Sweet Briar College will host its fifth annual “Kids in College” program 9 a.m. to noon, June 18-22. A summer enrichment program for current third through eighth graders, KIC offers an invigorating exploration into topics in the arts and sciences.

Led by Sweet Briar faculty, staff, alumnae and other members of the College community, KIC classes provide an in-depth, fun-filled educational summer experience. Students from area counties participate in two classes of their choice each morning throughout the week. With small classes of 10-12 students, participants get personal attention and guidance through a variety of fascinating topics.

This year’s classes include the following:

Art and Architecture

Make a mosaic on a Mac computer. Design your dream dorm 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, director of the Sweet Briar College Museum/assistant professor, arts management.

Beading 101

Have you ever admired the beautiful beadwork on American Indian clothes or wanted a necklace just like the one you saw on a Sioux warrior in the movies? Now you can have one and say you made it yourself!

This class will teach you the basic stitch called a “basket weave.” From there, you can expand on your own and make jewelry, decorate clothes and crafts. When you finish with this course, you will have completed a piece that can be used as a necklace or a charm for a key chain or purse. Instructor: Patricia Trout, housekeeper, Sweet Briar House.

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: Kevin Phelps, director of dining services.

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: Samantha Angus, SBC Class of 2005.

Creative Embroidery

It’s fun and easy to decorate clothing with embroidery! Create your own designs, pick your colors, and learn how to use a needle and thread to transform a plain T-shirt into a one-of-a-kind item that everyone will envy. Instructor: Cynthia Fein, secretary, office of the eean.

Fitness FUNdamentals

Do you want to know how much water is in your body? Or how to get in shape like college and professional athletes? Then this is the course for you! Join Shelly Taylor, SBC head athletic trainer, for fun-filled activities that will introduce you to fitness and nutrition.

German for Kids

Using games, songs, media and activities you’ll learn German vocabulary, expressions and about various German cultures. This class will focus on listening, speaking, reading writing and fun!

The program will be prepared to fit the level of each child’s German knowledge and age, so students who have participated before are welcome to join us again. Instructor: Tiffany Cummings, director of international studies.

Imaginative Improve

Through games and role playing, this class will explore the creative process of theatrical improve for Grades 3-6. Instructor: Geoffrey Kershner, adjunct instructor, theater.

Introduction to Golf

This class will include an introduction to the fundamentals of golf for all ability levels with emphasis on safety and fun. Fundamentals include grip, posture, alignment, balance, golf course etiquette and golf club design.

Students will be given drills to take home and practice.

Please bring a 7 iron with you to class. Instructor: Blaise Whittle, administrative assistant, physical Education.

Karate KIC: An Introduction to Black Belt Leadership Training

Leaders are not born … they are made! This course will teach students how to become leaders at home, school and in their community. Martial arts teach far more than kicking, blocking, and punching!

Students will learn life skills such as confidence, goal setting, self-discipline, integrity and Black Belt Attitude ... all while having fun with exciting martial arts skills and drills.

Students also will learn about nutrition, physical fitness and the importance of healthy activity. Join us for a fun week of karate and add some kick to your summer! Instructor: Amanda Schwink’03, chief instructor, Amherst Karate Academy.

Knitting

Enjoy a week of fun and knitting! Beginners and students with knitting experience are welcome. We will have a vast array of yarn colors for you to choose from or you can bring your own special (fuzzy! sparkly! bumpy!) yarn for your project.

If you bring your own yarn, please be sure to bring the matching size needles as well.

There is no required project, but the teacher will come with project ideas for those who are just starting out. Would you like to make a scarf, a hat or even a dog sweater? Whatever you want to make, we’ll have fun figuring out how to do it together! Instructor: Tiffany Cummings, director, international studies.

Learn to Play the Piano

Have you always wanted to know how to play your favorite pop tunes, hymns and songs? Then join us in our state-of-the-art piano lab to learn basic chords, rhythms and note-reading.

You will be surprised at how quickly you can pick up the rudiments of music. There are no prerequisites for this course. Limit of eight per class. Instructor: Anna Billias, Sweet Briar College choir accompanist.

Learn to Tap Dance!

How do tap dancers make so many sounds with only two feet? Whether you have already taken lessons or don’t even know what a tap shoe looks like, this class will teach you to love all that is tap. Bring tap shoes if available, but all you really need is your feet.

Come learn the basics and feel the rhythm! Instructor: Julia Pleasants, Washington and Lee Class of 2008 and daughter of Craig and Sheila Pleasants (Virginia Center for the Creative Arts).

Nature Explorers

Participants, Grades 6-8, will take a “walk on the wild side” while exploring Sweet Briar College’s vast natural landscape. We’ll visit old forests and young fields, marshes and meadows, streams and ponds in search of wild creatures, plants and nature’s mysterious outdoors!

Under expert guidance, students will explore environs on foot, while learning a variety of naturalist field skills. A complete list of what to bring and how to prepare will be provided to registrants. Instructor: Michael Hayslett, adjunct professor of environmental studies.

Old-Time Banjo Music Fun

Participants will learn the basic method of Old Time or “clawhammer” style banjo playing (popularized by Grampaw Jones, Ralph Stanley and others), simple tunes to take home (including Civil War songs), history of the banjo, as well as other colorful songs and some accompanying fun instruments (jawharp, bones, jug, etc.).

This will be team-taught by Sweet Briar musicians, and students will be treated to a mini-concert or jam. Some banjo experience is helpful but not required. Instructor: Michael Hayslett, adjunct professor of environmental studies.

Outdoor Adventure Skills

Learn fun and challenging outdoor skills like orienteering, fire building, constellation navigation, knot tying, and camp crafts. Have fun with outdoor leadership and team building challenges.

Be sure to wear comfortable clothes and wear or bring closed-toed shoes. For Grades 3-5. Instructor: Joan Lucy, director of the leadership certificate program, co-curricular life.

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 McDearmon, registraral assistant for the Sweet Briar Art Gallery.

Sleuthing the Truth

Junior detectives will learn forensic techniques to solve mini crimes. Delve into fingerprinting, ink analysis and several other techniques used by the crime scene investigators to find the truth. Come join in the fun! Instructor: Todd Anderson, science instructor, James River Day School.

Soccer Fun with Coach Shaw

Coach Shaw will explore the basics of soccer in an entertaining “team-oriented” environment. Individual skills of dribbling, passing, shooting and ball control will be addressed, as well as team skills of ball possession. Instructor: Paul Shaw, lecturer and chair of physical education and varsity soccer coach.

The Art of the Fake Fight

Using the art of “stage combat,” students will learn to fall, roll and fake their way through a fight! For Grades 7-8. Instructor: Geoffrey Kershner, adjunct instructor, theater.

Where in the World?

This class will visit several countries around the world. Students will explore the physical geography and local customs of the countries as well as “strange, but true” facts for each.

We will also find out what daily life is like for children living there, and most importantly, we will sample some different foods! Please be sure to note any food allergies. Instructor: Jill Gavitt ’97, assistant director of admissions/special program recruitment.

YOU Can Save the Earth

We will investigate environmental problems related to human population growth and natural resource consumption using simple demonstrations, hands-on experiments, and group discussions.

We will examine sustainable resource use and empower participants to think globally and act locally with group challenges, eco-crafts and examples of existing children’s accomplishments.

Children will be expected to do some homework assignments. Activities will occur both indoors and outdoors. Please dress to get dirty and wear tennis shoes. For Grades 3-5. Instructor: Tonya Van Hook, entomologist/Monarch butterfly conservation biologist and research assistant in biology.

Registration is due by the end of May, and forms are available here.

The program cost is $80, which includes a choice of two courses, a KIC T-shirt and classroom supplies. For more information, please contact psimpson@sbc.edu or ksummers@sbc.edu.