Howard Community College

CON-ED CO Twenty-nine years ago, Howard Community College's then associate dean, Dr. Helen Mitchell, was curious to know if a summer educational program for children would resonate well within the community. With the help of her team, she put together a listing of 14 courses, promoted them, and in due time, 40 kids had signed up and were on their way to HCC for summertime learning … and fun! Fast forward to today. What began as a small experiment has become a comprehensive, continuously growing and expanding summertime enrichment program, attracting more than 1,600 kids, ages seven to 17 annually. This summer, Kids on Campus will offer 259 continuing education courses, helping children explore everything from arts and crafts to cooking, engineering, business basics, creative writing, and more. "Our summer program keeps young minds active, while also giving students a great opportunity to have some fun," said Sara Baum, coordinator of lifelong learning at HCC, who has helped run Kids on Campus since the program was first launched in 1986. "Our goal is to introduce kids to new things and experiences that will inspire interests or hobbies and, in some cases, even a young person's career path." Some of the courses most in demand cover science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related topics. Minecraft Designers provides elementary and middle school kids the opportunity to design their own characters and buildings for their games. A set of robotics courses are offered for students to build and explore machines and mechanisms. Engineering courses provide hands-on activities for students to learn the basics of pulleys, levers, gears, and more. Other popular courses include Duct Tape Art, which offers endless possibilities for how to create practical, useful items using nothing but strips of sticky stuff; and Myth, Magic and Mayhem, which dives into Kids on Campus Inspires Summertime Interaction, Creativity, and Fun myths, legends and folktales out of the Greek, European and Chinese cultures. Junior Medic is another popular course, inviting kids ages 11-14 to spend a few days dissecting organs and other materials that they otherwise wouldn't have the opportunity to explore until their high school or college years. "A lot of kids come year after year, trying new courses every summer," said Baum. "Some have started as students and have gone on to become instructional aides, and eventually teachers. It shows that this program is leaving a legacy in our community, and I am so proud to be part of it." Visit howardcc.edu/kidsoncampus. 14 Howard Community College

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