Duke Youth Programs, part of Duke University Continuing Studies, is expanding its summer offerings in math and science for academically motivated youth, and the response has been what camp organizers had hoped.
In 2006, Duke Youth Programs collaborated with the Pratt School of Engineering and Duke's BOOST (Building Opportunities and Overtures in Science and Technology) program to offer a Bioscience and Engineering Camp for middle school students. The high school section has been added this year to build a bigger community of science-minded students, according to Duke Youth Programs director Thomas Patterson.
Read More"We quickly filled the second session of Biosciences & Engineering Camp High School and now we've filled a third session," said Continuing Studies director Paula Gilbert.
Likewise, a new math camp already has attracted greater interest. The initial target was 24 campers, but there was sufficient interest to extend the enrollment to 36, Gilbert said.
The math campers will tour several facilities on campus, including the Canine Cognition Center, Lemur Center, and DiVE (a six-sided virtual reality theater), to learn how math is used in everyday life and research. Campers will also have plenty of opportunities to build on their problem solving and analytical reasoning skills through games, logic puzzles, activities and other challenges. Field-trip topics range from math in science and engineering to math's applications in sports and the arts.
Campers find a 'supportive, like-minded community'
The summer programs, begun 30 years ago this summer, now attract around 600 young people from around the nation and world. The first session begins on June 16.
Campers who contributed to a video last year said they bonded with their fellow students while learning more about subjects such as microbiology, environmental forensics and zoology.
"Camp is about exploration, discovery and having fun," says Patterson. "It's a time for participants to focus on their special talents and abilities and to experiment with new ideas and perspectives while enjoying themselves."
The recurring summer youth programs are also expecting a strong season, Patterson said. One program, Duke W.R.I.T.E. (Writing Researching Integrating Technological Engagement) that began last summer as a one-week commuter/residential program, is expanding to a two-week program to give college-bound students more one-to-one time with instructors and a chance to experience more of college life, while exploring more topics, such as digital storytelling.
Meanwhile, the young women campers in Duke ACTION will spend the morning of one of their camp days at medical device maker Becton, Dickinson and Company's RTP facility with women scientists. They tour the labs, participate in experiments and get advice from the women scientists about careers in science.
"The young women comment on their increased knowledge of science and their goal to take more science related classes at their schools because of their experience in the camp," Patterson said.
Duke University Summer Session is also expanding this year to welcome 100 high school students to campus to take a course of their choice for college credit.
Summer Session this year also offers five online courses: Issues & Innovations in American Classrooms, Writing the Experience, Issues & Innovations in American Classrooms, Writing for Public Policy and Data Analysis and Statistical Inference.