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Inside Iowa State, a newspaper for faculty and staff, is published by the Office of University Relations.

May 22, 2008

Summer: It's no sleeper

by Anne Krapfl

The days of summer aren't as lazy or hazy as that lyricist depicted them, at least not for many at Iowa State. It's the season for conferences, camps and special events, many involving guests who aren't college students the rest of the year. Here's quick rundown of some of the larger groups visiting our campus this summer:

Academics (a sampling of several dozen programs)

Engineering and Beyond

July 13-16, 20-23, 27-30. Each Sunday for three weeks, 50 high school seniors-to-be arrive for a 4-day campus workshop that exposes them, through demonstrations and hands-on activities led by departments, to areas of engineering. For example, they'll make biofuel and build virtual bridges). The students live in Martin Hall.

Upward Bound

Weekdays from June 9 to July 3, 33 students entering grades 10-12 who participate in Upward Bound during the academic year will live on campus and receive instruction in math, science and language arts to help them prepare for their high school classes this fall. The South Tama, Marshalltown and Fort Dodge high school students are from low-income families and represent potentially the first generation to complete high school. Upward Bound is a federally funded program intended to encourage and motivate students to finish high school and move on to post-secondary education. Their classes will be taught in Town Engineering; during the week they'll live in Eaton Hall.

Carver internships

Sixteen students -- 10 undergraduates from schools other than Iowa State and six high school students (including three from Puerto Rico) -- come to campus this summer as George Washington Carver interns, a program sponsored by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences for 16 years. They'll live in Eaton Hall and complete a research program under the supervision of a faculty mentor. The high school program is for six weeks (June 21-Aug. 2), the college program for eight weeks (June 7-Aug. 2). Carver interns are selected for their interest in science and their interest in contributing to diversity at Iowa State (whatever race or ethnicity they happen to be). Evening and weekend activities introduce them to the university and the state of Iowa, with the hope they'll return here to get a degree.

Talented and Gifted

Registrations still are being processed, but up to 300 academically gifted elementary and high school students from around the Midwest -- and in a few cases, the country -- will take special courses at Iowa State this summer. CY-TAG is a three-week residential program (July 13-Aug. 2) for students entering grades 8-11 this fall. Explorations is a one-week residential program for students entering grades 8-10 offered three times (July 13-19, July 20-16, July 27-Aug. 2). Students in both programs stay in Friley Hall and will use about a half-dozen classroom buildings. Adventures is a day program for students entering grades 3-7, offered twice (June 23-27, July 14-18). The courses, taught by elementary, secondary and ISU teachers, cover topics not traditionally taught in grade or high school -- neuroscience, applied psychology, robotics, rocketry, medieval era, cyber security, for example. Students are in class weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Special Olympics Iowa Summer Games

An estimated 2,800 athletes will compete at venues around campus, including Beyer, Forker and Lied buildings, the Iowa State Center lots and the Maple-Willow-Larch intramural fields during the games, May 22-24. About 1,100 athletes and their coaches or family members will stay overnight in the Maple-Willow-Larch complex.

ISU summer orientation

An estimated 4,000 freshmen and 300 transfer students will visit campus between May 30 and June 27. Visiting with them are an estimated 6,000 family members. During their two-day stays, students will register for classes, take placement assessments, obtain ISU cards and e-mail accounts, and attend sessions about their transition to campus as well as educational sessions about their colleges and departments. Those spending a night on campus -- about 2,000 over the course of the month -- will stay in Martin Hall. Orientation visitors will park in the Memorial Union ramp and lots 7, 59A and 60.

Athletics camps

Swimming, football, soccer, gymnastics, bantam hockey, basketball, volleyball, wrestling, you name it. Between June 4 and July 11, hundreds of elementary- and high school-age athletes will be on campus for sports camps (one day to three weeks) run by the coaching staffs in the Cyclone athletics department. Many of the campers will stay overnight in a residence hall near their camp facility; some will visit campus during the day only.

Girls State

Iowa's Girls State conference, sponsored by the American Legion Auxiliary, returns to campus June 22-27. Three hundred fifty young women who just completed their junior year of high school gather to study and set up miniature city, county and state governments. They'll stay in Richardson Court and meet at the Iowa State Center.

4-H youth leaders

Iowa 4-H Youth Conference (June 24-26) will attract more than 1,000 8th- to 12th-grade students from around the state. Attendees don't have to be 4-Hers to participate. The conference will feature speakers, workshops, dances and a morning of community service projects around town. They'll stay in Richardson Court and meet in campus buildings and Iowa State Center facilities.

Iowa Games Summer Games

What started in 1987 as a one-weekend amateur sports event has blossomed to three during the month of July. The largest weekend, July 17-20, will bring about 12,000 athletes and their coaches and families to Ames for nearly 40 competitions. The Iowa Games opening ceremony will begin at 8 p.m. July 18 in Jack Trice Stadium. Another 3,000 athletes visit Ames July 25-27 for 10 more competitions. And several hundred will compete in Ames events the first weekend of the Iowa Games, July 11-13.

36th annual Shrine Bowl

The all-star high school football game, featuring 92 football players and 60 cheer squad members selected from around the state, will be played July 26 at Jack Trice Stadium (kickoff is at 7 p.m.). Football players and coaches arrive on campus for practices July 18; cheer squad members on July 21. They stay in the Maple-Willow-Larch complex.

RAGBRAI overnight stop

Up to 20,000 cyclists will make Ames their home for the night of July 22 during the annual Des Moines Register-sponsored bike ride across Iowa. Their route into town winds them through campus and (from the west) puts them on Ontario Street, Stange Road, Osborn Drive, Morrill Road and Welch Avenue south to the Towers residence area. Up to 600 of them can stay in Wallace Hall that night, the rest will be in private homes and yards, hotels and temporary campgrounds east and west of the Towers and south of the football stadium. Evening food and entertainment will be headquartered at the Iowa State Center.