From science and chess to acting and sword fighting, the "Kids In College" (KIC) summer enrichment program at Sweet Briar College has something to spark the curiosity and imagination in kids of all kinds. This year's weeklong event for third- through eighth-grade children will be held on campus from June 14-18. (see details below).

KIC classes - led by Sweet Briar faculty and staff members - will for the second year provide an in-depth and fun-filled educational experience for children around Lynchburg and Amherst and Nelson counties and beyond. Students choose two classes for the week, and instructors build upon each day's activities to provide a thorough exploration of the topic. Classes of 10 to 14 students allow for personal attention and guidance through a variety of stimulating subjects.

Pam Simpson, director of KIC and the SBC chemistry lab, said the program is a complement to students' classroom endeavors during the traditional school year.

"These are classes kids normally wouldn't be able to take," she said. "Kids don't get to study music and chess in elementary school, unless they are in the Extend program in Amherst County or some equivalent in Lynchburg or Nelson County. This program gives every child the opportunity to study these subjects in depth."

While students are certainly drawn to classes that reflect their interests, scheduling circumstances sometimes lead them to new horizons. Simpson said she recommended a science session for a student who couldn't get into the classes he originally wanted.

"The parent said his child wasn't really a science person," she said. "I explained that it was an inquiry class and the instructor would make it a lot of fun and I'm sure her child would enjoy the activities ... Someone may find they have an interest in something they'd never considered before. By taking a class, it may open their eyes to a new avenue."

KIC offers more traditional classes such as "Science Investigations," "Art and Architecture," and "Music" - but with a twist. The science class focuses on inquiry-based, or investigative, methods of answering questions about the scientific world. Students in the architecture class will make a mosaic on a Mac computer and design a "dream dorm room," while music students will actually compose a simple piece in class.

Science instructor Jill Granger, SBC associate professor of chemistry, said her experiments are based in fun as well as seeking knowledge. "Students will learn how to do scientific investigations," she said. "We'll investigate things like which bubble gum has the most sugar or blows the biggest bubbles or which paper towels are the strongest - basically looking into how do scientists work."

Other classes definitely travel beyond the realms of public school curriculum. In "Pinhole Photography," students will make a working camera from an empty box and develop their own pictures. "Spark of Electricity" students will make a mini-motor and levitating airplane, and kids in "Chinese" will learn how to draw classical Chinese characters and how to have a simple conversation in modern standard dialect.

Some other KIC classes include "Act It Out" (acting), "Creative Choreography and Dance," "Bugs!" (outdoor insect study), and "Introductory German."

Based on a generous donation from a Sweet Briar alumna, 31 need-based scholarships were granted to KIC participants to cover half of the program's $75 fee, which also includes a KIC T-shirt. Several volunteers from Sweet Briar and the surrounding community will be on hand to assist students, instructors, and parents.

With the help of many others, including co-coordinator Karen Summers, Simpson has been working feverishly to make KIC as fun and smoothly running as possible. But all the effort and running around is well worth it.

"It will be a lot of fun," Simpson said. "There's a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of happy, smiling faces around. They'll be learning and won't even know it!"

"Kids in College" details

When: June 14-18, 9 a.m.-noon
Where: Guion Science Center, Babcock Fine Arts Center, Williams Gymnasium, Benedict Hall

Daily Program Schedule:

• drop off 8:35-8:50 a.m.


• class 19-10:20 a.m.


• class 210:40 a.m.-noon


• pick upnoon-12:15 p.m.

Class Descriptions

• SCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS How do scientists work? In this class we'll use the methods of scientific inquiry to answer important questions about the world around us.
  Instructor: Jill Granger, associate professor of chemistry


• BEGINNING MUSIC Like the piano? Learn how to read notes
  and music and play them on a keyboard. (3rd-5th graders)
  Instructor: Nicholas Ross, visiting assistant professor of music


• MUSIC Learn about musical notation, rhythm, intervals and chord notation. Compose a simple musical piece. Basic knowledge of a musical instrument and the ability to read notes is required. (6th-8th graders)
  Instructor: Nicholas Ross, visiting assistant professor of music


• ANIMAL BEHAVIOR Bring your hiking boots because you'll con-
  duct your own animal observations outside and in the laboratory after learning the scientific techniques used to study animal behavior. (3rd-6th graders)
  Instructor: Brian Cusato, assistant professor of psychology


• CHESS Learn to play a great game of chess. Beginners and up are welcome. Learn the four-move checkmate and the mystery
  of the en passant move! Become strategy rich, and cash in your pawns for queens.
  Instructor: Thomas Loftus, foundation grants officer


• CHINESE Learn how to draw classical Chinese characters, become skilled at having a simple conversation in modern standard dialect, and study Chinese contributions to world culture-Great Wall, Qinshi Huangdi's Tomb, The Silk Road, Chinese painting, and ceramics.
  Instructor: John Goulde, associate professor of Asian studies


• SPARK OF ELECTRICITY Experience a hands-on exploration of electricity and magnetism. Make a mini-motor and levitating airplane while learning why lightening strikes and how the earth
  is a giant magnet.
  Instructor: Marcia Yochum, research assistant


• ART AND ARCHITECTURE Make a mosaic on a Mac computer. Design your dream dorm room and plan home renovations. Paint a self-portrait. Create a stained glass window. Go on an architectural treasure hunt. Explore the wonderful world of art and architecture through daily activities.
  Instructor: Christian Carr, assistant professor of arts management and
  acting director of the Sweet Briar Museum


• PINHOLE PHOTOGRAPHY Somewhere between art and science is something that seems like magic. Make your own working camera from an empty box and develop pictures in a real darkroom.
  Instructor: Nancy B. McDearmon, registraral assistant for the Sweet Briar Art Gallery


• INTRODUCTORY GERMAN Learn to use German in a simple conversation. Read some elementary texts and have fun learning the German language.
  Instructor: Ronald Horwege, professor of German


• THE ART AND SCIENCE OF SWORD FIGHTING An active introduction to the sport of foil fencing, including skills, history and the basics of competition. All equipment provided.
  Instructor: Jennifer Crispen, associate professor of physical education, athletics, and recreation


• WHEELING YOUR WAY TO WELLNESS Using the Wellness Wheel, students will explore wellness in five important areas: physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual.
  Instructors: Guy Brewer, chaplain; Rena Brewer, special guest instructor


• ACT IT OUT Students will have an opportunity to explore many of the different areas of the theatre including acting, voice and movement, and improvisation.
  Instructor: Loretta Wittman, assistant professor of threatre


• CREATIVE CHOREOGRAPHY AND DANCE Want to learn ballet, jazz, and modern dance? Like making up dances? Love to perform? Come learn what it's all about in this class!
  Instructor: Mark Magruder, professor of dance


• INSECTS: Eat or be eaten! Does a caterpillar know what to eat? How do praying mantis catch flies? Let's do experiments and find out what insects eat and what eats them.
  (6th-8th graders)
  Instructor: Linda Fink, professor of biology


• BUGS! Insects live in ponds, on flowers, on trees, and under ground. We'll find them, catch them, and study them, and then we'll let them go. (3rd-5th graders)
  Instructor: Linda Fink, professor of biology