Barry McNamara  |  Published March 23, 2017

College For Kids

Annual summer enrichment program to return with lots of new classes
Students at last year's College For Kids at Monmouth College decorate their rockets prior to launch. Rockets Away is one of nearly 5...
Students at last year’s College For Kids at Monmouth College decorate their rockets prior to launch. “Rockets Away” is one of nearly 50 class offering at this year’s College For Kids, which is scheduled for June 12-23. The registration deadline is April 25.
Monmouth College’s popular student enrichment program, College for Kids, will return for its 37th year, June 12-23.

The annual program, which serves the needs of gifted and talented children in the area, is open to qualifying students who will be in fourth through ninth grades in the fall. Tuition is $160, and a limited number of scholarships are available. The registration deadline is April 25.

Each student takes three classes, choosing from such subjects as fine arts, languages, computers, math, business, literature, writing, communication, logic, science and social studies.

Classes begin at 9, 10 and 11 a.m., and students move on their own from classroom to classroom within the College’s Center for Science and Business. In lieu of final exams, the last day of class is reserved for project-ending activities and an open house for parents.

Included among nearly 50 class offerings are “I Survived the Titanic,” the Star Wars-themed “In a Galaxy Far, Far Away,” “Worms” and “The Neuroscience of Zombies.” Monmouth College biology professor James Godde will instruct the latter class, which is one of 16 new course offerings. The College will also be represented among CFK’s teachers by faculty members Germain Badang, Kevin Baldwin, Tom Best, Wendi Bolon, Marjorie Bond, Jo Eary, Theresa Nelson, Tim Stiles and Jordan Van Dyke, staff member Marcie Beintema, current student Emma Vanderpool ’17 and graduates Amy Gustaf Freitag ’07, Pam Bowman Ide ’89 and Rik Williams ’15.

The College for Kids program draws more than 400 children annually, challenging students with collegiate experiences that are different from a regular classroom, according to director Kathy Mainz.

“Instructors use teaching methods appropriate to a college classroom, including discussion, inquiry, laboratory and hands-on activities,” she said.

Mainz, who also serves as the College’s biology lab manager, has more than 25 years’ experience working with gifted/talented students, and has directed Monmouth’s College for Kids program since 2008.

For more information, email Mainz, call 309-457-2361 or visit the College for Kids website.
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