College For Kids
College for Kids is a program designed for children in grades 2-11. The courses available for these students range from sports, science, theater, art and much, much more. Classes are held each summer in classrooms and labs on the STCC campus. The College for Kids program includes two, 2-week sessions and classes are held Monday through Thursday in two-hour blocks .
Celebrate the 29th Anniversary of the
College for Kids Program with us this Summer
One Student's Opinion
Taken from The Republican
Session 1: July 12-22, 2010
Session 2: July 26-August 5, 2010
College for Kids 2010 Printable Schedule
Registration Process
Call (413) 755-4502 to request a detailed brochure and schedule.
It is best that you call our office at 755-4502 or 755-4225 to double-check on space availability
before submitting your online registration.
The fee for most of the 2-week courses ranges from $109-$149
You can call CBT at (413) 755-4501 or 755-4502 to request the complete application and brochure or register on-line.
Applications will be considered on a 'first-come, first-served' basis and space is strictly limited in all courses. Many courses will be fully enrolled long before the start of classes so early application is strongly recommended. FREE t-shirt or drawstring sportpack for the first 100 students who enroll!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Course content and teaching methods will be directed toward children who have completed the minimum grade level indicated with each description.
Call (413) 755-4502 or 755-4225 for specific class meeting schedule
The program expands each summer to include popular courses from past years as well as new and innovative courses for students in grades 2-11.
Withdrawal Policy
Because we must order supplies and make commitments to instructors ahead of time, the following refund policy applies to all College for Kids enrollments:
For cancellations received at least one week prior to the first scheduled class meeting:
100% of program fee, less a $10 per course registration fee, will be refunded.-
For cancellations received less than one week prior to the first scheduled class meeting:
50% of program fee, less a $10 per course registration fee, will be refunded. -
For cancellations received on or after the first scheduled class meeting:
No refund of program fees will be made.
Scholarship Program
The Center for Business and Technology will offer a limited number of scholarships for students demonstrating financial need. Call CBT at (413)755-4502 or 755-4225 or click here for the separate scholarship application.
Courses for Adults
STCC also conducts a full range of credit courses for adults during time periods compatible with the College for Kids Program. Plan to register for a course and go to college with your kids! Call 755-4089 to request the summer schedule of adult courses.
Session 1: July 12-22, 2010
Session 2: July 26-August 5, 2010
College for Kids 2010 Printable Schedule
Course Descriptions
NOTE: Grade level refers to the grade that the child has completed.
AIRBRUSH TECHNIQUES
Fee: $149
Grades: 6-12
This course will provide an introduction to the use of the airbrush, stencil making, illustration work, and airbrush material techniques
Major topics will include:
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Airbrush Operation: care, cleaning and position
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Illustration: cubes, cones and spheres
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Tools and Materials: tips and boards s Techniques: highlights, midtones, and shadows
Students will have opportunity to choose from a variety of projects including. motorcycle plate, license plate, mouse Pad, cup wrap, or model car. All materials included.
ANIMAL LOVERS UNITE!
Fee: 119
Grades 2-6
Enjoy painting and sculpting your favorite animals. We will learn about creating different animal habitats, behaviors and defenses. Students will learn several methods and approaches to drawing; they will also experiment with color, texture, shape, composition and form. Students will create a diverse body of work using paint, clay, and paper mache and will collaborate on a large group mural.
ART OF PAPER QUILLING
Fee:$149
Grades: 6-9 (Session 1) and Grades 2-5 (Session 2)
Quilling is a beautiful paper craft that is created by the rolling, shaping and arranging of narrow strips of paper to make a variety of decorated items. Quilling is a 15th century art form that is quick to learn and suitable for all age groups. Step-by-step instruction and illustration of the basic traditional shapes will be taught. All quilling supplies will be provided for student use. Each student will complete a practice project and one final project to take home: paperweight, coaster, or photo frame.
ART WITH FANTASTIC CREATURES!
Fee: $119
Grades 2-5
Students will have fun exploring their own mythical worlds. The class will experiment with a variety of mediums including: watercolor, acrylic paint, clay, and papier-mâché sculptures. We will use our imaginations to create different animals, wizards, dragons, serpents, castles, mythical landscapes and LARGE hybrid beasts. Learn about how to draw different creatures and experiment with a wide range of art materials.
BIZKIDS: ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR KIDS
Fee: $119
Grades: 4-8
What is Entrepreneurship? How does an Entrepreneur start a business? Why should I be an entrepreneur? This course will focus on entrepreneurship and basic economic education and will provide participants with hands-on activities that develop team building, social, and communication skills. Students will learn how to organize a business and produce products from the initial product idea through conceptualization, production, pricing, and marketing.
BLACK HOLES AND HYPERSPACE
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
Have you ever wondered about black holes and hyperspace? Join us as we explore the science behind these popular elements of science fiction. Along the way, we will grapple with relativity, quarks, and the many dimensions of space-time. We will use a computer program to simulate several "missions" and to help us visualize the science behind these phenomena and we will also visit selected web sites to enhance our understanding.
CARTOON WORKSHOP
Fee: $119
Grades: 3-6
This hands-on course will focus on technique, types of media and developing style. After assessing the individual student, special attention will be on his/her particular needs and goals. Emphasis will be placed on each individual’s way of seeing as well as the way they interpret what they see. There will be no competition here--everyone has something to offer creatively and the students will no doubt learn as much from each other as they do from the instructor. We will first experiment with the fundamentals of drawing, space and perspective, as well as learning about various types of cartoons and how to create them. The course emphasis will then switch to the individual to bring out his/her own drawing style.
Session 1: July 12-22, 2010
Session 2: July 26-August 5, 2010
College for Kids 2010 Printable Schedule
CIRCUS ARTS: Circus Runaway Survival Course!
Fee: $119
Grades: 2-6
Participants will learn basic circus skills including 3-ball and 3-scarf juggling, plate spinning, balancing objects, devil sticks and basic clowning techniques from David Garrity, a well-known magician and entertainer and Artistic Director of Entertainment Magic. The course will culminate with a performance for family and friends.
COMPUTER ART
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
In this introductory computer art course, participants will use Macintosh computers and the Aldus Superpaint program to explore and experiment with image making, manipulation and scanning photos and other objects. These images will be used as the starting point for lots of fun projects so join us and hang onto your mouse!
COMPUTER KEYBOARD SKILLS
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-8
You will enjoy learning basic typing skills using a challenging game-oriented software package on the IBM Personal Computer. Emphasis will be on teaching the alphabetical keyboard and developing typing speed and accuracy, skills that you will be able to put to good use as requirements for typed reports increase in the higher grade levels.
COMPUTER MAINTENANCE
Fee: $129
Grades: 8-11
The objective of the 16-hour hands-on seminar is to provide an introduction to basic computer maintenance, general PC repair and system hardware upgrades (in accordance with all industry safety standards). The program starts with an overview of basic PC components and various operating systems diagnostic tools. The seminar will then cover PC maintenance including repairing and upgrading assorted hardware such as hard drives, CD-ROM drives, memory chips, CPUs. Other topics covered include common preventive maintenance practices, electrical power, and environmental concerns. Students will be given a book and PC toolkit to keep.
COMPUTER NETWORKS: An Introduction
Fee: $119
Grades: 8-11
Students will learn the basic fundamentals of networking including Ethernet and wireless networks. We will explore how different networking hardware works such as hubs, switches, and routers. The class will complete several hands-on labs where they will make their own cables and configure systems to connect to networks including a wireless network. Students will also learn the basics of IP addressing.
CONVERSATIONAL SPANISH
Fee: $119
Grades: 3-6
This course will focus on learning Spanish in a relaxed, fun atmosphere. Instruction will be given in basic daily vocabulary including numbers, telling time, greetings, days of the week, and months and seasons of the year. Participants will also be introduced to basic Spanish grammar as well as culture, customs, special holidays, and foods. Each student will receive a copy of Spanish in 10 Minutes A Day, the course text.
CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP
Fee: $109
Grades: 5-8
Designed for the student who enjoys writing, this program will emphasize the skills needed to be a successful factual and creative writer. Development of the paragraph, writing descriptions and brief compositions, developing characters, writing short stories, and effective use of dialogue and proper vocabulary will be covered.
CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) SPRINGFIELD
Fee:$129
Grades: 6-10
…A student is KIDNAPPED!
...…There's an ACCIDENT in the classroom!
......…A MURDER is solved!
In this CSI course you will learn to be observant and use your memory skills. You will analyze crime scene evidence (fibers and hairs) under the microscope and develop and use your forensic skills. You will also learn first-hand about dusting and finger printing when the police department visits the classroom. Join us in this exciting course to practice hands-on techniques, participate in activities, and learn the skills of crime scene investigation.
DESKTOP PUBLISHING
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
You will learn how to create dynamic and dazzling publications using Microsoft Office Publisher 2007. Students will create personal flyers, newsletters, brochures, letterheads, business cards, etc. pertaining to pets, favorite animals, hobbies, family reunions, sports, extracurricular activities, school, vacations, etc. No experience with a computer is required—all you need is your creative imagination!
DIGITAL COLORING BOOK
Fee: $109
Grades: 2-5
How would you like to learn to scan and color in images of your favorite cartoon characters from recent movies and TV shows? This course will explore digitizing image files by scanning paper documents into the computer using a flatbed scanner and saving the files for later use in image manipulation software like Photoshop, SuperPaint, DeskPaint, or a combination of these. The fun will begin when the student is shown how to color in his/her scanned image using the software tools. Colors and patterns will be explored as well as combining multiple images into the same file. A large color print of compiled works will be provided at the end of the program.
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-10
Combine our state-of-the-art Macintosh computers with the power of Adobe Photoshop tm to create your own artistic masterpiece! Photoshop tm provides endless opportunities for students to create, edit, and manipulate high-quality images. Students will use digital cameras and explore the STCC campus for interesting photos and will also have the opportunity to bring in photos of their family, friends, and pets to scan for use in creating funny and/or artistic images that they will print in color and take home to show off! Digital cameras provided by the instructor to use during class time only or students are welcome to bring in their won. No previous experience is required.
DIGITAL STORYTELLING BASICS
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
Do you have a story to share? Want to make a mini-movie out of it? This is your opportunity to be the producer! In this introductory, hands-on course students will be exposed to the basics of Digital Storytelling. Individuals will write own story and will use the computer to combine voice, digital images, and music to produce a mini-movie. Stories will be exported to DVD for home viewing. Prerequisite: Familiarity with the Windows environment.
DRAWING A BLANK
Fee: $119
Grades: 3-6
Turn a blank piece of paper into a work of art! This hands-on class will focus on technique, style and the fundamentals of drawing. Learn how to draw what you see around you and how to draw what only you can imagine! Using pencil and paper we will also explore shading, texture, and design. This will be a fun and informative class that will provide the student with the tools to carry over into any form of the arts. Emphasis is on the needs of the individual students to create and develop their own style.
ENGINEERING A CASTLE!!
Fee: $149
Grades 7-11
In medieval times, Castles were the peak of engineering accomplishments! Not only were the walls impervious to attack and the weaponry state-of-the-art, each Castle contained a broad spectrum of specialties that all worked together to keep the Castle strong and productive. This included engineers of all types including Stone Masons, Blacksmiths, Carpenters, Tailors, Artists, Farmers, Musicians, and so many more! Castles were simply amazing places! In this class we'll study how Castles were designed and built using several different Castle books, websites, and multi-media sources. We'll look at the building steps originally used and see how those fit with today's Engineering Design Process and see if we can uncover any ways things could have been done more efficiently. We'll take a peek at what Castle-life was like and how all these different people interacted. After we review the layout and building strategies of Lord Kelvin's castle, we'll do some research and possibly work together to design and build a LEGO representation of some castle components. We may even include some robotic control for our creation! Please join us for a great look at medieval engineering and the beauty and wonder of CASTLES! No experience necessary.
Session 1: July 12-22, 2010
Session 2: July 26-August 5, 2010
College for Kids 2010 Printable Schedule
EXCELLENCE IN YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP (E.Y.E.)
Fee: $119
Grades: 8-11
What is entrepreneurship? How does an entrepreneur start a business? Why should I be an entrepreneur? Students in this program will learn about entrepreneurship and basic economic education and gain experience in Internet navigation, research and keyboarding. Participants will work on idea-generating activities, opportunity recognition, and team building activities. They will also learn critical thinking, mathematical and socialization skills. Students will develop a preliminary business plan, visit the Entrepreneurial Institute at STCC and take a tour of the Student Business Incubator.
EXPERIMENTAL DRAWING
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-9
From Classical drawing to Anime illustration! Young artists will combine traditional drawing techniques with colorful, innovative elements. Students will learn about sketching, shading, line, composition and much more. These conventional tools for drawing will be combined with a variety of media, including pencil, markers, oil pastel, collage, and paint! Together we will expand our definition of drawing, experiment and make unique pieces of art!
FAMOUS ARTISTS – WHAT’S YOUR STYLE?
Fee: 119
Grades: 2-5
This studio class will create a body of work inspired by the techniques, ideas and processes of famous artistes of the past and present. Students will experiment with different styles of art like Pointillism, Expressionism, Fauvism, Surrealism, Realism, Abstraction and contemporary art. Come ready to investigate and play with color, large-scale paintings, unique painting tools, and the wild ideas of art. Prepare to get messy, express yourself, follow your creative process and learn about the master artists of the world.
FANTASTIC PHYSICS
Fee: $119
Grades: 6-9
This course will show you how physics is involved in our everyday lives. You will build rockets, race cars, pendulums, and rollercoasters to investigate how forces, inertia, energy, and Newton's Laws are at work in everything we do.
FASHION DESIGN: An Introduction
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-9
Learn how the couture makes things happen! Take the designs that you see in your head, and put them down on paper. You will learn directly from a fashion design professional how to pull your ideas together with color and styles. You'll also learn about:
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Different styles
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What styles look best on different body types
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Fabric texture and color schemes
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How to find the right fabric for your designs
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What tools are needed in this field and how to use them
INTERNET SCIENCE
Fee: $119
Grades: 6-9
Do you like the internet? Do you enjoy science? Then you'll love combining the two in a course that explores topics such as engineering, wildlife, astronomy, mapping, archeology, biology, and more using the internet as a learning tool. We'll do virtual dissections and biochemistry experiments, view your house from satellite images, and peek at wildlife in Africa and here in America through real time web cams. Prerequisite: basic knowledge of how to use the Internet required.
Session 1: July 12-22, 2010
Session 2: July 26-August 5, 2010
College for Kids 2010 Printable Schedule
MAGICAL SUMMER FUN
Fee: $119
Grades: 3-8
Join David Garrity, a professional magician, for this exciting opportunity to learn how to perform magic under the guidance and instruction of an expert. Cards, ropes, coins, sleight of hand, how to most effectively put together a show-all will be included. Class members will design and perform a high-caliber magic show for parents, relatives and friends at the conclusion of the course. Each student will receive his/her own magic supply kit for use in and after the course.
MCAS MATH PREPARATION
Fee: $119
Grades: 8-11
Prepare for the 10th grade math exam by studying the test preparation strategies and by reviewing the following math topics: number sense, algebra, geometry, patterns, functions, relations, graphs, charts, transformations, co-ordinate geometry, statistics, probability, basics of trigonometry, mean, median, mode, range, ratios, proportions, permutations, combinations. Practice with real questions used in previous exams (published by the State of Massachusetts) and two full-length simulated tests. Professor Karnik, who has trained hundreds of students many of whom have placed at the advanced level (score 260-280), will show you that the MCAS is nothing to be afraid of and can be fun if you are prepared and full of confidence. Textbook included.
MCAS PREPARATION: ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS
Fee: $119
Grades: 8-11
Passing the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) exam is a requirement for graduation from Massachusetts public high schools. This course will focus on a review of content for the 10th grade level of the Language Arts portion of the exam and basic test-taking strategies. Language and Literature basics covered in the course include: how to answer open-ended essay questions, how to read for main ideas and facts, and how to analyze literature for device and meaning. Textbook included.
MICROBIOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
This is a hands-on course for students in middle school or high school that will include some field work on the STCC campus. Participants will learn to look at Macro Invertebrates in the soil, aseptic technique and staining procedures when looking at bacteria, and will conduct studies of air quality and analyses of soil samples. We will also survey recycling practices on campus and test water from different communities in our area. The final project will involve taking polluted, man-made water and learning how to design a filtering system to cull out sticks, leaves , paper and oil.
MINDS-ON, HANDS-ON MATH
Fee: $119
Grades: 2-3
From time to tessellations, from tan grams to timetables--come explore mathematical realms with us. Use your hands and mind to investigate. Learn manipulative place value with Powers of 10 (Base 10) blocks, use calculators, study geometry by building 3-dimensional figures, learn to estimate and eat your answer, figure fractions with pattern blocks, experiment with probability and statistics with Mickey Mouse dice, and even sing a math rap! Gain a concrete understanding of mathematical functions using exciting manipulatives.
NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY
Fee: $119
Grades: 6-11
Learn how to take great pictures of the outdoors. We will start with learning about your camera and how it works, then move on to getting pictures that are in focus and well-exposed. We will explore the wilder places of campus and learn how to find interesting nature subjects. Participants must have access to either a 35mm or digital camera.
PAINTER'S STUDIO
Fee: $119
Grades: 2-5
Calling all artists! Come learn to paint! Explore this magnificent, marvelous, messy art form! Experiment with different kinds of paint and painting tools. Learn the language of color and how to use color, line, shape and texture to make the paint tell your special stories. Participants will take home a series of completed paintings at the end of the course.
POWERPOINT PIZZAZ!
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-8
Students will learn how to create, edit, and print presentations using PowerPoint 2007 including:
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Working with graphics, shapes, and WordArt
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Creating diagrams with SmartArt Graphics
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Creating a Photo Album
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Customizing themes and master slides
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Inserting hyperlinks, animate and use multimedia effects
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Recording sound and inserting sound, movie clips and songs
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Searching the Internet for graphics, sound, and music files to be used in presentations
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Scanning photographs to be used in presentation
Participants will be able to create their own personal PowerPoint presentation incorporating all of these features to save to CD and share with family and friends.
S.A.T. MATH PREPARATION
Fee: $119
Grades: 8-11
Grab your calculator and join us for this exciting class! Professor Karnik has helped hundreds of students excel in S.A.T. math using test-taking strategies and S.A.T. practice examinations in a time-controlled environment. Exam results will be reviewed during class so that students can learn from their mistakes. Each participant will receive a copy of the textbook, 10 Real SATs.
SAT I AND II VERBAL PREPARATION
Fee: $119
Grades: 8-11
This course is open to high school students preparing for the English Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT). Practice exercises from actual past tests will be provided for the sentence completion, analogy, and reading comprehension sections of the SAT I. Special emphasis will be given to the written section of the SAT II: instruction in the generation of clear, concise, grammatically correct prose will be the focus. Each participant will receive a copy of the textbook, 10 Real SATs.
SCIENTIFIC WONDERS FOR KIDS
Fee: $119
Grades: 2-4
Budding scientists in this course will study mealworms...up close and personal, while investigating insect parts, life cycles and behavior. Join us as we test Mystery Powders using the scientific process to explore properties of matter and chemical reagents. We'll study characteristics of animal footprints, and even make plaster casts of a mammal track. Develop observational skills and have a great time as you explore flight with parachutes and airplanes, dissect owl pellets and determine their food sources, learn about seed germination, explore the chemistry of polymers and create nutty putty
Session 1: July 12-22, 2010
Session 2: July 26-August 5, 2010
College for Kids 2010 Printable Schedule
SEWING FOR BEGINNERS
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-9
This course will teach participants how to use a pattern and sewing machine techniques including basic seams, zipper, and adjusting the pattern to fit. Students will construct a basic garment for the fashion show to be held at the conclusion of the program. All materials included.
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND ROBOTICS: AN INTRODUCTION
Fee:$149
Grades: 5-9
Computers are all around us and at the heart of every computer is software. Software provides the instructions that a computer follows to do the amazing things we see everyday! This class will introduce you to the basic elements of computer programming using RobotBASIC. Students will learn about variables, decision blocks, looping structures, and will get an opportunity to write, test, and run several different computer programs. In addition, students will also be introduced to Robot programming and will develop their own virtual Robot with sensors, motors, and a programmed brain that will allow it to undertake simple tasks. We'll finish up with a challenging class project where the students will work together as a team to create a specialized software system. Parents and friends are encouraged to attend the last class where the students will demonstrate their creation! Come get started in the amazing world of computers and have some of the best fun you'll have all summer! No experience necessary.
STRONG GIRLS ART CLUB
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
The Strong Girls Art Club will focus on how we can use art as a way to feel empowered and strong. We will look at a diverse group of artists who create art as a way to express their challenges, inner beauty and dreams. Students will experiment with a variety of materials including, paint, collage, photography, charcoal, and Xerox transfers.
SUPER SOCCER
Fee:$119
Grades: 2-6
Get ready for the Fall soccer season now! Fun will be the primary emphasis in this course with fundamental skill improvement the ultimate goal. Principles to be emphasized include proper striking of passes and shots, use of both sides of each foot, shielding the ball during possession, settling or trapping the ball, creating space, carrying or dribbling the ball with pace and control and much more!!! Participants will be engaged in friendly competition with an emphasis on good sportsmanship.
THEATRE THAT ROCKS!
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
This theatre workshop will focus on basic skills of dramatics and acting with a cool infusion of movement/dance, STOMP-like percussion, poetry, improvisation, mime and performance art with a HIP HOP and ROCK N' ROLL flair! Students and staff will collaborate on a presentation to be performed on the final day of the course. Each student will either perform or work behind the scenes in this COOL DRAMA presentation that will ROCK!
WEB PAGE DESIGN-INTRODUCTION
Fee: $119
Grades: 5-11
This introductory, hands-on course will expose students to the fundamentals of web site design and development. We will focus on creating web pages using a web editor. Topics will include working with images and sound, HTML code, and seeking out additional resources for web page development. A final project will be posted on one of the College’s web servers. Prerequisite: Familiarity with the Windows environment.
WRIGHT FLIGHT AVIATION
Fee: $239
Grades: 7-8
This course will teach students aviation history, basic ground school including simulator training for the Cessna 172 and will provide an introduction to careers in aviation. Major topics include aviation history, principles of flight, physical and mental preparation for flight training, and instrument training on a Cessna 172 flight simulator in preparation for actually piloting an airplane. The program emphasizes the importance of identifying and setting goals and maintaining high academic standards, especially in math and science. It also emphasizes high personal standards such as abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and smoking.
Participants, who complete the program and receive a minimum score of 85 on the exam, will attend the culminating activity of this program, Flight Day, which will be held at Barnes Airport on the Friday following the last class meeting. Course participants, accompanied by a certified flight instructor, will actually get to take-off and pilot a Cessna 172 Skyhawk and will also visit the control tower and learn from guest speakers from many areas of aviation.
Session 1: July 12-22, 2010
Session 2: July 26-August 5, 2010
College for Kids 2010 Printable Schedule
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