Mummy-making
• Hula Hoop for Kids
• En Garde, Ready: Fence
• Self-defense and Weapons Training. Students will learn stick fighting and swordsmanship in a safe environment. All weapons are padded for safety.
• Curious Culinary Kids, designed to teach children about cooking simple and healthy foods
• Cake Decorating for Kids
• Hand Drumming for Beginners, which introduces kids to the conga, bongos and djembe, a skin-covered hand drum originating from West Africa.
• Glee! In this performance class, students will explore the basic concepts of music therapy and will explore Glee-style movement and music.
• Stomp: Percussion Using Basic Household Items
• Introduction to Music and Instruments: A Hands-on Approach
• Introduction to Drumline
• CSI: Forensics for Kids
• Inventor’s Workshop
• The Amazing World of Biology
• Babysitter Training
• Photoshop Fun, a class in digital photography and imaging using Adobe Photoshop
• Get Animated: Flash Animation, a workshop in creating animated movies using Adobe Flash software
• Writer’s Workshop: Mysteries
• Current Events: Debate and Persuasive Writing
• Extra! Extra! Students will learn how newspaper reporters decide what stories to cover and how they write them.

     For additional information, including online registration, go to http://www.cuyamaca.edu/cfk or call the Continuing Education office at (619) 660-4350.

     Cuyamaca College is located at 900 Rancho San Diego Parkway in Rancho San Diego.