Summer Explorations 2011 – Middle School

Visit our Summer Explorations Day Camp General Information page for additional details.

Registration Form

Click HERE for the Registration Form (for Middle School classes)

Class Descriptions

Session 1: May 31 – June 10

a.m. Horseback Riding at Pembroke Farm ($220)

There will be three teachers: Lynne Day, BHSI, Carol DeVelice, CHA, and Ashley Jarrell, an experienced young rider and teacher. Students will arrive at 8:00 and depart at 12:00. The hotter parts of the morning will be spent indoors at the farm, working on various equine projects. Riding will be done early, with a lesson on horseback scheduled most days. We’ll invite family and friends on June 10th at 11:00 am to watch the students progress with their equine projects.

p.m. Fishing – Dr. Monica Rodgers, M.S., J.D.

Come discover the great fishing holes in Tuscaloosa County. In this class you will learn where to fish and how to fish. You will discover the types of fish native to Tuscaloosa waters and how to catch them. We will also focus on the conservation of our water sources and discuss environmental concerns pertaining to public water sources.

Session 2: June 13 – 24

a.m. SIMS: Tuscaloosa Crisis Response – Mr. Robert Harris, B.S.

a.m. Spanish Countries & Culture – Mrs. Kerri Lowery, M.S.

Check the map as we start with geography to find all the countries whereSpanish is spoken in our world. We will be learning fun facts about each countrysuch as food, clothing, location, and history. We’ll start with Mexico and headsouth to the Caribbean and South America plus don’t forget Spain!

p.m. CSI – Forensics/Science/Technology – Dr. Monica Rodgers, M.S., J.D.

How would you like to be a crime scene investigator? In this class you can! We will usescience and technology to solve a crime. There will be a “crime scene” to analyze and tocollect evidence. We will forensically analyze that evidence to determine whocommitted the crime. We will analyze blood evidence, fingerprint evidence, and more!

Session 3: June 27 – July 8

(holiday on 4th of July)

a.m. Playground Physics – Coach Denise Moody, M.S.

Simple machines are all around us! Without their help, we wouldn’t be able to accomplish half of our daily work! Come tour the area around Capitol Park to examine the physics of our local playgrounds and experience these machines at work! Hands on physics learning right in our own backyard! Lots of outdoor games and summer fun will be included since our bodies have levers, too.

p.m. Survival Skills – Dr. Monica Rodgers, M.S., J.D.

What would you do if you were lost in the woods, attacked by a wild animal, attacked by a stranger, or even caught in a storm? Knowing how to survive in these situations can not only save your life and others, but can give you skills that set you apart in the job market!

Session 4: July 11 – July 22

a.m. Speaking Spanish – Ms. Kerry Lowery, M.S.

Let’s get practical about what you want to learn to say in Spanish! Want to talk to friends? Order a meal? We’ll role play with mock scenarios, games, and puzzles. We’ll learn to identify food, count, learn prices, find directions—even locate the bathroom!

p.m. Leadership SIMS – Mr. Robert Harris, B.S.

Spend two weeks engaged in this simulation to develop your leadership skills. We’ll study Mayor Walt Maddox’s leadership in the recent disaster relief efforts in Tuscaloosa following the April tornado. Then, we’ll study the efforts of other leaders at the local, state, and federal levels of government. We’ll interview leaders to find how they plan for long-term relief. Mr. Harris works each year at Alabama Boys State.

p.m. ACT Prep – Dr. Monica Rodgers, M.S., J.D.

Do you want to improve your ACT score? If the answer is YES, then this is the class for you. Games, drills and technology are some of the tools we’ll use. We will focus not only on the material covered in the ACT, but also on test taking strategies proven to increase your score!

Session 5: July 25 – August 5

a.m. Drawing & Art Basics – Mr. Dan Rountree, M.A., D.M.

How do artists work? They observe closely and learn the basics of drawing first.Then, we add skills such as and mixing color. Fieldtrips to several artists’ studios will give our students a chance to meet working artists and to see their work. A portfolio of the student’s work will be collected and sent home on August 5.

p.m. Mid-Summer Middle School Math – Mr. Dane Blumthal, B.A., M.A.

Success in mathematics increases with familiarity and practice. Re-enforce your child’s mathematical skills and prepare them for a successful start to the coming year in this individualized summer session. Challenging practice and exploration of real-life applications make Middle School Math the start of a great beginning!