SPIRIT Camp for Students: July 16-20, 2012

If you are a high school student interested in learning about how computing skills impact many facets of society, consider applying to the SPIRIT Camp program, which will be offered from Monday, July 16, 2012, through Friday, July 20, 2012. This year's program is non-residential, so you will check-in each morning and check-out each evening. A residential option will be made available at cost.

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Description

The 2012 program is still being planned, but you might want to view the 2010 SPIRIT camp program at a glance (.pdf) to see the sessions and presenters we used at the last camp to give you an idea of what you might expect at this year's camp. Once the program has been finalized and presenters confirmed, the planned program will be availble from the SPIRIT website. Some of the activities past participants have experienced include:

1. Using e-textiles to combine fashion and technology.
2. Using a mobile device to log your dietary intake and determine nutritional content of a meal.
3. Understanding how IT it used to control lights and sounds in theater productions.
4. Using Alice and/or Scratch to create an animated version of your favorite fairy tale.
5. Using automated controls and flowcharting software to design a group fitness game.
6. Learning about how IT is used to help law enforcement capture digital evidence that can be used in prosecuting criminals.
7. Listening for IT entrepreneurs about how they use their computing skills in their own businesses.
8. Using software to create your own ring tones.
9. Interacting with a scaled down version of a humaniod robot and teaching it a dance.
10. Using online tools to research symptoms of a health ailment and developing an informative presentation about it for others.

A new session planned for this year will allow you put yourself into one of the animations you create, creating a unique mini-movie to share with family and friends.

Benefits

Students selected for SPIRIT receive the following benefits:

1. $250 stipend, subject to completion of all required activities, assessments and forms
2. Breakfast and lunch are provided
3. Certificate of completion
4. Software, textbook, and sample Alice worlds

Expectations

Students who apply to SPIRIT should meet the following requirements, if selected:

1. Be a high school student of September 2012 (will be entering grdaes 9, 10, 11, or 12)
2. Be open to considering an IT or related major in college
3. Submit required paperwork and a $50 deposit after receiving acceptance notification to guarantee a spot in the program. ($25 will be refunded after completion of all required SPIRIT activities.)
4. Attend the entire one-week of the non-residential program and complete all activities
5. Bring their favorite fairy tale idea or description of future career goal
6. Create at least one Alice animation and one Scratch animation
7. Make your SPIRIT project work available to SPIRIT staff and other site visitors via the SPIRIT website
8. Agree to allow SPIRIT to use your likeness in promotional materials

If you'd like to be considered for the 2012 camp, go to the online application. The application deadline for the 2012 SPIRIT camp is Friday, June 1, 2012, 5 pm.