Fairfield University announces summer camps and programs for 2007

Fairfield University announces summer camps and programs for 2007

Fairfield University will host eight academic and cultural programs and camps this summer. The programs are: The National Computer Camp, The Connecticut Writing Project, a Jazz Workshop with Fairfield music program director Brian Torff, the Summer Institute for the Gifted, the Institute for Reading Development, the Summer Institute for Lifelong Learning, Missoula Children's Theatre, and The Quick Center 14th Annual Summer Festival Chorus.

The National Computer Camp, founded in 1977 by Fairfield University Professor of Physics and Engineering, Dr. Michael Zabinski, focuses on a variety of computer related programs such as video game design, computer programming, digital video production, and web page design. Coed campers from ages 8-18 will also learn more about software animation, Flash, and graphics. Each week the camp offers all levels of programming in Basic, C++, Java, assembler, HTML, XML, and JavaScript. Campers may attend one- or multi-week sessions which are suitable for beginners to the super advanced. The camps are held at Fairfield University in June, July, and August and are ideal for experienced as well as first-time campers. Residential and day programs are available. For more information, visit the camp at www.NCCamp.com.

The Connecticut Writing Project offers summer programs in July for teachers as well as 6th to 12th grade students. The goal of the Writing Project is to improve student writing by strengthening the teaching and learning of writing. Teachers are offered Institutes on teaching writing, teaching literature, and using technology in literacy classrooms. The focus of the Teacher Institutes is to generate their own pieces of writing to share and publish, and teachers in the Institutes are eligible for graduate credit from Fairfield University. The Connecticut Writing Project also provides a two-week Young Writers Institute. Sixth through 12th grade students will participate in writing workshops on different genres and also work with published writers and illustrators to improve the quality of the writing. Partial scholarships are available as well as transportation from Newtown, Milford, Greenwich, Wilton, and points closer to Fairfield University. For program dates, times, costs and applications, please contact Ms. Christine Lawton at (203) 254-4000, ext. 3124, or by e-mail at clawton@mail.fairfield.edu.

University College presents the Jazz Workshop from July 9-20, which offers middle school, high school, and college age student instrumentalists the chance to work with Brian Torff, director of jazz and popular music at Fairfield University who has played at jazz clubs and festivals around the country and performed with jazz greats Miles Davis, George Shearing and Marian McPartland. Instrumentalists will attend an intense five-day jazz experience, at the end of which they will perform in a concert at Gonzaga Hall Auditorium. A minimum of two years of experience with their musical instrument is required for participation in this workshop, and students must be able to read basic music. For more information, please call (203) 254-4307.

The Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG) program, in its fifth year at Fairfield University, challenges gifted students in grades one through six. In the July 16-Aug. 3 program, students are given the opportunity to choose three courses based on their abilities and interests. Courses are offered in mathematics, the sciences, humanities, and multi-disciplinary classes that meet five times a week for 90 minutes, and students are provided with a recreational period. The site coordinator is Doug Blakemore. For more information, call toll-free 1-866-303-4744, or e-mail questions to sig.info@giftedstudy.com.

The Institute for Reading Development started small in 1971, but has grown to teach more than 85,000 students each year at its various locations. The goal of this program is for participants to learn to read faster, while improving concentration and comprehension. According to the Institute, the average graduate saves 5 to 10 hours per week with their improved reading speed and comprehension. Participants receive a Lifetime Repeat Privilege, which means they may return for more instruction in the future for no additional charge. For more information on programs available for pre-schoolers through adults, call 1-800-978-9596 or visit http://www.fairfield.edu/sc_ird.html.

The Summer Institute for Lifelong Learning will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 4-8, and will cover a variety of stimulating topics. Members will discuss Middle Eastern philosophy with Barbara Amodio, professor of philosophy, and the American economy with Dr. Edward Deak, professor of economics, and enjoy storytelling in romantic music with Laura Nash, assistant professor of visual and performing arts. There will be a buffet the last evening of the program for the participants and their professors. Coffee, tea and dessert will be served, free of charge, during each luncheon break. The cost of the program is $189 per person. Please call (203) 254-4307 for more information and to register.

In celebrating its 18th season this summer, the Missoula Children's Theatre Company is offering six sessions from July 9-Aug. 17 and four different plays to choose from. The program is open to 60 students, grades 1-12, who will be registered in each weekly section according to cast requirements. Children must be six years old by July 1 to enter this program. During the week, participants rehearse their parts or participate in acting, theater improvisation, vocal improvement, and movement workshops. Students also work on arts and crafts projects. Each Friday, there is a performance at 7:30 p.m. in which every child is involved. For more information contact the Quick Center's box office at: (203) 254-4010 or toll free 1-877-Arts 396; or info@quickcenter.com; or visit the Quick Center's website for tickets to the performance or for a the copy of the full brochure at www.quickcenter.com

The Summer Festival Chorus provides members with the opportunity to learn a number of different musical styles while receiving the highest standards of choral training from music director Carol Ann Maxwell, D.S.M., director of choral and liturgical music at Fairfield University. Dr. Maxwell has been the music director since the program was created 13 years ago. The 2007 season presents "Christmas in July: A Merry Half Christmas," and special guests include members of the Live Music Project, orchestral accompaniment, popular jazz performer Joe Utterback, and accompanist Beth Palmer.

For more information, contact the Quick Center's Box Office at: (203) 254-4010 or toll free 1-877-ARTS-396; or info@quickcenter.com; or visit the Quick Center's website for tickets to the concert or for a copy of the full brochure at www.quickcenter.com.

Posted On: 04-03-2007 10:04 AM

Volume: 39 Number: 195