For students wishing to extend their school year, there are summer programs at local and national universities as well as volunteering with organizations. Here are some opportunities:
Each year The Pennsylvania Governor's School on the campus of Mercyhurst College provides courses in Arts, Agriculture and Entrepreneurship for sophomores. Dealine for applications is usually January.
Harvard Summer School offers courses ranging from drama and music to Chinese and Calculus. Courses run from late June until early August.
The Leadership Institute at Brown University is sponsoring a variety of two-week courses to enrich students' interpersonal skills in areas such as civil rights, global health and conflict resolution.
Butler County Community College and Allegheny County Community College are other local resources students may wish to explore.
Indiana University of Pennsylvania is hosting an Honors college for two weeks this summer. The $750.00 tuition includes room and board, and 30 hours of instruction. Scholarship assistance is available. For more information stop, in the guidance office or go to: www.iup.edu/honors.
Slippery Rock University is offering a visual and performing arts academy July 9-20. Areas such as creative writing, dance, and theater will be emphasized. Registration, room and board is $675. Visit the website at www.sru.edu for more information.
Beginning June 24th, Grand River Academy in Austinburg, Ohio is offering five- and seven-day boarding programs for students. Emphasis is put on social, emotional, and academic growth in courses such as essay writing and Algebra II. For information go to www.grandriver.org.
Several top-flight universities including Yale, Princeton, Georgetown, and Stanford are taking applications for Junior Statesmen Summer School. The tuition, room and
board for the politics and debate program is $4,150. Scholarships are available. Visit www.jsa.org for more details.
Children’s International Summer Village (CISV) is an independent, non-profit, volunteer organization promoting peace education and cross-cultural friendship, through multi-cultural camps and inter-national exchange programs for youth ages 11-18. Month-long excursions to sites in Brazil, Portugal and Norway are just a few of the offerings. For more information, go to www.cisvpgh.org.
The Girls Leadership Institute at Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts, offers girls in grades 7-12 an opportunity to gain social and personal skills through a variety of outdoor activities. Two-week sessions in June/July cost $2,300, which includes room and board. Go to www.girlsleadership.org for more information.
The Northwest Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center and Gannon University are sponsoring the 2008 Health Career Camp. This is a week-long experience for students focusing on the health field as a career. A one-page essay, letter or recommendation and recent transcripts must be filed with the application (available on line or in the Guidance office). Students who are accepted attend free but must have transportation by an adult. Visit www.nwpaahec.org for more details.
Slippery Rock University is sponsoring the Summer Creative & Performing Arts Academy July 7-18. There are a variety of art disciplines for students to explore, including dance, theatre, creative writing and visual arts. For more information and an application, go to www.sru.edu/pages/4233.asp.
