This summer, Middlesex Community College’s College for Kids program is debuting a variety of new classes. In MCC’s summer programs, kids ages 8 to 17 engage in interactive activities to explore future careers, learn new skills, meet new friends, and boost self-confidence.
“We are thrilled to offer a line-up of popular returning and new and exciting programs this summer,” said Ellen Wright, MCC’s Assistant Director of Lifelong Learning and Workforce Development. “While our students enjoy collaborating with their friends on topics they wouldn’t normally learn in school, they also gain skills that develop their academic interests that may plant the seeds for potential future careers.”
Favorites such as Dungeons & Dragons, Jewelry: Design/Build and Science Discovery Lab are returning this summer. New options include Art Time, Artistic Roadmap to Your Goals, Cartooning/Caricature Drawing, Cookie Decorating, Dance Fitness, Fit Kids, On the Spot Improv, Science Discovery Lab, Science Experimentation Station, Game Design and Introduction and Intermediate Coding.
In Art Time, students create crafts using different materials, from pompom rugs to wish bracelets, and more. Artistic Roadmap to Your Goals allows teens to develop a plan to reach their goals through art. While Cartooning/Caricature Drawing teaches skills toward one of the most popular art forms, students in the Cookie Decorating class learn new techniques with various types of cookies and frostings.
Students in Dance Fitness learn to build technique, balance and strength through different styles of music. In Fit Kids, students play fun games and activities, from traditional sports and playground games to walks around the campus, yoga and body weight exercises. On the Spot Improv teaches the basics of improv through playing games and creating scenes, including active listening, quick thinking and imagination.
"My goal when teaching improv is to have kids feel safe to use their imagination and to have fun doing it,” said Alexis Bucci, the class instructor and MCC alum. “We work on short form improv in the camp and talk about two main ideas – how to set up a good scene and creating characters. We use a variety of theatre games to work on these skills throughout the week!"
Young scientists in the Science Discovery Lab learn about hypothesis and theory through experiments, while the Science Experimentation Station dives deeper into scientific concepts. The new Game Design class shows students how to create and shape the mechanics and rules of a game, as well as builds skills such as planning out timelines, playtesting, design and implementation. Both the intro and intermediate coding classes offer students 12 to 17 a better understanding of different programming languages.
Programs are offered in Bedford and Lowell, featuring five weeks of full- and half-day programs from July 7 to August 7, Monday through Thursday. Full-day programs run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and half-day programs run 9 a.m. to noon or 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Students who take two half-day programs to make a full day can stay on campus for lunch in between the two sessions.
Taught by public school teachers and professionals, College for Kids topics include STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), arts and crafts, baking, aviation, photography, fashion design, online gaming and game design, filmmaking, and fitness.
Learn more about MCC's summer programs, email College for Kids, or call 781-280-3663.