Summer Learning
Calvin College will host a Summer Learning Opportunities Fair on Saturday, March 20 at the Calvin Fieldhouse from 9:30 am to noon.
Says Calvin's Rhae-Ann Booker (left), one of the organizers of the event: "The Summer Learning Opportunities Fair is intended for parents, educators and young people from kindergarten through high school, and for anyone interested in educational opportunities for youth. The idea is to bring together in one place representatives from a wide variety of West Michigan colleges and universities, people who can provide a hands-on, interactive exposure to the learning opportunities available for youth of our community."
Booker works for Calvin as the director of pre-college programs, an effort by the college to build college aspirations and support the education of youth, especially youth who live in at-risk communities. She says the upcoming Fair will provide a wealth of information about college and university sponsored summer programs.
For example, the Calvin College Entrada Scholars Program will be represented. Entrada brings high school juniors and seniors of color to Calvin's campus each summer for an intensive college immersion experience where the students take an actual Calvin course and earn actual college credit. Cornerstone University will be at the Fair with information on its annual Summer Journalism Institute, which trains high school students in interviewing, writing, reporting and photography skills. Michigan State will be on hand to talk to students about its College of Engineering pre-college summer programs, while Kendall College of Art and Design will offer info about various art camps. And Grand Rapids Community College will provide students with answers to questions they might have about the GRCC summer computer camp.
All told Booker expects at least 25 summer opportunities for students to peruse on March 20. Her advice for parents and students? "Get a jump on summer by attending the Fair."
The event is sponsored by Bank One and is a program of Pathways to Possibilities, a Calvin and local church pre-college youth initiative.