1 . Albertus Magnus College student Shannon Visco had always loved theater since elementary school. When she arrived at college, she was excited to continue her interest in theater and join the drama club. However, Shannon soon discovered that Albertus Magnus College’s Drama Club was no longer functional.

This was a big disappointment for Shannon, who had always been surrounded by a theater community. Growing up, she did every show she possibly could, both in school and with community theater groups. Theater was more than just a hobby for Shannon—it was an important form of expressing herself.

Feeling the absence of the theater community, Shannon was inspired to restart the drama club. She wanted to bring back the spotlight (聚光灯) and create a space for students who shared her love of theater to come together and create something special.

Renewing a drama club that had been relatively inactive for years was not an easy task. Shannon received help from fellow students Giana Cagna and Kristian Lozada, in addition to English Professor Susan Cole. Together, the team shared emails and Zoom meetings to discuss the possibility of this effort and the next steps. By the beginning of Shannon’s second year at college, the club finally began to pick up.

Despite all their efforts, there was still a setback. They needed to recruit (招募) students. The group spread the word and put up posters around campus, but the result was not very promising. The students soon turned to their friends, and in doing so, they were finally able to fill a cast and crew (演员和工作人员).

Last month, the club successfully performed The Atomic Family from Outer Space—the club’s first performance in five years. The performance also received a Falcon Award for the best event on campus. It is safe to say we can expect big things from the drama club next year.

3 . Every year, thousands of K-12 students visit the University of Georgia (UGA) through the Experience UGA program. Hosting these students is made possible by the Experience UGA ambassadors (大使), a team of UGA students trained to support the program. They help create and support the field trips and introduce school children to college with interactive and educational visits that are grade-level specific. For example, every second grade group tours the Ramsey Student Center to learn about health-related topics, and all seventh graders explore UGArden to learn about nutrition and agriculture.

“Each year I realize the impact I’m making on students,” said Leslie Oroyemi, who is beginning her third year as an Experience UGA ambassador. “I love reaching younger populations and engaging with them. It’s nice to see them grow and discover different interests.”

This was the first year that Oroyemi has been an ambassador for second grade trips, and she said it has become her favorite. Her favorite part of the day is teaching second graders how easily germs (病菌) spread through a game of tag (捉人游戏) — those with “germs” have chalk on their hands and go around trying to touch and “infect” others. The kids then learn how important hand washing is to prevent the spread of germs.

Camille Holcomb is beginning her second year as an ambassador. She said working with different ages means connecting with them differently. The second graders are excited about everything, while the seventh graders are more reserved (保守的). Holcomb learned that connecting with the older students works best in between the activities — being personable and asking questions while walking around campus. Holcomb also learned that some friendly competition helps engage the more reserved students.

“Each ambassador is very fervent about giving back to the community and holds a special skill that contributes to creating a wonderful experience for students during each grade level trip,” said Aiyana Egins, coordinator of Experience UGA. “I look forward to seeing the impact they will have on students this year.”

5 . Elite Summer School Program for High School Students

Harvard’s Elite Program for high school students is an intensive two-week summer program designed to give you a glimpse of college life. You will live on the Harvard campus during your two-week session while taking a college-level course with other Elite Program students.

Cost: $5,550+$75 application fee

2024 Session Ⅰ: June 23-July 5, 2024

2024 Session Ⅱ: July 7-19, 2024

2024 Session Ⅲ: July 21-August 2, 2024

Harvard’s Elite Program is designed for mature, academically motivated students who are interested in exploring a potential major or simply finding out what college is really like.

Our Elite Program is open to rising juniors and seniors. To be qualified for Summer 2024, you must meet both of the following criteria:

●Will graduate from high school and enter college in 2025 or 2026.

●Are at least 16 years old by June 22, 2024, and will not turn 19 years old before July 31, 2024.

●Early Application and Priority Financial Aid Deadline — January 10, 2024

●Regular Application and Financial Aid Deadline — February 14, 2024

●Late Application Deadline — April 10, 2024

9 . A walking school bus (WSB) project can help reduce air pollution, increase the number of students walking and bicycling, and offer children and parents an opportunity to exercise and socialize, while getting to school on time!

WSB is a safe and fun way for children to get physical activity as they travel to and from school. Each “bus” walks along a way with one or more parents leading it, picking children up at stops along a way designed ahead of time and walking them to school. Then it runs back in the afternoons on the way home from school under adults supervision (监管). It is that easy. You may find that families are already doing this with their children and would be glad to help more students get to school in this healthy, safe and fun way!

Planning WSB seems not to be simple. But the key is to make sure you know the steps. This guide will walk you through how to plan a WSB and help to tailor (定制) your project to your school, community and students. First, get started and plan the route, and then recruit (招募) students and leaders. Finally, run and perfect your project. You may or may not choose to perform these steps in order, depending on your project.

As you work through some steps in order, the WSB Planning Worksheet and Timeline will help you organize your project. Each section of the worksheet helps you record the progress: who is responsible for each task, when things need to start, and the date due to finish. These planning documents will help you organize ideas, people and time in order to improve your WSB as easily as possible.

For more information, explore the references at the end of this guide.

10 . “My favorite thing about hiking is that I get to work out my legs,” said Skylar, a six-year-old camper. “And I get to see the view!” Skylar is one of twenty kids participating in the week-long Gross Out Camp, a summer program hosted at parks and outdoor spaces across Alabama. “This is kids’ natural habitat out here in the woods,” said Verna Gates, who started Gross Out Camp 14 years ago.

As schools begin again across Alabama, most students are returning to days spent in indoor classrooms, but some will continue to learn and play outside, even while at school. It’s part of a growing movement to teach kids in nature and help them connect with their environment.

In recent years, at least three nature preschools, or forest schools, have opened across Alabama. They operate almost entirely outside. “It seems like a very foreign concept, especially when we first described it to people,” said Sarah Crim, director of the Woodland Wonders Nature Preschool in Auburn. “But it’s great, and it works.”

In this forest school, students learn knowledge from every activity. The class might discover a turtle walking along the forest floor at the Kreher Preserve & Nature Center, where the school is located. That presents an opportunity for students to talk about the animal’s shape and color, and write about their discovery.

After starting Woodland Wonders in 2019, Crim said word spread quickly. The school has since added classes and programs for older kids, but they can’t keep up with demand. It’s a similar case at Little Mountain Forest School in Huntsvillem, where kids learn and play at Monte Sano State Park. Co-founder and co-director Beth Barry said that both kids and parents love the natural space.

Fellow co-founder and co-director Sarah Callaway said the most common question is about the weather. They spend a lot of time reviewing proper clothing, because students are outside rain or shine. “As a forest school parent, it can be a pain in the behind to have to deal with your muddy and wet kid,” Callaway said. “But the kids love it. Those are some of the best days.”