Northern Illinois University

Liberal Arts & Sciences External Programming

 
 
 
 
 
 
NIU Sci-camp explorations Jr.
June 22 – 27, 2008


Join us for a week exploring science as you have never experienced it at school; no books, no math, just hands-on and maybe even knee deep science activities. At the camp held at our beautiful Taft Outdoor Education Campus along the Rock River near Oregon, IL you will launch rockets; explore the biodiversity of a forest along a river bluff and a hilltop prairie; investigate a crime; track a deer or raccoon; construct a roller coaster; investigate polymer chemistry and bioluminescence. Enjoy an afternoon field trip to the paleontology laboratory at Burpee Museum of Natural History, home of Jane, the most complete skeletal fossil of an adolescent T-Rex, an evening fossil hunt in a regional limestone quarry, a night hike on the prairie and a nighttime visit to the Weiskopf Observatory.

NIU Sci-camp investigations Sr.
July 6 – 11, 2008



Ready for a more intense science experience? Join us for a week in which you use the science laboratories at NIU to complete several investigations. Determine the size of an atom with X-ray crystal diffraction; design and carry out an experiment in microgravity; bore a core sample from a tree and use the tree rings to determine local climate history; do a comprehensive survey of the water quality of the bodies of water on campus (lagoons, creeks and the Kishwaukee River), design an electronic circuit to transmit an audio signal over a laser beam; investigate light and chemistry through pinhole photography; determine the rotational period of the sun by tracking the movement of sunspots. Choose a longer term investigation or two and join all campers in other investigations. One day will be a field trip to Argonne National Laboratory, one of the nation’s largest and most comprehensive laboratories. Experience life on campus including dorm life and campus activities such as bowling at the Huskie Den.

NIU Summer Academic Camp General Schedule

Sunday

6:30 - 7:30 pm         Arrival & Check-In at Grant Towers North
8:00 - 10:00 pm       Orientation at Grant Towers North Formal Lounge
10:00 - 11:00 pm     Back on floor, room check & lights out

Monday - Thursday

7:15 - 8:00 am         Breakfast
8:30 - 9:00 am         General Meeting
9:30 - 11:30 am       Group Sessions
12:00 - 1:00 pm       Lunch
1:30 - 4:30 pm         General Meeting
5:00 - 6:00 pm         Dinner
6:30 - 9:30 pm         Evening Activity - Softball, movie, skits, bowling
10:00 - 11:00 pm     Back on floor, room check & lights out

Friday

7:15 - 8:00 am         Breakfast
8:15 - 8:45 am         Departure Preparation
9:00 - 11:30 am       Feedback Sessions
11:45 am - 1:00 pm Certificate Presentation
1:30 - 2:30 pm         Camp Conclusion & Departure at Grant Towers North


Who should attend?
Sci-camp Jr. is for students who have completed grades 5, 6, 7.
Sci-camp Sr. is for students who have completed grades 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12.

Fees
Residential campers $495 ($525 after June 1, 2008); returning LA&S Academic Summer campers are eligible for a $25 discount on request. Register now for one of these exciting camps! For more information contact College of Liberal Arts and Sciences External Programming: call 815-753-5200, e-mail LASEP@niu.edu or visit www.niu.edu/clasep (Click on “Summer Academic Camps.”)

Sci-camp Jr. and Sr. Director
Pati Sievert, Science Camp Director for the sixth year, is NIU’s Science Outreach Coordinator, holds a Master’s Degree in Physics Education and has many years of experience with young people in schools, camps, outreach programming and as a high school Physics teacher.