Registration begins April 12 for June classes

Yavapai Community College’s summer enrichment program for children kindergarten-to-eighth grade, opens summer registration on Friday, April 12, for the Verde Valley semester running, June 3 – 27.

In its announcement, the Community College said it will offer a variety of classes for curious and active young people, including mountain biking, dance, Spanish language and culture, interactive science classes, hands-on gardening, comic book creation, and videography for kids.

The College also said that its instructors for this project will be experienced educators who create a teaching environment that is enriching and rewarding for all campers. Free breakfast and lunch are provided for all participants and their siblings under 18. In the Verde Valley, all activities are held at Yavapai College’s Verde Valley Campus, 601 Black Hills Drive, in Clarkdale. Classes run Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to noon, Monday June 3, through Thursday, June 27.

Scholarships are available for students with financial need at: www.yc.edu/kids.

Individuals interested in donating to the scholarship fund for children attending this program can contact Yavapai College Foundation at 928-776-2025 or foundation@yc.edu

For more information the Verde Valley College for Kids program, including registration and classes, please visit:  www.yc.edu/c4k  or contact Kathleen Freed, Community Education Coordinator, at 928-634-6537 or kathleen.freed@yc.edu.

Great summer courses and athletic camps for kids of all ages

Yavapai Community College has announced the “College for Kids – Prescott” summer program.  It includes classes, camps and scholarships for children of all ages.  

Far cry from 1,000 or more students on Verde Campus in 2017; since then enrollment in this program on Verde Campus has been plummeting; appears not so in Prescott

The Covid-19 pandemic no doubt played a role in limiting the number of courses offered by Yavapai Community College in this summer’s College for Kids program.  According to registration data from the College, the Prescott side of the College was able to marshal courses in seven areas of interest (see chart below) while offering a total of 29 courses.

The Verde Campus/Sedona Center was able to offer six courses in the writing area all taught by the Director of the program.  (See chart below.) The program is entitled “Writers Bootcamp” and offers four writing courses to students ages 6-9 and two courses to students 9-12. The Sedona Center offers two one-day cooking classes.

According to the College, the classes will take place at the Clarkdale campus of Yavapai College as well as the Camp Verde Community Library through the third week of July. The class in Camp Verde is called “How to Write Pop Fiction,” and takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. the week of July 6 to 15. (These may, or may not, be in addition to the two bootcamps listed on the schedule for the same week but beginning a day earlier.)

The Community College has also contacted a private nonprofit online educational company, Black Rocket, and on the Verde Valley website it is encouraging students to consider signing up for on-line STEM classes at a cost of around  $169 per class.  How many , if any, of the Black Rocket courses will have live instruction on the Verde Campus in addition to on-line classes is not clear from the information supplied by the Community College. However, the College advertises the courses  as virtual and live so it is anticipated some portion of these Black Rocket classes will have live classes on the Verde Campus.

PRESCOTT COLLEGE FOR KIDS ARTS & CRAFTS CLASSES

1. Cartoon Characters & Critters • Ages 8-13

2. SU21CK-001 • Mon-Thu, 6/7 to 6/10/21 9:30 – 11 am • WebLive

3. SU21CK-002 • Mon-Thu, 7/12 to 7/15/21 9:30 – 11 am • WebLive

4. Discover and Create Native Arts • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-003 • Mon-Thu, 7/19 to 7/22/21 9 am – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

5. Flights of Imagination: Sewing Felties • Ages 10-15 SU21CK-004• Mon-Thu, 6/14 to 6/17/21 1 – 4 pm • WebLive

6. SU21CK-005 • Mon-Thu, 7/12 to 7/15/21 1 – 4 pm • WebLive

7. Watercolor and Mixed Media • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-009 • Mon-Thu, 6/14 to 6/17/21 9 am – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

8. Kaleidoscope Art • Ages 5-13 SU20CK-006 • Mon-Thu, 7/26 to 7/29/21 9 am- noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

9. Paint Like the Masters 101 • Ages 5-13 SU20CK-007 • Mon-Thu, 6/7 to 6/10/21 9 am – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

10. Paint Like the Masters 201 • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-008 • Mon-Thu, 7/12 to 7/15/21 9 am – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

PRESCOTT COLLEGE FOR KIDS FOOD & COOKING CLASSES

11. Edible Explorations • Ages 11-14 SU21CK-010 • Tue/Thu, 6/8 to 6/24/21 11:30 am 1:00 pm • Mountain Oak Charter School 1455 Willow Creek Rd., Prescott
12. SU21CK-011 • Tue/Thu, 7/6 to 7/22/21 11:30 am 1:00 pm • Mountain Oak Charter School 1455 Willow Creek Rd., Prescott
13. Natural Cooking for the Soul: Live and Raw Foods Ages 5-13 SU21CK-012 • Mon-Thu, 6/21 to 6/24/21 9 am – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

PRESCOTT COLLEGE FOR KIDS LIFE SKILLS CLASSES

14. Babysitter’s Boot Camp • Ages 11-15 SU21CK-013 • Mon-Thu, 6/21 to 6/24/21 1 – 5 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 3, Room 204
15. Random Acts of Kindness • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-014 • Mon-Thu, 7/19 to 7/22/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102
16. Social Influence and Persuasion • Ages 14-17 SU21CK-015 • Tue, 6/15/21 1 – 3 pm • Prescott Campus • WebLive
17. The Good Life • Ages 14-17 SU21CK-016 • Thu, 6/3 to 7/8/21 11 am – 1 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 19, Room 207

PRESCOTT COLLEGE FOR KIDS NATURE CLASSES

18. Prescott Junior Audubon Nature Club • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-017 • Mon-Thu, 6/7 to 6/10/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102
19. Prescott Junior Audubon Nature Club presents “The Grand Canyon Club” • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-018 • Mon-Thu, 7/12 to 7/15/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

PRESCOTT COLLEGE FOR KIDS PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES

20. Drama Camp: Comic Relief • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-019 • Mon-Thu, 6/21 to 6/24/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102
21. Drama Camp: The Funny Bone Show • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-020 • Mon-Thu, 7/26 to 7/29/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102
22. Drama Camp: Zany Improv • Ages 5-13 SU21CK-021 • Mon-Thu, 6/14 to 6/17/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 31, Room 102

PRESCOTT COLLEGE FOR KIDS SCIENCE CLASSES

23. Earth’s Treasures • Ages 9-13 SU21CK-022 • Mon-Thu, 6/14 to 6/17/21 9 – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 3, Room 216
24. SU21CK-023 • Mon-Thu, 6/14 to 6/17/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 3, Room 216
25. SU21CK-024 • Mon-Thu, 6/21 to 6/24/21 9 – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 3, Room 216
26. SU21CK-025 • Mon-Thu, 6/21 to 6/24/21 1 – 4 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 3, Room 216

PRESCOTT COLLEGE FOR KIDS WRITING CLASSES

27. Camp Writing S’mores • Ages 11-14 SU21CK-026 • Mon-Thu, 6/7 to 6/10/21 1 – 3 pm • Prescott Campus • Bldg 3, Room 204
28. Intro to Blogging • Ages 14-17 SU21CK-027 • Mon & Wed, 6/7 to 6/23/21 10 am – noon • Prescott Campus • Bldg 19, Room 207
29. Writing and Being – The Gift of Language Ages 14-17 SU21CK-028 • Tue, 6/22 to 7/27/21 1 – 3 pm • WebLive

VERDE CAMPUS/SEDONA CENTER COLLEGE FOR KIDS CLASSES

Writers Bootcamp Schedule (as found on Community College web site)

1. Writers Bootcamp: Science Fiction! (Grades 6-9) M,W, 10 am – 12 pm, 6/7-6/162.
2. Writers Bootcamp: Horror! (Grades 6-9) T,Th, 10 am – 12 pm, 6/8-6/17 
3. Writers Bootcamp: Fantasy! (Grades 6-9) M,W, 10 am – 12 pm, 6/21-6/30 
4. Writers Bootcamp: Graphic Novels (Grades 6-9) T,Th, 10 am – 12 pm, 6/22-7/1 
5. Writers Bootcamp: Outlining YOUR Novel (Grades 9-12) M,T,W,Th, 10 am – 1 pm, 7/5-7/8 
6. Writers Bootcamp: The Writing Career (Grades 9-12) M,T,W,Th, 10 am – 1 pm, 7/12-7/15

According to the College’s Director of Community Education for the Verde Valley, the classes will take place at the Clarkdale campus of Yavapai College as well as the Camp Verde Community Library through the third week of July. The class in Camp Verde is called “How to Write Pop Fiction,” and takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 4 p.m. the week of July 6 to 15.

The Community College has also contacted a private nonprofit online educational company, Black Rocket, and is encouraging students to consider signing up for on-line STEM classes at a cost of $169 per class.  How many, if any, of the Black Rocket courses will have live instruction in addition to on-line is not clear from the information supplied by the Community College.

It is also not clear from the Community College’s web site whether the Camp Verde Classes discussed by the Director in the Redrock News  of July 7 are in addition to the six bootcamp  classes listed.

In his July 7 interview with the Redrock News, the Director said so far he had five students sign up for each of the Writers Bootcamp offerings.  He said because of the small enrollment, he has been able to focus on the students and gain experience teaching the news courses.

The College for Kids program on the Verde Campus has a checkered history.  It was completely closed down in 2012 and 2013 but was  resurrected in 2014.  In 2015 only 14 programs were offered.

Then, in 2016 Steve King and other superintendents in the Verde Valley stepped in to give the Community College a helping hand. There began a joint, serious effort to build the program with bus transportation provided by the District schools and extensive scholarships offered by the District schools and the Community College.  Dean James Perey told the Governing Board on May 9, 2017 that in 2016 485 children and young adults attended the “College for Kids” on the Verde Campus. By 2017, with leadership being provided by local superintendents, it had an estimated 1,200 slots for youngsters in its summer program. 

However, since 2017, the program  has been gradually sliding backwards in its  enrollment and programs in the Verde Valley.

Many scholarships available but you must apply by May 14 for a scholarship; must sign up by  Friday, May 24, 2020 for classes; Classes begin June 1

Yavapai Community College will offer its Verde Valley College for Kids Programs on-line beginning June 1.  Students must select their classes by June 1, according to the College’s web site.

A fee is charged for each class; they are not free.  However, the College has arranged for a large number of scholarships for students who want to attend.  Those students must, however, apply for the scholarships. Scholarships were made  available through generous donations from the Margaret T Morris Foundation, The Arizona Community Foundation of Yavapai County, and the Kiwanis Club of Prescott AZ.   An online scholarship application can be found by clicking here. 

Classes offered for students in the Verde Valley, according to the College web site, include the following.  Note that there is a specific age range for each group of on-line offerings.

• Beginning Guitar (Ages 12-17)
• Cartoon Characters & Critters
  (Ages 8-12)
• College Knowledge: Keys to Making the College Decision
  (Ages 14-17)
• Cooking: Taking Care of Business (Ages 11-14)
• Creative Blogging for High School (Ages 14-17)
• Creative Blogging for Middle School (Ages 10-13)
• Digital Escape Rooms (Ages 10-11)
• Digital Escape Rooms (Ages 8-10)
• Earth’s Treasures (Ages 9-12)
• Edible Explorations (Ages 11-14)
• Exploring Guitar (Ages 8-11)
• Flights of Imagination- Sewing Felties (Ages 10-15)
• Flights of Imagination: Origami (Ages 10-15)
• Games and Running: with a Bit of History (Ages 9-12)
• Hey! Look What I Can Make! (Ages 5-10)
• Homeschooling vs Distance Learning (For Parents)
• Teen Leadership (Ages 11-14)
• The Graphic Novel Club (Ages 8-10)
• WOW Writing! (Ages 11-14)

For more information about the College for Kids program, go to these web sites. 

https://www.yc.edu/V6/lifelong-learning/college-kids/docs/su20collegeforkidsflyer2.pdf

 View 2020 course schedule!

https://www.campusce.net/YC/category/category.aspx?C=&S=695

Program runs from July 8-12 with class from 8 a.m. to noon; students in grades 4 through 8 are eligible; they will join environmental ethics expert and hiking guide in study of nature

In a story written by Natasha Heinz for the Sedona Red Rock News on July 5 the Blog learned for the first time that the Sedona Parks and Recreation Department had teamed up with Yavapai College to return a College 4 Kids program that has been missing in Sedona for several years. According to Ms. Heinz, “the camp offers field-trip based programming with a focus on improving children’s relationship to the environment. From Monday to Friday, July 8 through 12, students grades four to eight will join environmental ethics expert and hiking guide Andrea Christelle, who will take them on excursions around the Verde Valley and teach about nature in the area.”
The course description says that “Students will learn to appreciate the wonder of the natural world through scientific study, value-based inquiry and learn to critically and creatively examine data and ideas.”
The group will meet at the Posse Grounds Park Recreation Room and go on these exploratory expeditions from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday. This camp is limited to 10 students and those interested in participating can contact Yavapai College Community Education Director Zachary Jernigan at 634-6537.

Bus transportation is available from Clarkdale for this program.

You may read much more about the program by going to Ms. Heinz’ online article in the Sedona Redrock News by clicking here.

Source: Sedona Red Rock News online, July 5, 2019.

Prescott offers 34 courses; Verde has 13 listed so far but more expected; scholarships available and should be applied for before May 10

The enormously successful College for Kids program held in the summer on the Yavapai Community College Verde Campus will open registration May 1.  Registration has already opened on the Prescott side of Mingus Mountain for the Prescott Campus College for Kids summer program.

Significant numbers of scholarships based on financial need are available for the Verde College for Kids classes! Applications to complete when applying for scholarship will be available April 15, 2018 and must be filed by May 10, 2018 for full consideration.  Please go to the Verde Valley  Yavapai Community College Campus College for Kids website by clicking on the following link  to obtain more information and an application form.

Recall that President Penelope Wills was  surprised by the huge enrollment on the Verde Campus for last year’s College for Kids summer program of nearly “1,000” students.  By comparison, there were only 354 students enrolled on the Prescott side where there is double the population.

It is anticipated that more courses will be added to the curriculum by May 1 on the Verde Campus.

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APS to provide $10,000 for classes on the Verde Valley Campus

The APS Foundation has announced it will provide a $10,000 grant to fund STEM-(Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) related classes for children this summer on the Verde Valley campus in Clarkdale.

“We’re beyond grateful that APS has awarded these funds for College for Kids’ STEM education courses,” said Yavapai College Verde Valley Community Education Director Zachary Jernigan. “By exposing children to STEM subjects in a post-secondary setting, APS and Yavapai College encourage learners to explore a range of professional possibilities, enhancing their potential for success and helping to build a college-going culture locally.”  You may read more about the grant by clicking here and you will be taken to the College announcement.

Registration for the Clarkdale College for Kids program opens on May 1. Scholarships based on financial need are available. Applications for scholarship will be available April 15 and must be filed by May 10 for full consideration. Register online at www.yc.edu/kidsverde, or by calling 928-634-6537.

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