Summer is just around the corner. Do you know where your kids will be burning daylight this year?
At Northern Illinois University’s summer camps, your children can learn to write the great American novel, become the next Indiana Jones, sharpen their soccer skills, create video games, design roller coasters or even prevent future wars between humans and robots.
NIU’s day and residential camps run throughout June, July and August, and cover a variety of topics that will keep students in preschool through high school engaged in learning and growing. They also offer students an opportunity to experience college life and interact with university experts.
This summer, NIU has added new camps to the menu.
The College of Engineering and Engineering Technology’s Engineering Summer Academy (July 13-19) challenges high school students to explore a specific area of engineering by performing hands-on experiments in NIU’s state-of-the-art laboratories while working alongside engineering faculty, alumni and current students.
A variety of new STEM camps will be available, including Argue Like a Scientist, where American students will work together with visiting Taiwanese middle school students to explore alternative energy and green technologies.
In STEM Read’s Preventing the Robopocalypse camp (June 15-20), high school students will use Daniel Wilson’s best-selling novel “Robopocalypse” as the basis to explore robotics, art and design, creative writing, and more through hands-on experiences. Wilson will visit the camp and discuss his work with campers.
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming has added Foreign Language and Culture Camp (July 7-11) to its offerings. This summer day camp for students entering grades 6 through 8 will provide campers with hands-on activities where they will learn about German, Spanish and Latin American languages and cultures. Some activities will include exploring food from Germany and Mexico, designing and creating a mural and making piñatas.
Several camps offer merit-based and need-based scholarships. Some camps also offer discounts for early-bird registration, children of NIU employees, returning campers or multiple campers from the same family.
For general information on camp, call (800) 345-9472. More specific contact information is available online.
Liberal Arts and Sciences
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming offers a variety of camps to help students explore the craft behind creative endeavors, dig into dirt or numbers, or explore global issues and cultures.
- Creative Writing Camp: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. June 22-27
- Global Leadership & Philanthropy: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. June 22-27
- Math Camp: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. June 22-27
- Film Camp: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. July 6-11
- Journalism Camp: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. July 6-11
- Foreign Language and Culture: a day camp for students entering grades 6-8. July 7-11
- Speech Camp: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. July 13-18
- Creative Writing Day Camp: a day camp for students entering grades 6-8. July 21-25
- Archeology Day Camp: a day camp for students entering grades 6-8. July 28-August 1
Speech and Language Pathology
NIU’s Speech-Language Pathology Program is offering ON TRACK summer Speech and Language Camps for children ages 3 to 8. These four-week camps are supervised by a licensed speech-language pathologist and conducted by graduate students in speech-language pathology. The camps are designed for children with mild to moderate articulation, phonological, and language delays or deficits and will provide enrichment and maintenance of speech and language skills. Each week will incorporate a theme to target various skills including building vocabulary, grammatical concepts, and phonological processes. Each session will provide campers with group and individual activities.
- Sessions for 3- to 5-year-olds: Tuesday and Thursdays 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. July 8-31
- Sessions for 6- to 8-year-olds: Tuesday and Thursdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. July 8-31
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)
Northern Illinois University is a regional leader in STEM studies. Building on the popularity of community programs like STEMfest, Science Saturdays and the STEM Read, NIU STEM Outreach and other STEM departments are expanding their summer offerings. Students can participate in day and residential camps on everything from the science of art and roller coasters to STEM and health career investigation and more.
- Preventing the Robopocalypse: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. June 15-20
- Nanotechnology: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. June 22-27
- Argue Like a Scientist: Alternative Energy: a day camp for students entering grades 5-7. Students will also gain cultural awareness by learning side-by-side with Taiwanese children. June30-July 3
- Green Energy: a day camp for students entering grades 6-8. July 6-11
- Exploring STEM Through Art: a residential camp for students entering grades 7-9. July 13-18
- Exploring STEM Through Nature: a residential camp for students entering grades 7-9. July 13-18
- Exploring STEM Through Waterbotics: a residential camp for students entering grades 7-9. July 13-18
- Exploring STEM Through Lego EV3 Robotics: a residential camp for students entering grades 7-9. July 13-18
- Exploring STEM Through Chemistry: a residential camp for students entering grades 7-9. July 13-18
- Engineering Summer Academy: a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. July 13-18
- Engineering Amusement: a residential camp for students entering grades 5-7. July 21-26
- Career Exploration (choose one of the following tracks: STEM, Health Sciences, Engineering, Video Game Design): a residential camp for students entering grades 9-12. August 3-8
Sports
Young athletes can take their skills to the next level with the help of top collegiate coaches. Campers train in NIU facilities and are grouped according to age and skill level.
- Volleyball Specialty Camp I: a day camp for high school athletes. June 8
- Volleyball All Skills Camp I: a residential camp for middle and high school athletes. June 8-11
- Volleyball All Skills Camp II: a residential camp for middle and high school athletes. June 11-14
- Women’s Soccer: Keeper/Goal Scorer Camp: a residential camp for middle and high school athletes. June 16-18
- Wrestling: Iron Huskie Camp: a residential camp for middle and high school athletes. June 18-27
- Wrestling-Individual and Team: a residential camp for middle and high school athletes. June 23-27
- Volleyball Specialty Camp II: a day camp for high school athletes. July 6
- Volleyball All Skills Camp III: a residential camp for middle and high school athletes. July 6-9
- Volleyball Elite Camp: a residential camp for high school athletes. July 9-12
- Athletic Training/Sports Medicine: a residential camp for high school athletes. July 13-16
- Women’s Soccer: a residential camp for middle and high school athletes. July 13-16
- Men’s Soccer Elite College Prospect Camp: a residential camp for high school athletes. July 25-27
Video Game Design
The Digital Convergence Lab hosts day camps where students can explore the technical and creative side of game design. The DCL staff will guide students in animation, virtual worlds, character design, story development, logic and even sound effects as they create their games.
- Just for Girls! Video Game Design: a day camp for students entering grades 5-9. June 23-27
- Coed Video Game Design Camp: Section 1: a day camp for students entering grades 5-9. July 7-11
- Coed Video Game Design Camp: Section 2: a day camp for students entering grades 5-9. July 21-24
- Coed Virtual World Design: a day camp for students entering grades 5-9. July 28-31
- Advanced Games Camp: a day camp for students ages 13 to adult (younger students must have attended a prior game lab and get permission from Eric Russell at erussell@niu.edu). August 11-14
Visual and Performing Arts
The College of Visual and Performing Arts’ summer camps offer young artists, musicians, and thespians a place in the spotlight. Campers will innovate, experiment and grow as artists by participating in group activities and personal exercises and by receiving feedback from mentoring artists.
- Theatre Arts – Senior: a residential camp for grades 9-12 (grade completion). July 13-18
- Dance: a residential camp for grades 8-12 (grade completion). July 13-18
- Visual Arts: a residential camp for grades 8-12 (grade completion). July 20-25
- Jazz: a residential camp for grades 8-12 (grade completion). July 20-25
- Theatre Arts – Junior: a residential camp for grades 6-8 (grade completion). July 20-25
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