
College for Kids provides an enriching, educational, and fun experience for rising K - 8th grade students! This innovative program gives children the chance to expand their horizons by exploring a topic of interest. Children will work with experts (JMU staff/students, teachers, etc.) to discover talents they never knew they had, explore new ideas/fields of study, and develop a new passion for learning!
GRADES: Rising K - 8th
DATES: June 23 - 27, 2025
TIMES:
AM Half Days- 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM
PM Half Days- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Full Days- 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Students who participate in the AM half day option will choose one AM course.
Students who participate in the PM half day option will choose one PM course.
Students who participate in the full day option will choose two courses- one AM course and one PM course. Full day students will need to pack their own lunch.
PROGRAM FEE: Half Day Fee $225, Full Day Fee $300
LOCATION: JMU's Memorial Hall
AM Course Options:
Children's Literature with Art, Crafts, & Science (Rising K - 2nd Grades): Do you love stories? Do you love arts, crafts, and science experiemnts? What about when we put them all together? During each session, students will hear stories and then create arts and crafts and experiment with science. Topics will include weather, dinosaurs, animals, and more! Come explore stories in a hands-on, fun and interactive way!
Ocean Explorers (Rising K - 2nd Grades): Get ready to make a splash! In this course, we’ll dive into all kinds of fun activities to learn more about many unique ocean animals. By making DIY shark teeth necklaces, an ocean in a bottle, and painted pufferfish, students will be fully immersed in all aspects of ocean life. If you want to have fun, try new things, and make friends while, become an Ocean Explorer today!
Messy Masterpieces (Rising 1st - 2nd Grades): Get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into a world of colorful chaos with Messy Masterpieces! This hands-on art adventure is designed to let kids explore their creativity in the messiest (and most fun) ways possible. From swirling their fingers through vibrant paints to flicking splashes of color across a canvas, they'll unleash their inner artist with exciting techniques like splatter painting, sponge stamping, and even mesmerizing shaving cream marbling. Students should wear clothes that can get messy!
Acting Adventures: (Rising 1st - 3rd Grades): In this course, children will be introduced to the fundamentals of acting in an interactive, entertaining format centered around new "missions" to complete each day. For example, at the beginning of class on day 2, students will open a case file that will reveal their acting mission of "working as an ensemble." This will then include activities such as completing an obstacle course as a team, untying from a human knot, and learning how to craft a scene as a group. Other days will include missions centered on improvisation, musical theatre, comedy acting, and more. Students will learn the basic elements of acting and the performing arts, have the chance to create their own scenes, collaborate with each other, and most importantly, have a great deal of fun!
The Lost Worlds: Exploring Ancient Civilizations & Myths (Rising 3rd - 5th Grades): Are you interested in time traveling to the past? Join us as we dive into the fascinating worlds of ancient civilizations and mythology! Through hands-on activities like creating our own mythological creatures, building architectural structures, and designing ancient armor, campers will learn about the mighty gods and heroes of many cultures. They'll uncover the secrets of pyramids and ancient temples, try their hand at storytelling, and even participate in an epic hero’s quest scavenger hunt! Get ready for a week of creativity, imagination, and adventure as we explore the rich history and mythological wonders of the past!
Scientists in Training (Rising 3rd - 5th Grades): What's the best part about science? Doing crazy experiments and learning how to apply them to real life! Learn more about the world of science through fun activities and hands-on experiments. Be prepared to get creative and messy as we explore a broad range of topics, including space, the environment, volcanoes, and more!
Dance Fusion Frenzy: A Journey in Movement (Rising 4th - 5th Grades): In this high-energy dance course, students will explore a variety of movement styles through fun warm-ups and across-the-floor exercises. Students will use props like scarves and ribbons to inspire creativity and enhance their movements. With a focus on coordination, confidence, and self-expression, Dance Fusion Frenzy offers an exciting journey in movement that’s both fun and energizing!
The Science of Sweets (Rising 6th - 7th Grades): Get ready to experiment, explore, and satisfy your curiosity (and maybe your sweet tooth)! In this hands-on class, students will investigate the science behind candy through experiments in biology, chemistry, and physics. We'll create our own sweet treats and break down candy to discover how it works. Warning: This class may cause a sugar rush… of knowledge!
Dungeon Masters: A Dungeons & Dragons Adventure (Rising 6th - 8th Grades): Embark on an epic journey through a world of imagination! In this beginner-friendly Dungeons & Dragons campaign, students will create their own characters, develop their storytelling skills, and navigate a thrilling five-day adventure. Through problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity, we’ll learn the basics of role-playing games and work together to overcome challenges in a fantasy world. Whether you're new to D&D or a future Dungeon Master, this course will take you on an unforgettable quest!
Exploring the World (Rising 6th - 8th Grades): Embark on an exciting journey through Earth's diverse biomes! From the icy tundra to the scorching desert, students will explore the unique ecosystems that shape our planet. Through hands-on activities, projects, and discussions, students will learn about climate, plant and animal adaptations, and the impact of human activity on these environments. Whether trekking through rainforests, or diving into coral reefs, this course will provide a deeper understanding of the natural world and inspire future explorers.
PM Course Options:
Little Scientists (Rising K - 1st Grades): Get ready to ignite your child’s curiosity with Little Scientists, an exciting, hands-on adventure where young explorers become real-life scientists! This interactive experience invites kids to dive headfirst into the wonders of chemistry, physics, and biology through thrilling experiments, from making bubbling volcanoes to creating rainbow water and slime. We'll have fun and learn a lot along the way!
Sensing Magic (Rising K - 1st Grades): Can you name the 5 senses? In this course, we will discover the amazing world of touch, taste, smell, sight, and sound! Through fun activities like creative crafts, playing music, taste testing, and fun games, young learners will engage all their senses to understand how we experience the world around us. Each session focuses on one of the senses, giving students the chance to learn through exploration. Some specific activities entail - creating your own kaleidoscope, jelly-bean taste test, freeze dance, shaving cream drawing, & guess the scent! Join this course if you'd like to discover the magic of the 5 senses!
Beneath My Feet (Rising K - 2nd Grades): During this course, students will dig in and explore all the things beneath our feet! Together we’ll make crafts for our own gardens, learn about all kinds of bugs, and even plant our own plants while learning how to care for them. Do you love to explore the outdoors? If you love nature, this is the class for you!
Superhero Academy: The Science & Storytelling of DC & Marvel (Rising 2nd - 4th Grades): Calling all future superheroes! In this action-packed course, students will dive into the world of DC and Marvel comics, learning what makes a great superhero and even creating their own! Through interactive activities, we’ll explore the science behind superpowers, debate epic hero matchups, and develop original superhero stories. Students will design their own costumes, craft their own origin stories, and present their superheroes. If you love comics, creativity, and action, this is the course for you!
Fairy Tale STEAM and More (Rising 2nd - 4th Grades): If you love to build and create, and you like a little challenge, then this class is for you! Each day will have a different Fairy Tale theme where we will do various activities, including a building challenge! Fairy Tales will include the classics of the Three Pigs, Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and more. We will also do art and science to go with the themes as well! This will be a fairy tale blast!
Pixie Dust & Pastries: Baking the Disney Way (Rising 3rd - 5th Grades): Step into our enchanted kitchen and join us to bring magic to our baking! In our kitchen, young bakers will whip up treats inspired by their favorite Disney movies! From baking Cinderella’s pumpkin-shaped cookies to making Tiana’s beignets from The Princess and the Frog, campers will learn basic baking skills while recreating iconic treats from Disney's magical worlds. They'll get creative with cake decorating, cupcake designs, and even bring some of their own Disney-inspired recipes to life! With plenty of frosting, fun, and magic, this course will have budding bakers making delicious memories with every sweet bite.
Let's Get Crafty (Rising 3rd - 5th Grades): During this course, students will explore the many ways to craft. Each day, we will create something new and unique that will allow us to express ourselves! This course will make you think out of the box while making visions that come to life!
The Play's the Thing: An Introduction to Acting Shakespeare (Rising 6th - 8th Grades): In this course, students will be introduced to acting Shakespeare, including the history of the early modern period, the fundamentals of acting Shakespeare, how to work with a scene partner, and more in an interactive, low-stakes setting. At the conclusion of the week, each student will have the opportunity to perform a monologue and a scene with another partner. Students will learn in a variety of settings, including small groups, short lectures, and various acting games and exercises! A large focus will be on collaborating with others and thinking about the larger themes in Shakespeare's texts. Students will be introduced to a number of plays in the canon, but the focus will be on Coriolanus and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Storm Chasers (Rising 6th - 8th Grades): Take to the skies and uncover the forces that shape our weather! In this course, students will explore the science behind storms. From powerful hurricanes and tornadoes to lightning and rain, students will learn how these natural events form and impact our world. By conducting experiments, tracking the weather, and hearing from guest speakers, students will discover the role of air pressure, the water cycle, and climate in shaping Earth's weather systems. Get ready to chase storms and unravel the mysteries of the sky!