Click here to download a copy of the SCATS 2007 brochure.

What is it?

In 1983, The Center began its mission with The Summer Camp for Academically Talented Middle School Students. This two-week summer camp provides a diverse curriculum and a wide range of enrichment experiences for 180 residential students and 50 nonresidential students. Students choose four classes ranging from computer science and mathematics to science and foreign languages.

SCATS originated as a practicum for teachers working toward an endorsement in gifted education (an additional teacher certificate.) 2007 marks its twenty-fifth year of providing challenge, stimulation, and opportunity to interact with other gifted and talented people. In fact, Duncan Hinkle, a student from Shelbyville, says that through SCATS he finally realized that he was not alone in Kentucky. He comments that it made him feel good to be smart, and it also made him glad that he didn't try to conform. Many agree with his feelings. For many SCATS serves as a prelude for The Center's next opportunity: The Summer Program for Verbally and Mathematically Precocious Youth.

The camp has made quite an impression on its campers. Anne Raff, of Frankfort, comments: "What impressed me the most about the program was that, although there was a strong academic focus, there was also an opportunity for students to learn valuable life and social skills. Due to the expertise of the faculty and the counselors, I left the program with a greater understanding of both the subject matter and myself." And perhaps she sums the experience best with "my only regret is that there is not an academic year program offered." Whether it be students, teachers, or counselors, the outcome is a similar one. And Duncan Hinkle words it well: "SCATS is an experience I intend to remember for a very long time."

HOW DO I APPLY?

Qualifications

In order to apply, you must meet the following criteria:

1. You must be in grade 6, 7, or 8 during the 2006-2007 school year.
2. You must show high interest/achievement in one or more content areas.
3. You are eligible for services as a gifted child or have an IQ score of 125 or above.
4. You have a score at or above the 90th percentile on the total battery or at or above the 95th percentile on the total mathematics or language/reading section of the most recent achievement test or have scored at the proficient or distinguished level on performance assessment measures.

In addition, a teacher, counselor, or principal must nominate you.

Application Information

Application Form

. Click here to download the SCATS 2007 brochure.

In order to download and view the application form, you will first need Adobe Acrobat Viewer. If you do not already have it, you can download it for free here.

How much does SCATS cost?
The cost for SCATS 2007 is $1250 for residential campers - this amount includes all costs except spending money. The cost for SCATS 2007 for nonresidential is $ 600. This amount includes the cost of instructional activities, weekday lunches, and the dinner and dance on the last Thursday evening. Nonresidential students do not participate in after-class activities except for the talent show and the final dinner and dance.

Limited financial aid will be available to students on the basis of need. Please contact The Center for more information.

• Your application must be completed and signed by you, your parent or guardian, and the school official nominating you.
• A deposit of $200 must be included with the completed application. This deposit will not be refunded once you have been accepted. Make checks payable to The Center for Gifted Studies.
• Applications will be accepted in the order they are received. Enrollment for residential students is limited to 180.
• You will be sent additional information regarding SCATS prior to your arrival.

WHAT COURSES ARE OFFERED?

SCATS 2007 classes are listed below.

The SCATS 2007 class descriptions are below. You can also click here to download (in MS Word) a copy of the SCATS 2007 class list and class preference worksheet.

1. Acting - Julie Roberts Boggess
   Wanted: All aspiring actors and actresses. Come explore the world of acting through various types of improvisation including skits, monologues, and theater games. All you need is an open mind and a positive attitude.

2. Acting (Take Two) - Julie Roberts Boggess
   If you have ever taken my acting class before, this is the class for you. You will learn even more acting techniques and games. The focus will be performing a play before a live audience.

3. Avoiding the Dark Ages: Exploring Alternative Energy with Robotics - Rebecca Humphrey, Samantha Carter, Paige Davenport
   The future of alternative energy is today! In this class we will explore alternative energy options using Lego Robotics. Students will build robots that represent better energy choices while learning facts that will energize their own decisions regarding alternative energy.

4. Be A Writer: Young Writers' Camp (Two Class Periods) - Bonnie Honaker and Linda Martin
   Would you like to discover the writer within you? Do you want to spend time reflecting on your childhood, people you love, and places you have been? Then you will enjoy this writers' workshop. We will write daily on various topics. Mini-lessons will be taught in order to improve your craft as a writer. Plus, we will take risks as writers and explore many genres. But most of all, we will form our own writing community, sharing our successes as we spend two weeks together as writers.

5. Behavior and the Nervous System - Melody Mingus
   What controls our behavior? (Hint: it's not getting grounded.) How does our environment affect our behavior? In this class, we will use scientific methods to investigate these and other questions about animal and human behavior. Using information gathered during the class, we will discuss and debate complex behavioral issues like drug use, exposure to chemicals, and personal responsibility.

6. Chinese - Haiwang Yuan
   The U.S. government has designated Chinese one of the critical needs languages. China's dramatic rise as an economic superpower demands Chinese language speakers. One out of five of the world's people speak the language (including Yao Ming!). Come learn some basics of Chinese pronunciations known as Pinyin and its fascinating writing system called Hanzi. Learn the language from a native Chinese who teaches at WKU and has authored a book, The Magic Lotus Lantern and Other Tales from the Han Chinese. He will lead you on an exploration of this 5000-year-old culture.

7. Design Star - Gloria Carrico
   What can you do with a bowling ball, round and flat reed, fabric, a sewing machine, a computer, a camera, cardboard, beads, and waxed linen threads? Create fantastic art projects that incorporate all these mediums in sculpture, mosaic, basket and bead weaving, sewing, painting, and bookmaking. This class will allow you to stretch your right brain and create cool projects that will be the envy of all! Come be a Design Star!

8. Drawing - Jennifer Fritsch
   Have your pencils at the ready as we begin an art adventure while learning some of the introductory methods of drawing. We will examine past and present master artists while studying still lifes, landscapes, portraits, and human bone structure/anatomy. Students will work in a sketch book using pencil and charcoal. This class is adaptable to various stages of ability, but basic skill is a must.

9. Explore a Far Away Land through Relief Printmaking and Asian Ink Painting - Adrienne Ledbetter
   Explore the ancient artistic traditions of Japan with a new spin on old methods. In this class, you will gain experiences in Japanese printmaking along with Sumi-E ink wash painting while making connections to our own world. As you incorporate the brush strokes of Japanese ink painting into your work, you will gain a new appreciation of a different culture and beliefs. By the end of this class, you as a budding artist will be able to create beautiful relief prints and brush paintings of your own of which you will truly be proud.

10. Forensics - Stephanie Patterson
    When most people hear the word forensics, they think C.S.I. However, forensics also refers to the world of competitive acting, speaking, and debate. In this class we will study various approaches to oral interpretation of literature and public speaking including how to find material for competition, writing introductions, creating dynamic characters, and writing winning speeches. Based on individual interests, students will craft a written speech or interpretation event. The final class session will feature a performance by all students.

11. Geography - Betty Burke
    In this class, we explore U.S. geography in-depth from sea to shining sea. Students will choose a U.S. region or state and explore how humans and geography have interacted throughout history. America's landscape will come alive as students use math skills to create a scaled 3-dimensional map depicting geographical features.

12. Give Yourself the Unfair Advantage - Jim Fulkerson
    Understanding one's personality can aid in the development of personal self-esteem and can help build strategies for academic success. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator will be the basis for classroom activities and discussion. Topics include the following: effective communication, procrastination, relationships, stress management, and understanding human personality.

13. Hands-on, Minds-on Geometry - Stacy Pierce
    This class will help you get into shape-geometric shapes, that is! Enter the wonderful world of hands-on, minds-on geometry. We will utilize hands-on activities and projects to discover geometric relationships, formulas, and why they work. Put on your thinking caps as we explore multi-dimensional mathematical methods!

14. Leadership for Life! - John Baker
    Successful people are leaders - do you want to succeed? Learn about this complex and fascinating aspect of life called Leadership! In this interactive educational experience, you'll learn about essential basic concepts, learn what effective leaders do, and gain insight to your own leadership style. In addition to reflecting on your own leadership style, learn what the experts say about leadership and learn ways to effectively lead!

15. Learning About Learning - - Becky Hawkins
    How, as individuals, do humans learn? What hinders and helps our learning? Do animals learn in a similar way? How, as a community of humans, do we learn things that are important for survival? Does the structure of our brains change as we learn? This class will jump headlong into these and other questions to investigate the process of how we acquire, assess, and retain information. In this interdisciplinary guide, you will delve into the human organism and nervous system, animal behavior, health and safety issues, product testing, and the ethics of experimentation. In this process, you will learn a great deal about what scientists actually do.

16. Loving Language Arts - Kendell Bryant
    This is a class designed to open your mind to different types of literature and expose you to the fundamentals of language. Join us as we explore literature, writing, language study, and oral communication. Discuss different genres of literature, be involved in creative writing, and explore the great world of literature. If you like to read and be involved in group discussions, this is the class for you!

17. Math Is Important! - Bonny Bailey
    Math is more than just numbers on a page. There are times when math can be magical! In this class, we will learn different card tricks and other numeric magic. Students will explore and master a variety of mathematic tricks, while also seeing if there are occasions when the trick won't work. Become a number one mathemagician!

18. Mixed Media Design/Drawing - Jennifer Fritsch
    We will look at various types of 2-D media and learn how to work with those media. We will explore color pencil, marker, pastels, watercolor, collage, and how to mix these media to acquire more depth and interest in the drawing. We will explore still lifes, landscapes, portraits, abstraction, and non-objective subject matter. This class is adaptable to various stages of ability but basic skill is a must. This will be an extension of Drawing, but it can be taken separately.

19. Musical History Class - Beverly Fulkerson
    The Broadway musical is a barometer of American culture. Through the Broadway shows, the sound, the music, we see the bigger picture -- what we [as a nation] are doing and what we are feeling. The Musical History class will study the history of the Broadway Musical. Students will conduct their own research, explore these productions through visual arts, and complete their own special projects.

20. Musical Troop Class - Jim Fulkerson
    Though it's been said that "all the world is a stage," Broadway takes center stage in the theatrical spotlight. Come celebrate Broadway by performing and singing the songs that reach deeply into so many aspects of our lives and culture. This class will perform on stage after the annual banquet. (Selected Musicals: Sweet Charity, Peter Pan, 42nd Street, Mamma Mia, Ragtime, etc.)

21. Pondering on Psychology - Candice Keltner
    Are you ready for some experiments and tests that help you learn more about yourself and your behavior? Well this is the class just for you. You will focus on learning about dreams, perception, learning styles, and much more. Come join us as we explore the world of psychology to discover who you really are.

22. Pyramids, Cathedrals and Skyscrapers - Travis Wilson
    Have you ever wondered how the pyramids were built? How the Roman Coliseum was flooded for gladiator battles or why skyscrapers move in the wind? Let's explore past and present architectural landmarks through analyzing, designing, drawing, and creating. We will build models, design buildings, and even create our own miniature city.

23. Rocket Science - Joe Napier and Mark Russell
    To most people "rocket science" means something that is complex and difficult and incomprehensible. Well, let's find out together that "rocket science" is actually very sensible and predictable and practical. We will use aerodynamics, physics, and computer flight simulation software to understand rocket science. Teams will use CAD to design a high-powered rocket to perform specific mission criteria. Teams will build and launch the rocket, then download data from an on-board flight data recorder in a friendly competition. Guaranteed to be a BLAST!!

24. Science: From Earthworms to Roly Polies - Ronnie Shuffitt
    Can worms survive in sand? Will yeast grow in Splenda(r)? We will conduct simple experiments to test the effectiveness of antacids, the best environment for earthworms, aspartame as a substitute food for yeast, among many others. These experiments can be developed into a science project. We will also explore some of the new research that has been developed and how it affects our lives.

25. Shakespeare - Elizabeth Norris
    Do you enjoy reading and acting? Participants will have the opportunity to delve into Shakespeare's life, his career as a poet and playwright, as well as some of his major literary works. Our study will also include contemporary fiction such as Shakespeare Stealer and King of Shadows. Participate in literature circles, reader's theater, and creative writing activities. The culminating activity will be a Share Fair where you will share with each other a project that you have developed based on our course of study.

26. Spanish - Gustavo Obeso
    Spanish is the language used by the largest minority in USA. Through this course you will learn the basic rules and vocabulary that will give you the key to understand and speak this language. Learn through different types of exercises including oral, written, and visual communication. Students will learn about Latino Culture and how similar and different our cultures (American and Latino) are.

27. Stage Craft - Jim Fulkerson
    Think about the best movie, musical, or theatrical production you've seen. What made it great? Was it the special effects, the backdrops, or the props? In the Stagecraft class, we will focus on the history of staging, and students will have an opportunity to design backdrops and props for the Musical Troop's production of "The Broadway Musical".

28. The Bill of Rights and You - Brian Mingus
    The Bill of Rights is at the heart of the freedoms that Americans enjoy. In this class, we will explore the federal government's Constitutional authority and the protections for individual rights set forth in the first Ten Amendments. We will put special emphasis on the First and Fourth Amendments. History, past and present, will come alive as we examine how the Bill of Rights applies to both current world events and you as an individual.

29. The Renaissance - Michelle East
    Do you think that Donatello, Raphael, Leonardo, and Michelangelo are just Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Think again! These men (and others) were part of a major change in culture and the society called the Renaissance. Learn about this revival of the ancient Greek and Roman cultures through dancing, music, creating artwork, and plays. Finally, we will explore the question: What if we had another Renaissance today?

30. Young Poet's Workshop - Allison Hall
    During this workshop, we will explore and compose many different types of poetry including pattern poems such as "Where I'm From" and "I Am," as well as creating totally original poetic works. You will author your own books of poetry and have the opportunity to enhance it with illustrations and binding. If you're ready to unleash the poet inside yourself, come and join us!

last updated 05.23.07

How can I register for classes?
You will receive a list and registration form in the mail or click here to download (in MS Word) a copy of the SCATS 2007 class list and class preference worksheet.

Please return the SCATS Preference Worksheet to The Center by May 31. You may mail your worksheet to The Center for Gifted Studies, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights Blvd #71031, Bowling Green, KY 42101-1031 or fax to 270.745.6279.