Pinehurst Elementary Hosts Summer Camp Expo Thursday

Registration Open Now for Gifted and Talented Camps

Wicomico County families have several opportunities to explore a range of summer activities for students, beginning with a Summer Camp Expo Thursday night.

Pinehurst Elementary School will host a Summer Camp Expo from 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, March 26, so that all families in the community will be able to check out summer activities offered by many groups in the community.

Vendors will include Mitchell's Martial Arts, Salisbury Zoo, Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Wicomico County Recreation and Parks, Wicomico County Summer School, Wicomico County Summer Enrichment Program, Dancenter Salisbury, Wicomico County Public Library, Wor-Wic Community College, Camp Odyssey, Sherman Wood Youth Football Camp, Salvation Army, YMCA, Kumon, Sylvan, Lower Shore Childcare Resource Center, Crown Sports Center, Kaleidoscope Children & Youth Productions, Diamond Dreams and more. This event is free and open to the public. Call 410-677-5813 for information.

Registration deadlines are looming for the 16 Maryland Summer Centers for Gifted and Talented Students coordinated through the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE). For 42 years, the Maryland Summer Centers program has offered unique instructional experiences for gifted and talented students entering grades 4 through 12. The Centers offer one- to three-week residential and non-residential programs with a focus on the arts, sciences, mathematics, technology, physics, creative writing, government, history, engineering, and world languages. The activities are designed to encourage critical thinking, creativity, and problem solving while challenging students academically.

Summer Centers located locally include:

Arts:

Center for the Fine and Performing Arts at Salisbury University, Wicomico County, entering grades 7-12. July 5-18. (Deadline: April 16)

Science & Engineering:

Center for Environmental Studies at University of Maryland, Horn Point Environmental Laboratory, Dorchester County, entering grades 6-10. July 13-24

Center for Environmental and Historical Research on the Lower Eastern Shore ("Diary of a River"), Wicomico County. Environmental Research, entering grades 4-8, July 6-17. Historical Research, entering grades 5-7, June 29-July 3 (Deadline: April 15)

Students from throughout Maryland may apply to attend any of the 16 Summer Centers for which they are the right grade level to attend. Information on other Summer Centers and the application process is available at www.MarylandPublicSchools.org/summercenters.

The Maryland Summer Centers program, in partnership with public and nonpublic agencies, provides Maryland’s diverse gifted and talented students with advanced, rigorous, experiential learning opportunities that nurture these students’ talents and abilities within unique learning environments. Tuition ranges from $125 to $750 and full and partial scholarships are available for those who need financial assistance. Brochures and application forms are available from schools and local gifted and talented education coordinators, and on line.

Most applications must be postmarked by Wednesday, April 15, except for some Fine Arts Centers, which have varying deadlines and may require auditions. Materials are available in Spanish upon request. For more information contact Stephanie F. Zenker at 410-767-0821.

Wor-Wic Community College is also hosting a summer enrichment program for gifted and talented students, Summer Scholars '09.

Summer Scholars is open to students entering grades 4-9 in August 2009; verification of gifted and talented status is provided by the student's school. In Wicomico County, all students who participate in the Magnet, TAD or GATE programs are automatically qualified, though they must still have a school representative complete the verification information. (Students from outside the Lower Shore may attend Summer Scholars '09 for an additional $10 per course, while out-of-state students may attend for an additional $15 per course.)

Summer Scholars '09 will run four weeks: July 13-17, 20-24, 27-31, and Aug. 3-7, with classes in cooking, critical thinking, digital and visual arts, and science, including chemistry, robotics, CSI, aquatic life, aeronautics, weather and medicine. Tuition is $100 for half-day courses and $180 for full-day classes, plus fees. For information and a brochure with registration form, visit www.worwic.edu/SummerScholars or call 410-334-2815.