In the midst of a cold winter that brought the term arctic vortex into vogue, Penn State New Kensington will harken back to its summer program and provide an activity break for grade-school children. The inaugural Kids in College Spring Break is a series of workshops and sports camps held on two Saturdays in March.
On March 22, three workshops will be held concurrently from 9 a.m. to noon at a cost of $35. A soccer camp is set from 9 to 11 a.m. for $25. Adventures in Pencil, Paint and Ink and Wild Wacky Worms are geared to students in grades 2-5. The drawing class includes painting fantasy scenes and screen printing. The worm class features red worms, and participants can create their own worm composting container.
Eco-Friendly Cosmetics for Girls provides an opportunity for girls in grades 6 to 8 to create their own lip gloss and facial scrub from natural ingredients. Aspiring World Cup players from 8 to 10 years old can learn the developmental skills of ball control, dribbling, passing and shooting at the Soccer Foot Skills camp. Jordon Valentine, head soccer coach at the campus, is the lead instructor.
Older children catch a break the following Saturday, March 29, as three workshops: 9 a.m. to noon for $35, and two soccer camps from 9 to 10 a.m. for $18 and 10 a.m. to noon for $25; conclude the Kids in College spring activities. 2-D Studio Trio and Solar System Explorers are designed for students in grades 6 to 8. The 2-D course delves into artwork using different media -- paper, canvas and fabric. Designed by NASA, the solar explorers class answers questions about planet earth’s place in the universe. Athletic adolescents, ages 11 to 14, can improve their skills at the two-hour foot skills camp that is taught by Valentine.
Youngsters also have options during the last Saturday session. The Cooking Creations class allows students in grades 2 to 5 to learn how to make healthy snacks, meals and desserts. Valentine offers a one-hour foot skills camp for ages 6 to 7.
“The workshops and soccer camps were established to provide students with a fun learning experience, while exposing them to a college campus atmosphere,” said Debra Novak, coordinator of STEM programs at the campus. “We have gifted instructors who provide creative courses that enrich our students in a variety of topics."
For 25 years, the Office of Continuing Education has offered a variety of academic and sports activities for students in grades one through 12. Each summer, more than 400 youths participate in the hands-on camps. For the past 10 years, the program blended its traditional camps with the Pennsylvania STEM.
For more information, call 724-334-6010.
For a registration form, visit http://www.nk.psu.edu/kidsincollege.