Pre-College/Youth Programs
ACADEMY
ACADEMY Course Descriptions 2008
NOTE: Classes offerings subject to change. Course selections for each session will be sent out with the acceptance packets.
COMMUNICATION / LANGUAGE ARTS
JUNIOR CHEFS
Put on your chef’s hat and learn a variety of cooking techniques. Learn the science behind cooking with quick and easy ideas and recipes from a variety of world cuisines. You will measure and mix ingredients and use a variety of cooking tools and machines, not to mention taste the results! Instructor: Marilyn D. Moore is a Culinary Institute-Le Cordon Bleu Graduate and a Certified Culinary Educator for the American Culinary Federation. She is the owner of Creative Organic Catering.
MANNERS AND SUCH
Get ready to sharpen your mannerly skills and self-esteem in this fun, hands-on class. You will learn a higher level of sophistication and etiquette for advancing your mixing skills with others in more formal settings such as school parties and graduation ceremonies. Learn what it takes to be successful in interviews for scholarships, college entrance and employment as well as learning new cultural communication skills. Instructor: Claudia Michelli has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and a master’s in teaching with over twenty years teaching experience.
STOP THE PRESS!
Come spend the week with the ACADEMY Press and you learn what makes a newspaper tick. You will learn how to report and write news as you write captivating headlines, captions, and copy-edit text. You will be assigned different jobs on a newspaper and you work on articles, comic strips and advice columns. You will get past writer’s block as you develop your individual writer’s voice. Instructor: Cynthia Hewitt has a bachelor’s in social ecology/child development from U.C. Irvine and has taught workshops and seminars throughout the valley.
WRITE ON THE WILD SIDE
Do you want to write a screen play for a home video or a rap song lyric? This class lets you open up and express what is on your mind and be proud of it by putting some words on a page and going with the flow. Find out that you have something important to say, can write about it and be willing to produce a work you never dreamed possible. Instructor: Herb Heiman has written a Young Adult novel entitled, First Across the Finish Line. He is co-publisher and critic for Ashland Theatre Review, a monthly critique of local play productions.
YOU’RE HIRED!
Jump on board this fun ride as you create a "hire me" packet of your favorite fictional character. You will be put to the test by convincing ACME Studio Board of Directors (your fellow classmates) to hire your character in an upcoming film. Use your imagination to create the back story of your character’s life including details of his or her interests, hobbies, adventures, travel and family life. Release the writer within as you immerse yourself in an array of creative writing and illustration projects. Instructor: Shawna Huggins has a master’s in sociology and is a master teacher. She teaches throughout southern Oregon.
VISUAL ARTS
COSTUME AND FASHION ILLUSTRATION
Learn how to proportion, shade and use other essential art fundamentals to create costume and fashion drawings for the runway or for your favorite people and characters such as Harry Potter, Jessica Alba, Captain Jack Sparrow, and Corbin Bleu. You are bound to build your drawing skills, stretch your imagination and boost your creativity. Instructor: Craig Honeycutt has a master’s in education and is a local artist and art educator with more than twenty years teaching experience.
ECO ART WORKS
Learn about historical perspectives and current trends in environmental art while creating hands-on studio projects such as sculpture made with recycled materials, group paintings, handmade journals, onsite botanical drawings and much more. Instructor: Claudia Michelli has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and a master’s in teaching with over twenty years teaching experience.
FACE IT: YOU LOVE MASKS!
The ultimate in face painting! You will make an exact plaster duplicate of your own face. Then you decorate with acrylic paint, ink, fabric and more. Your mask will let you go wild with design, color, and decoration. Instructor: Claudia Michelli has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts and a master’s in teaching with over twenty years teaching experience.
WILDLIFE ILLUSTRATION
Learn how to observe birds and mammals in their environment and then translate those observations into professional illustrations. Working from biological specimens and live animals on "live animal model day" you will complete projects in scratchboard and pencil as well as learn how to keep a field journal. No previous drawing experience is required. Instructor: Hillary Hulen is a graphic designer and the communications manager for the Southern Oregon Humane Society. Her published work has appeared in many gardening and wildlife magazines including Audubon’s American Birds.
PERFORMING ARTS
DRUMMING TO A DIFFERENT BEAT
Step into this fun drum circle while you learn techniques that will enable you to create rhythmic patterns of traditional Afro-Cuban drum rhythms and learn new music concepts. This is literally a hands-on class at its best. Instructor: Sue Lundquist is a professional musician and teacher whose taught folkloric rhythms and songs of the Afro-Cuban tradition for over fifteen years.
FANTASTIC FENCING
En guard -- ready -- fence. Safe inside a mask and jacket you will be introduced to the exciting sport of fencing. Learn the skills of "touching" (scoring on) your partner while avoiding being scored on and learn the respect, ethics and comradery involved in this sport. Instructor: Ron Kilby is a nationally certified fencing instructor, recognized by both the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association and the U.S Fencing Associates. He is a business owner/instructor at Southern Oregon Fencing Center has trained the last two summers at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado.
SHAKESPEARE SHENANIGANS
Explore the stories and language of Shakespeare through theatre improvisation games and activities. Through the use of rhythm exercises and textual analysis you will exercise your creativity and your imagination while engaging in spirited action! Students will work with scenes from Shakespeare's greatest hits. Instructor: Terri McMahon has been an actor and teacher for the Oregon Shakespeare Festival for over twenty years and teachers Shakespeare Studies at SOU.
THINK YOU CAN DANCE?
Learn to create your own movement language, work with a partner and embody musical rhythm! You will play improvisational games and explore how you can move (and be moved.). Come learn how to "Shake it Like a Polaroid Picture!" Instructor: Peggy Paver has taught people of all ages to dance. She has a master’s in dance and has eight years of production and performance experience.
SOCIAL STUDIES
ORDER IN THE COURT!
Take part in this exciting process of enacting trials while you experience the American judicial system. Learn what it takes to become the judge, jury, prosecutor, defender or witness. Learn to organize facts, develop your speaking and questioning abilities, and understand the concepts of justice through jury deliberation. This will be a courtroom drama you will never forget. Instructor: Cynthia Hewitt has a bachelor’s in social ecology/child development from U.C. Irvine and has taught workshops and seminars throughout the valley.
THE POLITICAL APPRENTICE
Ronald Stump is searching for the perfect person to help him run his newly formed government. It could be you! Come test your creativity, intelligence and street smarts in a fast-paced competition to be the new chief of staff. You will learn business and policy making while you participate in the ultimate apprentice game. Instructor: Peter Voskes is a former ACADEMY student and counselor who teaches eighth grade U.S. History at Hedrick Middle School. He is also the cross country coach at North Medford High.
SAY IT IN CLAY
Discover the art of Japan while you sculpt self portrait clay masks, hand sculptures or an oranina (clay flute). Learn hand-building techniques and the culture of Japan. Create beautiful pieces of art to be glazed and fired. Instructor: Wataru Sugiyama is an international sculptor and native of Japan. He has exhibited his work throughout the United States, England, Switzerland, Germany and Japan.
SCIENCE
CRIME SCENCE INVESTIGATORS
Take your forensic science skills to the next level as you analyze the evidence of a fictional crime scene. You will study evidence that is commonly introduced in real cases such as blood type, identify and process fingerprints, analyze handwriting, and take hair and fibers samples. Work together, gather clues and see if you can crack the case. Instructor: Paul Hampton has two masters and bachelors degrees. He teaches AP and Honors Chemistry and Physics, and is currently teaching at South Medford High.
ECO FRIENDLY DISSECTIONS
Join us in the fascinating world of internal anatomy as we study science through nonanimal dissection. With the use of BioLEAP’s 3D plastic models of pigs, frogs, starfish and software programs you will have a hands-on experience in dissection techniques and mechanisms. This is a "must" for future doctors, veterinarians, and biologists. Instructor: Sarah Swanson has a master's in teaching from SOU. She has worked several years with our popular Sea Camp of Oregon and is currently teaching biology and Chemistry at Crater High School.
GO GREEN
Learn to think differently, buy differently, and live in a way to make a real difference on this planet. You will improve your environmental awareness and find out what it means to be 'green', live a healthy life and protect our natural resources. Explore solar energy, alternative fuels and other 'green' technology. Instructor: Kristy Healy is a science teacher at Ashland Middle School.
HOVER-CRAFT DESIGN
Finding new and sustainable forms of transportation is a new global challenge. Get the research started in this class, where you will combine electronics with wind power and new age materials to design and construct a vehicle that will travel without friction on a cushion of air. Along the way, you will learn about soldering, electric circuits and principles of lift in this workshop-style course. Instructor: Paul Hampton has two masters and bachelors degrees. He teaches AP and Honors Chemistry and Physics, and is currently teaching at South Medford High.
JUNKYARD WARS
Come learn math, engineering, and technology principles as you participate in this exciting challenge. You will use your imagination, scientific knowledge and a box of "junk" to create a variety of devices that perform an assortment of tasks. Whether building a super structure, a blaster, or a car-on-the-go, have fun as you take another persons junk and turn it into a winning combination. Instructor: Matthew Paradela was a VEX Robotics sponsor in California and currently teaches science at Crater High.
COMPUTERS/VIDEO
GAME ON!
Explore the high-tech, fast moving world of video games and concepts. Create fun and easy-to-use video games while exploring the evolution of harnessing computers in the ever-growing global gaming industry. Explore software tools like Flash to learn game design elements of digital art, image creation, sound and their application to programming. Instructor: Robert Luaders is a SOU graduate and energetic computer guru who blends technology with the artistry of life. He is an award-winning vocalist, film composer, and song writer.
MAKING THE VIDEO
Learn the basics of finding the punch points in a song and making it into a music video. You will learn how to video record people and construct fun music videos complete with tricky special effects. Learn about the most popular video software such as You Tube, iMovie and more. Instructor: Robert Luaders is a SOU graduate and energetic computer guru who blends technology with the artistry of life. He is an award-winning vocalist, film composer, and song writer.
MATHEMATICS/LOGICAL THINKING
CHECKMATE -- ONLINE
This is an internet based chess challenge. Learn the rules, strategy and etiquette of the game while playing unlimited computerized chess. Try out new skills against world wide players of all levels or just play against the computer. This online course will be held at the university computer lab. Instructor: Rick Shaw is a teacher at Ashland Middle School. He teaches video production and chess classes.
