Once again one of the most unique learning opportunities for students grades 2 to 12 will take place on the campus of Lycoming College when the annual College for Kids youth summer program is held there the week of July 16 to 20. The courses consist of hands-on activities in a variety of subjects including art, rocketry, photography, storytelling, science, and more. This innovative program has been around for nearly 40 years and is only gaining in popularity.

Examples of this year’s classes include: “Aeronautical Engineers,” “Global Arts,” “Junior Rangers,” “Young Inventors,” “Detective Academy,” “Mythic Storytellers,” “Mobile Journalists,” “Picture This,” and “Wizards Workshop.”

A new class explicitly aimed at high school age students has been added to this year’s line-up, expanding the program’s offerings to a broader age group. “Self-Marketing and Social Media Management,” is a course designed to teach students in grades 9-12 how to create their own portfolio and digital resume, as well as how to manage multiple social media accounts professionally. By continuing to add classes for teenagers, the program strives to welcome students back year after year, until they are ready to enroll in Lycoming College as undergraduates.

The new class was suggested and developed by Crystal Vance, a former College for Kids attendee and graduate of Lycoming College. As an undergraduate, Vance enrolled in a web communications class taught by Robin Van Auken, a faculty member at Lycoming College and director of College for Kids. Vance took the class to gain the computer and marketing skills that she wished she had been able to develop during high school, and ultimately enjoyed and benefited from the learning experience — creating a personal hobby blog for herself, as well as a professional website for her parents’ business. Vance returned to College for Kids, last year as an assistant, and this year as the creator of the new class for local teenagers.

College for Kids and Teens offers morning and afternoon workshops, as well as extended care provided at no cost to parents who need to drop off and pick up their children between 8 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
Lunch is offered in the college cafeteria, as another convenience for busy parents.
College for Kids and Teens workshops are taught by dedicated and enthusiastic teachers and are designed to enhance creativity and problem-solving.

One of the most exciting aspects of the College for Kids programs is how it has become a family affair. The Connelly family exemplifies this. Darlene Connelly, and her son, Sean, and daughter, Kate, work with Lycoming College for Kids.

Darlene has been with the program since its inception, and her eldest daughters, Jennifer and Sandra, attended and then worked as volunteers with the program also. Her two youngest children, Sean and Kate, both attended classes, and then they were teaching assistants until they became college-aged and later they became teachers. Altogether, the family has a combined 100 years of service to the College for Kids program!

Per Van Auken, the program’s director, “This family is the glue that holds College for Kids together.”

Darlene, who began as a volunteer all those years ago, and is now the program’s teaching coordinator, told Webb Weekly, “I have been involved with College for Kids for over 30 years. Sean has been at CFK as a student, assistant, and teacher for a total of 20 years. Kate has also come up through the program for a total of 18 years. In addition, my oldest two daughters, Dr. Sandra Connelly-Mills and Dr. Jennifer Connelly, participated at every level of the program. It has been a family affair for us and many others who have enjoyed this program. We are indeed fortunate that Lycoming College continues to support this program. It is unique and truly one-of-a-kind!”

Darlene initially got involved with CFK when she was on the board of P.A.G.E. (Parents Association for Gifted Education), and their outreach committee approached Dr. Mel Zimmerman at Lycoming College about hosting a summer enrichment program for gifted students. P.A.G.E. provided the initial funding, recruited teachers and volunteers, and acquired donations for the two week/half a day classes.

Darlene was asked what prompts her to return to help with College for Kids year after year and she answered, “The students. Giving them an opportunity to experience hands-on educational classes and explore areas of interest that are not available to them anywhere else. It is always an adventure! Each year is different than the last, with new students, returning students, assistants, and teachers, who all bring their own special energy to the program. I love welcoming students who return as assistants and teachers, growing with the program and making the program grow! I have been privileged to work with Debbie Smith and Robin Van Auken for the past 15 years, and their dedication and talents have enhanced and improved this program far beyond its original concept.”

Kate Connelly, who teaches aeronautical engineering (the rocket class), describes her CFK experience this way, “I was involved before my birth, in utero, while my mother was walking the halls of Lycoming College and helping to make this program possible in any way she was needed.”
Kate added, “As a kid, I was constantly the guinea pig for my older sisters who were teaching their own courses. Then, when I was old enough, I was taking courses of my own, impatiently waiting until I was old enough to take Aeronautical Engineering and Young Inventors. Little did I know that Jim Rogers, my teacher for these two courses, would become a mentor to me.”

She continued, “When he could no longer be involved with the program, I was ecstatic to step up and continue the legacy. I teach Aeronautical Engineering and wouldn’t have it any other way. I love watching as the class has become more mixed in my years of teaching, with young girls getting starry-eyed and inspired (like I was as a young sprout) about engineering and space. It gives me hope that the hard sciences are becoming less male-dominated fields and more inclusive to women. I think this program helps to close that divide on all levels.”

Sean Connelly works as a co-teacher with Stephanie Carey to teach Photography courses, sharing the lost art of black-and-white photography and development with artistic students.

“Originally I was involved with College for Kids because my mum taught the ‘Blood, Guts, and Bones’ course! I was too small to attend, but I did hang out a bit,” Sean said. “Every class I took was pretty amazing. One year there was an archaeology course, but most of all I learned more each summer. I’m prompted to come back each year by seeing kids who want to learn material they won’t be taught in school, helping them determine their passions and finding out more about myself!”

He added, “There are so few programs like these. It feels good to have an academic program that’s voluntary, cool, and diverse. It’s a unique experience, and judging from my own times with the program, kids come back year after year. It’s a camp, a vacation, and a ton of fun.”

If you wish to find out more about Lycoming College for Kids, visit its website at http://www.CollegeForKids.org.