News release Public Information Office  SLU 10880   Hammond, LA 70402   phone: 985-549-2341   fax: 985-549-2061 publicinfo@selu.edu Spring 2004 news releases Public Information home News archive Contact: Christina Chapple Date: 5/11/04   SOUTHEASTERN ARTS AND SCIENCES OFFERS "COOL" SUMMER CAMPS       HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University’s College of Arts and Sciences is offering a series of summer camps for young students in the first grade through high school.        Linda Munchausen, the college's coordinator of education initiatives, said the camps are designed to spark youngsters' interest in foreign languages, creative writing and science.       “Through these camps we want to stimulate children’s curiosity about the physical world around them,” said Munchausen. “The summer is an excellent time for the university to provide a quality learning experience through fun, activity-based camps. It’s all about motivation and stimulating critical thinking skills.”       The camps are all scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., weekdays. Before and after care for the two foreign languages and four “Science Adventures” camps is available for an extra $15 per day. Camp applications are available through Southeastern Continuing Education, located in the University Center, 985-549-2301.       The camps are:       • Foreign Language Summer Camp, June 7-11 (French); June 14-18 (Spanish): Open to students in grades kindergarten through six, the camps will be taught by foreign languages professors Margaret Marshall and Lucia Harrison. They will combine learning French and Spanish with fun activities, including dancing, singing, painting, sports, food, creative dramatics, puppet shows, art, ballet and fairy tales. The activities, Munchausen said, “will all be used to stimulate the children’s interest in a foreign language. Our instructors are fluent in the languages and are excited to share their cultural knowledge and love for their languages.”        The cost for each language camp is $125. They will be held in D Vickers Hall, rooms 283 and 285. Children should bring two daily snacks and a lunch, smock for painting, a folder for take home activities, sneakers, suntan lotion and hats (optional).        For additional information, contact Harrison, 985-549-2153, 985-549-3088 (fax), or lharrison@selu.edu.        • Creative Writing Camp, June 21-25: Under the guidance of award-winning poet Jack Bedell, Southeastern’s director of creative writing, high school students (grades 9-12) will explore various genres of creative writing through exercise and personal expression.       The creative writing camp also costs $125. For more information, Bedell can be reached at 985-549-5595, 985-549-5014 (fax), or jbedell@selu.edu.       The four Science Adventures camps are open to students in grades 1-7, and cost $180 each. “Scientists love to talk about what we do,” said Munchausen, who is a professor of chemistry and former department head. “These camps are going to be really cool and will stimulate children’s curiosity about the physical world around them.”        • The Great Dinosaur Mystery, July 5-9: “Join the hunt and take a bite out of science,” Munchausen said. Through this camp, students will become “dinosaur detectives,” unearthing clues, bone by bone, in a search for a fossil treasure. The “wild chase through the natural sciences” will include squid dissection, Sea-Monkeys, and a real meteorite.       • Robo Tech X-Treme, July 12-16: Students will build “Buggy Gizmo’s largest walking K’nex robot,” discover rainbow crystal ice cream, and explore the upside down world of gravity racers, touchable bubbles, and the invisible force of magnetism.       • Space and Rocketry, July 19-23: In “an amazing space odyssey,” participants will build and launch a solid-fueled Screamer model rocket, and investigate the mysteries of the solar system from the sands of Mars to the icy rings of Saturn. Participants will explore the far reaches of space as they design a Mars Rover, build a telescope and discover the dark secret of black holes.       • Newton’s Motion Madness, July 26-30: This camp asks, “Do you have what it takes to challenge Isaac Newton in a race through the science of motion?” Students will master the forces of physics and harness the power of the electron to create the “Night Crawler,” an electrically powered vehicle able to cross the roughest terrain. They will traverse land, sea and sky with magnetic cars, submarines, and rocket planes and create a bouncing superball.       Additional information about the Science Adventure camps is available from Munchausen at 985-549-3935, 985-549-5126 (fax), or lmunchausen@selu.edu.