SUMMER 2024
Viking Explorations is designed to meet the educational needs of gifted and talented children in rising 3rd to 6th grades. The program is co-sponsored by the Floyd County Schools and Berry College.
Contact vikingexplorations@berry.edu for further information.
Located on the Berry College campus, children will have access to state-of-the-art classrooms and facilities. Daily drop-off and pick-up will be at the rear of Evans Hall on the Berry College campus.
Faculty teaching the courses are teachers from Berry College Elementary and Middle School and gifted/talented endorsed teachers from the Floyd County Schools.
Dates of the program are June 3 - 7, 2024.
Morning sessions include one class from 8:30 - 10:00 and a second class from 10:30 - 12:00.
Students choose two different classes. There will be a break with a snack from 10:00 - 10:30. Class assignments are made based on registration dates; earlier campers are assigned classes first.
Supplies and equipment will be provided and are included in the price of the classes.
The tuition is to be paid online at the time of registration by credit card. No checks will be accepted. Tuition - $140 before April 15th and $160 after April 15th. No refunds will be allowed.
Class Descriptions
Artsplorations
Discover your artistic side! Join us as we learn how to express creative styles through hands on 2-D and 3-D art projects. Students will use a variety of art supplies from oil pastels to paint to clay during the course of the week to make personalized masterpieces. We will enjoy games and learn about the elements and principles of art and how they can work together to create a unique and personal style for each artist.
Taught by Lisa Ingram
BOLD
The Berry College Outdoor Leadership course (B.O.L.D.) will require the imagination and cooperation of every participant as we build communication skills and team confidence. The goal of working on low ropes course elements is to maximize the group’s experience in communication and decision making, team effectiveness, group identity, conflict resolution, and leadership formation. The week will build in difficulty with a possibility of a high ropes element at the end of the week. This is an outdoor experiential learning class and requires closed-toed athletic shoes.
Taught by Berry Outdoor Leadership Staff
Hiking through History
This course will guide you through rich experiences in history by looking through a lens of the past. Examine primary documents and pictures firsthand in the Berry College Library Archives and the Martha Berry Digital Archives, evaluate secondary sources including biographies of Martha Berry, explore various cool historical sites on campus, and conduct personal interviews to enrich the research experience. This year's focus will be the Henry Fords and their relationship with Berry.
Taught by Lori Fredrick and Julie Trejo
Let's Go WILD
Come join a science-based class focusing on the wildlife found on the Berry College campus. We will learn cool animal facts and investigate habitats. Plan on games, art, and research in the outdoor classroom that is Berry College!
Taught by Kimberly Bergin
Powerful plants
Did you know that plants are so much more than roots, leaves and stems? They are actually great examples of adaptability and persistence. This course will explore plants in our environment as well as cultivated plants. We will see how plants grow and change according to their environment with math, biology and physics. Students will examine plant specimens and construct their own plant adapted to a particular environment.
Taught by Jasmine Williams
stem Olympics
Bonjour! Are you ready to dive into the Summer 2024 Olympics in Paris, France? In this class, we will jump right in and explore everything you need to know about the upcoming event. We'll cover the history of the Olympics and this year's host city, compete in Olympics style STEM challenges, design a new mascot, and much more. Get ready to embrace the Olympic spirit and feel the excitement building up to this global celebration of sport and unity.
Taught by Heather Burnett
Orienteering
“Aaaarr, Matey!” Join in the fun while we explore the
children’s classic Treasure Island and learn the basics of a sport called Orienteering. Orienteering involves a course marked out on a map. In following the course map, the Orienteers have to find several of checkpoints. Those who find all the checkpoints, in the right order, find the treasure! In addition to an introduction to a classic piece of literature, students will learn Orienteering skills including
- Folding the map
- Thumbing the map
- Orientating the map to the north (with ground or compass)
- Reading features on the map
- Taking a compass bearing
- Following a compass bearing
- Pacing
- Judging distance
Taught by Sarah Syverson