KIC participants go through exercises in "The Art and Science of Swordfighting."

Another Successful Kids In College Wraps Up

JENNIFER McMANAMAY
Staff writer

Participants in Tiffany Cummings' "Yoga for Kids" get a workout on the dell.

Close to 100 area third- through eighth-graders descended on campus during the week of June 15-19 for Sweet Briar’s seventh annual Kids In College program.

The students chose two workshops from a menu that included everything from pinhole photography to golf and from decorating cakes to fake fighting for the stage. The workshops were led by SBC faculty and staff — and in some cases, their family members — and local and visiting professionals who taught classes in their fields.

Pam Simpson, who teaches in the chemistry department, coordinates the KIC program. She said there were 14 offerings presented over 19 sessions this year. In addition to the presenters, she had help from seven high school student volunteers, two adult volunteers and a Sweet Briar student.

The classes run for half a day every morning during the week. They are designed to build on each day’s activities to provide a thorough exploration of the topic.

It’s a formula that seems to work both for parents looking for educational summer activities for their kids and for participants. Simpson collected evaluations at the end of the week, but even before then a number of parents told her how much their sons and daughters were enjoying the programs. The kids had their own way of expressing it.

“Several of the students wanted to know if they could come back the next week!” Simpson said.

KIC is an annual summer enrichment program presented by Sweet Briar College for students in the third through eighth grades. It offers in-depth exploration of topics in the arts and sciences led by expert instructors.

For general information about KIC or how to register for next year, check the KIC Web page, where course descriptions and a downloadable registration form will be posted when available.