The Explore Program

By reading a broad selection of classic and contemporary literature, you will deepen your understanding of people and the issues they face as they pursue their dreams. Since one of the important goals of the course is to expose you to the world’s different cultures, you and your classmates will explore answers to age-old questions:

The Explore STEM class combines science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to pursue student-driven, inquiry-based projects using real-world applications This interdisciplinary course employs a format that includes problem inquiry, research, proposal, testing, and conclusion, and strikes a balance between independent discovery and carefully guided instructor support. In addition, students will engage the scientific method, practice drawing and creating, and develop important teamwork and collaborative habits. In this process, students will gain meta-cognitive skills through iteration, self-reflection, and peer evaluation. By the end of the summer, STEM students gain a new perspective of the interconnectedness of the world around them, with new skills, knowledge, and habits to meet the challenges of more advanced course work in secondary school.

If you want a head start with math before beginning high school, this course provides a sweeping review of mathematics typically covered in middle school and then moves into areas such as algebra and geometry. The class focuses on fractions, decimals, operations using negative numbers, word problems ,and basic equations. You become familiar with fundamental algebraic and geometric skills, including factoring, graphing, and formulas for solving the equations most often covered in these courses.

If you choose this course, you are placed appropriately to ensure that you have the necessary comfort level with mathematical computation.

This course explores the stories, inspiration, and cultural impact of the heroes and legends of literary history. In a participatory and story-based format, students will come to know these characters by digging deeply into their complex and compelling lives. In this process, the class will discover that these legends of literature, with stories past and present, share the common characteristics of courage, perseverance, and grit. At the same time, students learn that not all heroes are strong, confident, and invincible, but that they can also be frail, insecure, and vulnerable. This important perspective helps us to expand and redefine the common notion of heroes in culture and society. In this engaging and animated course, the stories of these legends of literature will help students gain a better understanding of their own lives and will illuminate the wonders and complexities of the human condition.

In this engaging and interactive course, students will use the scientific method to attempt to answer real-world mysteries and unexplained events. With the guidance and support of their instructor, students will discover mysterious and unexplained phenomena in the world of life science, physical science, and earth and space science. In this process, students play the role of “science detective” as they set out to develop guiding questions, conduct research, formulate hypotheses, carry out experiments, and communicate results. During the final week of Summer Session, students will present their findings to peers and faculty. This course will help students develop critical inquiry and research skills as they set out to solve the mysteries and wonders of the world through science.

Using a diverse series of logic puzzles and other related game formats, students will build their deductive reasoning, critical thinking, and teamwork skills. With guidance from the instructor, students employ various problem-solving strategies to arrive at final solutions. In this process, students gain the confidence to apply these skills to other areas of academics, including challenging math proofs and complex word problems. At the conclusion of this course, students will develop more structured and organized thinking processes and will improve their writing and speaking communication skills.

In preparing for team debates, students will dig deeply into several topics to fully understand these issues from many perspectives. In this process, they will gain important research skills, including how to sort through the onslaught of information online to discover legitimate sources. Additionally, students will work closely with their teammates in a cooperative environment and will improve public speaking and critical thinking skills. This class introduces students to the basic elements of argument and guides them through the steps required to engage in a successful team debate.

This course guides students through the steps necessary to launch a successful business based on an original idea. Students learn how to recognize opportunities, create business plans, develop marketing strategies, and build realistic budgets to support their ideas. In this process, students learn how to identify and resolve problems in a creative and practical manner, including “thinking outside the box”. Additionally, our young entrepreneurs learn that successful businesses aren’t always about maximizing profits. Students in this class also learn that bringing their product ideas to market can provide a much-needed public service and may significantly improve the lives of others in the local or global community.