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07/03/2007
Learning for funNMC's College for Kids offers another kind of summer school
Five-year-old Katherine Hopkins makes a face while handling glue to create a sculpture she titled ‘fireplace’ at NMC’s College for Kids in Traverse City. Dozens of summer classes are offered for youth of all ages including studies in art, science, music, technology, dance and adventure. Hopkins was participating in “Art, Art and More Art.” College comes early for hundreds of area kids this summer with the start of another year of Northwestern Michigan College's College for Kids program. With classes ranging from "Break a Leg” acting to "Brush, Blow and Splatter” art and "Space Kids,” area children have the chance to learn about countless subjects in intensive one-week programs. "There's a need for kids to be learning beyond just what's available during the regular school year, and our programs are designed to really complement the regular school programs, but go a little bit deeper and little bit further than what they could normally get during the school day,” said Bill Queen, NMC's program coordinator for extended educational services. While the program is called college, participants said that it is a bit different than regular classes. "It's not really school, but it's school-related,” said Garrett Sieloff, 14. "You're learning in a fun way, not sitting in a classroom and writing stories about it, and you meet new people.” 
Eleven-year-old Caleb Kase of Traverse City constructs a pot for storing candy Friday morning at NMC in Traverse City. Kase was participating in a pottery class, part of College for Kids. Sieloff said that he has participated in a few College for Kids programs and has enjoyed them all. This summer he is part of Mike Henry's "Break a Leg” acting class. Students in the class have one week to put together an entire 45-minute production. This year they produced "Actor's Nightmare,” a play following the character George as he navigates through a series of plays in his dream. "I thought it would be just skills and stuff and not a whole play at the end of the week,” said 11-year-old Tristan Waters. "I never thought I was going to be able to remember my lines.” Watching that process is gratifying, Henry said. "It's very inspiring,” Henry said. "It's great to know that you can come in with a group of kids this age, you know, I'm old enough to be their dad, and yet I'm learning from them. Probably the biggest thing I've learned is the ability of the human spirit to overcome any obstacle.” Many of the students enroll in subjects they have never experienced before. For example, 12-year-old Robert Gothard said that he had never tried pottery before he signed up for Todd Springer's class. He has enjoyed it more than he expected. "I think that this is the most funnest program I've ever done,” Gothard said. For Gothard, having the chance to make anything he can imagine and working with clay on a potter's wheel has made him want to continue experimenting with clay even after the class is done. 
Thirteen-year-old Annica Wyskochil of Traverse City wheels a pot in a College for Kids class. "It feels smooth, and I feel like I wish I could never leave this place,” Gothard said. That feeling is the point of the entire program, Springer said. "A positive art experience is what we're hoping to achieve,” Springer said. "And if there's finished art products at the end, it's just a bonus, and most of the time there is.” But that experience takes a strong commitment. Queen said the community is lucky to have residents with a variety of backgrounds who are willing to give up some of their summer freedom to help kids learn. "Our programs literally come from teachers and enthusiasts that want to give back to the community, want to share their knowledge,” Queen said. "So our program really is a reflection of our community itself and the talents that we really are blessed to have.” Classes continue through August. For more information or to register, call (231) 995-1700 or (800) 748-0566, Ext. 1700, or visit www.nmc.edu/ees.
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