LIFESTYLE: A summer of discovery

The University reaches out to Philadephia area children with exciting summer programs This summer, hundreds of local youngsters will participate in a plethora of "community summer programs," all sponsored by the University. The programs, which mostly run through July and August, allow elementary school and high school students to learn about everything from computer and engineering skills to desktop publishing to Quaker basketball. The programs mark a continuation of the University's effort to donate its resources to the surrounding community. Most recently, the University launched a new 5-year, $3 million teacher enhancement program, in collaboration with the Philadelphia School District and the Merck Institute for Science Education. The Penn/Merck Project will send 250 local elementary school teachers to an intensive three-week summer training session, followed by graduate-level education seminars during the 1994-95 academic year and then another three-week summer session in 1995. The anticipated result is better science education in Philadelphia's elementary schools. At least nine other educational and recreational programs are being offered over the summer, through the University's Office of Community Relations. These programs, however, are aimed at the students themselves. · The Discovery Program, headed by Greg Frost of the College of General Studies, allows academically talented high school students to explore a wide range of fascinating topics -- including animals, fossils, animation, keyboarding, radio, puzzle solving, the stock market, law, acting and writing -- in a hands-on workshop environment. Each "class" costs from $40 to $400, and lasts from one day up to three weeks. According to Frost, two of the "classes" are centered around camping trips -- Invertebrates and Geology: Mines and Fossils. Both are open to local students in grades five through nine. Invertebrates participants will spend three days and two nights camping at Cape Hanlopen, Del. Their adventure, which will take place July 18-20, will include hands-on interaction with live clams, crabs, sea stars and other aquatic creatures. The Mines and Fossils trip, taking place July 25-28, will bring students to World's End -- north of Scranton -- on a four-day, three-night camping trip which will include a visit to underground coal mines, a study of quartzite boulders in streams and retrieving real samples of pyrite. For the performer-wannabes, Discovery offers two courses in acting and improvisation, and one each in comedy and stage combat. Each course is four days long, and is taught by a professional from the Philadelphia area. There are also several writing options available to the kids, ranging from short story writing to "The News As It Happens" -- a news writing class taught by Philadelphia Daily News writer and editor Rick Selvin. · The Turner Summer Institute is targeted at sixth-graders-to-be from West Philadelphia entering Turner in the fall. The five-week program provides about 40 students with a comprehensive health education, reinforcement of basic academic skills and supervised afternoon recreation. According to Cory Bowman, assistant director of the Penn Program for Public Service, a main goal of the program is to help the participants educate their peers, family and community members about community health. This year's themes are nutrition and conflict resolution skills; past summer topics have included diabetes, cancer and immunization. The program is supported by 12 University undergraduates and two medical students who work with staff from the School District of Philadelphia to teach health issues and design health activities. · For the more athletically inclined, the National Youth Sports Program is always a hit. Meeting for four hours daily between June 29 and August 4, the program offers free recreational activities to local youths, ages 10-16. Age-appropriate instruction and skills development are available in several sports, including badminton, basketball, dance, football, gymnastics, physical fitness, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis, track and field, volleyball, wrestling and others. Equipment and uniforms are also supplied. The program is a partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the National Collegiate Athletic Association and many colleges and universities across the nation. Almost 67,000 students participate nationwide. · There are a variety of other summer sports camps available to youngsters in the Philadelphia area. A special Quaker Basketball Camp which just finished last week featured Quaker basketball staff and former senior forward Andy Baratta teaching more than 100 kids, ages 9-16, the skills and techniques of the game of basketball. The lessons took place at the Palestra. A tennis camp held at the University runs until August 15, teaching kids in weekly segments. "Each week camp starts totally fresh and teaches all levels -- from peewee to advanced to intermediate," said Hal Mackin, manager of the Levy Pavilion, who added that enrollment varies from week to week. Camps are also in session throughout the summer specializing in fencing and gymnastics. · The Penn-Lea Athletic Program is a cooperative effort between the University and Lea Elementary School, located at 47th and Locust streets. It provides free cultural, educational and athletic activities to Lea students, ages 8-10. The program takes place three times a week beginning Monday and lasting until August 19. According to Jim Blackmore, a coordinator of the program, students can participate in a wide variety of activities, ranging from chemistry experiments to swimming to Philadelphia Phillies games at Veteran's Stadium. Lunches for the participants are supplied by local stores and restaurants in the community. · PRIME -- formerly the Philadelphia Regional Introduction for Minorities to Engineering -- is an organization dedicated to creating opportunities for minorities in engineering, pharmacy, and other mathematics- and science-based careers. It is open to all qualified students within the Philadelphia and Camden School Districts, but all students must meet certain academic eligibility requirements. The most unique aspect of PRIME is its partnership with business companies and government agencies. These partnerships provide students with hands-on information and experiences, both during the summer and during the regular school year. Cora Ingrum, a coordinator of PRIME, said the program aims at "trying to?get more minorities into fields of math and engineering." "It is important that our students can maintain excellence," she said. "We want students who participate in the program to accomplish their goals." The tuition-free program, now in its 20th year, started Tuesday and will last until July 31. · The Literacy Enrichment Achievement Program, which is co-sponsored by the University, is an ongoing program that introduces economically disadvantaged young people to all areas of communication, including writing and desktop publishing. Emphasis is on listening, thinking, writing, speaking and reading, and each student will end up producing a resume, profile and story. In addition, students are treated to workshops conducted by professionals in the areas of journalism, academia, government, business and social services. Approximately 40 students participate in the program each year, which makes use of the University's computer labs and lecture halls. "The purpose of LEAP is youth empowerment through communication," said LEAP coordinator Charlotte Sistrun. "That is the key to everything." This year's program starts Monday and will continue for four hours daily until August 18. · The NIH Summer Apprenticeship Program for Minority High School Students provides opportunities for talented Philadelphia high schoolers in grades 10-12. Students who are selected for the program work directly with University personnel on research projects in the Schools of Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dentistry. The program began Tuesday and will continue until August 30. · For more information on any of these programs, contact the Office of Community Relations at 898-3565.