By Melanie Schefft
513-556-5213

Photos: Provided

May 11, 2017

School’s not out for the summer as children and teens come to the University of Cincinnati campus to explore exciting hands-on learning programs in topics such as art and 3-D printing, drama and music, computer skills and designing buildings (using Legos).

From weeklong day camps to multiweek residencies, UC’s summer programs offer inquisitive minds of all ages the opportunity to work with world-class faculty and experts in the field of aerospace engineering, computer science, geology, biology, business, creative arts and music and athletic clinics in a variety of sports.

These summer programs offer students opportunities to explore the campus, meet the faculty, take fun courses and get a taste of college life –– especially valuable to high schoolers still exploring college options, majors and careers paths.

For instance, Anca Ralescu, UC professor of electrical engineering and computer science, describes UC’s summer programs as a time of enlightenment for those who try new things outside their comfort zone.

“Many students are often surprised to find they have a knack for courses or activities they never thought they were interested in before,” says Ralescu.

“Several high school students who have attended our computer science summer camp in the past have gone on to pursue a computer science degree and, in one case, [this was true of] a student who originally was not very enthusiastic about computer science at all,” adds Ralescu.

Getting down to business

High school students in UC's Lindner Summer Institute: Project Leadership Program participate in award-winning business strategy workshops.

Business-minded summer campers will get a leg up on the college experience by living in a student dorm through the UC Carl H. Lindner College of Business Lindner Summer Institute: Project Leadership Program, which is geared toward women and people of color.

In this program –– for the fifth year in a row –– emerging women leaders and emerging leaders of color that are rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors are immersed in a weeklong learning event that simulates real college dormitory campus life and introduces them to a business education with expert faculty and the multifaceted corporate world.

For more information, contact Adison Nelson (nelsoae@ucmail.uc.edu) or Kris Jones (krisjs@ucmail.uc.edu).

UC's new LEED gold-certified $120 million cutting-edge Carl H. Lindner College of Business scheduled to open in the fall of 2019.

Other summer programs are offered by UC’s College of Nursing and College of Medicine. For example, unique programs for rising ninth- through 12th-graders include UC’s Science, Technology, Engineering, Math and Medicine (STEMM) summer camps. These summer camps also include a family-centered engineering and nursing program for qualifying middle schoolers.

Students and faculty pull an ancient 10-foot mastodon tusk from a creek bed at Big Bone Lick State Park.

Hands-on science and history

Students in K-12 interested in geology and getting their hands dirty at an ancient excavation site should check out the summer dig at Big Bone Lick State Park with UC’s Kenneth Tankersley, associate professor of anthropology and geology.

This four-week course, Surviving Climate Change: Field Research in Midwest Archaeology (ANTH4039), will be conducted at the park as well as the University of Cincinnati Center for Field Studies just 20 minutes from UC’s Uptown Campus. This exciting hands-on, learn-by-doing instruction of archaeological field methods includes site survey (transit and GPS), drill core analysis, geophysics and excavation.

Scientifically, the objective is to collect data that can be used to answer questions about past human adaptation to climate change. While this camp is typically reserved for adults, students under 13 can attend with a parent at a non-matriculating participant rate.

For more information, contact Ken Tankersley at (tankerkh@ucmail.uc.edu).

Art and design

For middle and high school students who want to explore their creativity and expand their skills in a variety of artistic disciplines, UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) offers weeklong day and residential camps during the months of June and July.

In DAAPcamps High School Residential Pre-College Camps, students will spend the week living on campus, engage in immersive design projects, explore Cincinnati’s creative community, and forge new friendships.

For middle school students interested in architecture who enjoy designing buildings in Minecraft, Sims or with Legos, UC’s Cincinnati Architectural Mentoring Camp (C.A.M.P.) is a fun and exciting hands-on building design program incorporating drawing techniques and model building during the second week in July.

Cincinnati Architecture Mentoring Program, or CAMP, was formed in 2006 as a collaborative effort between UC’s School of Architecture and Interior Design, the American Institute of Architects and the National Organization of Minority Architects to improve diversity in the field of architecture. Priority will be given to minority applicants.

Each DAAPcamp includes time spent on studio projects, field trips and social activities for the perfect mix of practice and inspiration in disciplines such as graphic, industrial and fashion design; studio art; 3-D printing for design prototyping; intensive drawing and landscape design.

Take to the stage

Suzuki strings, classical music, dance, theater arts or jazz improvisation are all part of summer offerings at UC’s prestigious College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

CCM offers high-caliber opportunities to collegiate and adult students from around the world during the academic year and the finest arts education in Greater Cincinnati to children during the summer months.

From weeklong day camps to multiweek residencies and elective classes, CCM’s summer programs offer students from early childhood, youth and teen to high school and adults the opportunity to work with world-class faculty and renowned guest artists, all while at the state-of-the-art CCM Village.

Explore more CCM summer programs:

CCM Early Childhood Programs — Each day of this playful camp, future stars will make believe, twirl on their toes, march to the drum and learn about the performing arts all while having fun. Acting, dancing, music making and singing will be taught by talented and experienced faculty. Read more

CCM Youth and Teen Programs — Discover hidden talents, make friends and explore new skills this summer at CCM Preparatory. Our summer programs provide the finest arts education in music, theater, dance and singing available in the Cincinnati area.

Read more

CCM high school arts immersion –– Spend two weeks surrounded by peers from around the nation, while exploring everything from musical theatre to jazz improvisation. Read more

Future Bearcats roar

And while budding performers take to the stage at CCM, future all-stars can  hone their skills on the Bearcats' fields, courts or pool in one of UC’s athletic and recreational summer programs.

Summer camp programs are offered in sports of all sorts. From one-day football camps to 10-week, all-day programs in the Campus Recreation Center, there are many options among the UC Athletics and Recreational camps.

Explore more UC athletic summer camps:

REC Kids –– REC Kids Camp provides recreation-based programming to help develop active and healthy lifestyles among rising first through eighth graders.  Read more

UC Football Camp — Welcome to UC's Luke Fickell Football Camps, among the best and most affordable football camps in the country. Read more

Girl's Basketball Camp –– Join Jamelle Elliott and her state-of-the-art staff as they share over 30 years of combined coaching experience in a 3-day camp. Read more

Mick Cronin Basketball Camp –– The focus of the Mick Cronin Basketball Camp is to develop every player’s skills in addition to building teamwork and a winning attitude. Each day will include ball handling, shooting, dribbling, and passing drills, individual skill contests, half court and full court games.

Read more

Ty Neal Baseball Camp –– UC Baseball Coach Ty Neal offers Prospect Camps for instruction and evaluation on baseball skills and potential for college play. Clinics, open to high school and junior players, feature quality instruction along with a pro-style workout and evaluation by the Cincinnati Baseball coaching staff. Read more

Bearcats Elite Soccer Training and Cincinnati Soccer Academy –– Both soccer training summer camps group players according to age and ability so they can receive the best technical and tactical instruction. Both utilize individual, small group and team settings to help each player improve their skills. 

Cincinnati Swim Camp –– The focus and design of the curriculum is to provide competitive swimmers ages 8-17 an exciting week of camp where they are challenged to improve their stroke technique through mental, technical, and physical training. Campers are placed in groups with other swimmers having similar abilities and goals. Read more

UC Bearcats Track & Field — For boys and girls in grades 6-12, this camp offers Division I training by Olympians, Conference Champions, and All-Americans serving as guest coaches.

Read more

G.O. Elite Lacrosse Camp –– Gina Oliver's elite lacrosse camp will feature advanced skills and concepts taught by some of the best coaches and players in the country. There will be both individualized instruction from coaches and D-1 players as well as an opportunity for team play and scrimmaging and individualized goalie instruction. Read more

For information on additional UC Summer Sessions for all ages:

• UC Summer Sessions  

• Summer Communiversity programs for adults 
• OLLI - Osher Lifelong Learning Institute provides opportunities for lifetime learning and social interaction to the mature (over age 50) residents of Greater Cincinnati.