Summer Academy
Overview/Welcome
Welcome to Summer Academy
LFA's Summer Academy provides a remarkable learning opportunity for high school students and middle school students. High school students will engage in a rigorous curriculum taught by LFA teachers. Current LFA students will have the option to earn transcript credit (non-LFA high school students will be issued a transcript that they can provide to their high school). Middle school students will explore important STEAM topics and have fun developing and sharpening their critical thinking skills while having the opportunity to learn on our campus.
The Summer Academy High School program will run from June 7-30 (Juneteenth – Monday, June 19 – will be a holiday). The High School program will hold classes between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. each day with a 30-minute complimentary lunch in the Academy's dining hall located in the JC Cowart Student Center. All classes will be held at Lake Forest Academy's campus, although the possibility of field trips does exist. The cost for the High School program is $2,950. For students registering from the same household, a sibling discount of 10 percent is available. Registration deadline is Wednesday, May 10.
See High School Credit Course tab above for course details.
See High School Credit Course details below.
The Middle School program will run from June 12-30 (Juneteenth – Monday, June 19 – will be a holiday). All classes will also be held on Lake Forest Academy's campus. The Middle School program will have six sessions over three weeks – a week-long morning session from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and a week-long afternoon session from 12:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. (students can participate in both sessions and have a complimentary lunch on campus). The cost of the Middle School program will be $350 for one session per week for weeks one and three and $300 for week two (four days), $600 for two sessions (morning and afternoon) per week for weeks one and three and $500 for two sessions in week two, and $1,600 for all six sessions over the three weeks of Summer Academy for middle school students. For students registering from the same household for all six sessions, a sibling discount of 10 percent is available. Registration deadline is May 10.
See Middle School STEAM Camp tab above for camp details.
See Middle School STEAM Camp details below.
High School Credit Courses
Ceramics
Length: 3½ weeks of full day classes
Dates: June 7-30
Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Teacher: Yue Chen
This course introduces students to creating and using the pottery wheel by sculpting clay by hand. Students will learn various techniques for adorning the surface of their clay objects using glazing and printmaking methods. Students will explore the historical significance of ceramics in various cultures as well as the aesthetic traditions of making functional pottery. Through this exploration, students will become proficient in a number of skills that are used when working with clay, including: throwing and trimming work on the pottery wheel, slab building, coiling, and basic surface decoration techniques.
Foundations in AP History
Length: 3½ weeks of full day classes
Dates: June 7-30
Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Teacher: Sam Wold
Foundations in AP History focuses on concepts and skills that will assist students in preparation of future AP History courses. This course will focus on the forces that helped shape the regions, communities, governments, economies and cultures of human history and help students develop an understanding of the connections between different historical events and processes. The course will focus on specific skills that are at the base of historical inquiry. The course will emphasize global curriculum that builds context for other AP courses starting with pre-history through the 13th century, and the course will help prepare students for answering stimulus-based multiple-choice questions, short-answer questions, long essay questions, and document-based essay questions. This class fulfills a general elective credit.
Geometry
Length: 3½ weeks of full day classes
Dates: June 7-30
Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Teacher: Emily Hansen
This standard course in geometry covers concepts of Euclidean geometry including definitions, postulates, and theorems. Areas of study include angles, parallel lines, congruent and similar triangles, polygons, the Pythagorean Theorem, trigonometry, circles, area and volume. The content is also explored through analytical geometry, and the students work to improve their algebraic skills. Additionally, the course includes a proof component. This course also uses a web-based learning system called ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) as a resource to individualize instruction and reinforce new information. A mathematics laboratory is utilized to allow students to have actual hands-on experience with technology and real-world mathematical modeling.
Algebra 2
Length: 3½ weeks of full day classes
Dates: June 7-30
Time: 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Teacher: Dieter Villegas
This course looks at topics both symbolically and graphically. Major topics include polynomials (linear, quadratic, and higher degree), rational functions, powers and roots, exponentials and logarithms. Within these areas, transformations, systems of equations, inequalities, applications, and modeling are addressed. Also, a mathematics laboratory is utilized to allow students to have actual hands-on experience with technology and real-world mathematical modeling.
Middle School STEAM Camps
Week 1 – June 12-16
Session #1: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Forensic Archeology
Cold Case Investigations
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 12–16
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Ruth Smith
Have you ever wanted to solve a forensic mystery? Would you like to go on an archeological dig? In this week-long class, students will learn methods for analyzing evidence. They will learn how archeological and forensic techniques are utilized together while they excavate a burial site and then use deductive reasoning skills to justify their conclusions. By the end of the week they will use forensic investigative techniques to resurrect information about an ancient crime that will culminate with a facial reconstruction.
Environmental Science
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 12–16
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Kevin Hagen
Let’s get outside! Come explore the Lake Forest Academy campus and surrounding area through an environmental lens. Each day will focus on a different unit, from aquatics and water quality testing, wildlife ecology and tracking (we’re talking scat identification, campers), forestry and tree identification, soil science, and mapping with GPS. Each half day session will give students time inside the classroom engaging in inquiry-based labs, and time outside of the classroom bringing these concepts to life.
Creating Chemical Potions
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 12–16
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Kerry Cedergren
This program will give campers the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based hands-on chemistry experiments. Students will separate dyes, turn copper into silver, determine how much blue dye is in sports drinks, make a potato clock, learn how to make ice cream (and then eat it!), solve a mystery and much more.
Session #2: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Forensic Archeology
Cold Case Investigations
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 12–16
Time: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Teacher: Ruth Smith
Have you ever wanted to solve a forensic mystery? Would you like to go on an archeological dig? In this week-long class, students will learn methods for analyzing evidence. They will learn how archeological and forensic techniques are utilized together while they excavate a burial site and then use deductive reasoning skills to justify their conclusions. By the end of the week they will use forensic investigative techniques to resurrect information about an ancient crime that will culminate with a facial reconstruction.
Science Olympiad
Earth and Space
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 12–16
Time: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Teacher: Kevin Hagen
Do you like to understand how our earth functions? Studying our earth from the inside out, each day in this course will focus on a specific Science Olympiad competition related to our planet. The course is open to all experience and ability levels. The first day will be "Dynamic Planet." Day Two will focus on "Rocks and Minerals" with a Geology lens. Day Three we will turn our focus to "Fossils" to learn about how our earth has evolved over time. Day Four we will turn to the skies to study the "Solar System." On the final day, we will turn our attention to "Meteorology." Come join us as we explore our amazing planet!
Creating Chemical Potions
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 12–16
Time: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Teacher: Kerry Cedergren
This program will give campers the opportunity to participate in inquiry-based hands-on chemistry experiments. Students will separate dyes, turn copper into silver, determine how much blue dye is in sports drinks, make a potato clock, learn how to make ice cream (and then eat it!), solve a mystery and much more.
Week 2 – June 20-23
Session #3: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
DNA Technology and Genetics
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 20–23
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Ruth Smith
What does the future of medicine look like? In this week-long class, genetics will be explored using various methods including classical Mendelian genetics and some innovative applicative biotechnology. Students will begin to develop mathematical skills that aid in analysis of population genetics and will conduct population studies. DNA technology will be examined and students will begin to develop skills used by genetic engineers. DNA technology is the next great technology and this course will allow students to understand the future direction of this discipline of biology.
Human Impact
From Home to Planet
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 20–23
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Kevin Hagen
What does it mean to say we are “going green?” How big is your carbon footprint? What role does the economy play in environmental issues? What can one person do? Is global warming real and what can we do about it? These are only a few of the thousands of questions that come up every day when looking at the environment and the impact we have on it. In this week-long class, you will look at answering these questions and many more through discussion, debate, activities, and hands on labs. Learn how you can leave your mark on this environment and leave it in a better place!
Engineering with LEGO
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 20–23
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Mikel Seidl/Chris Kozlov
Combining colorful LEGO building elements, easy-to-use hardware, and an intuitive drag-and-drop coding language based on Scratch, this course continuously engages students through playful learning activities to think critically and solve complex problems, regardless of their learning level. From easy-entry projects to limitless creative design possibilities, including the option to explore text-based coding with Python, this course helps students learn the essential STEAM and 21st century skills needed to become the innovative minds of tomorrow... while having fun!
Session #4: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
DNA Technology and Genetics
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 20–23
Time: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Teacher: Ruth Smith
What does the future of medicine look like? In this week-long class, genetics will be explored using various methods including classical Mendelian genetics and some innovative applicative biotechnology. Students will begin to develop mathematical skills that aid in analysis of population genetics and will conduct population studies. DNA technology will be examined and students will begin to develop skills used by genetic engineers. DNA technology is the next great technology and this course will allow students to understand the future direction of this discipline of biology.
Science Olympiad
Environmental Science
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 20–23
Time: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Teacher: Kevin Hagen
Do you enjoy studying the living things on earth? What about using our natural environment to connect what we learn in the classroom with the real world? If so, this course is for you, as we will spend each day focusing on one specific Science Olympiad competition related to Environmental Science. On Day One we will study "Forestry." On Day Two we will study "Amphibians and Reptiles." On Day Three we will focus on "Aquatics" and on Day Four we will study "Green Generation."
Week 3 – June 26-30
Session #5: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Forensic Science
Crime Scene Investigation
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 26–30
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Ruth Smith
Do you like solving riddles and thinking logically through evidence? Campers will be given opportunities to test their analytical powers while comparing evidence to samples. You will learn how to methodically secure, search and investigate a crime scene. Based on the story and the clues, you will learn how to justify any conclusions you draw from handwriting samples, blood splatter, hair, fiber, fingerprint and toxicology evidence. During this class several Science Olympiad concepts will be covered.
Science Olympiad
Builds
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 26–30
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Erica Wood
Do you like to design things? Build or engineer things using everyday items? Test and modify designs to perfect their purpose? In this week-long course, we will design, construct, and modify different building projects. It will be messy at times and some things won't work perfectly the first time (or the second time...). We will work to fix failed designs and improve working designs. In doing so we will collaborate with peers and think creatively and analytically. The projects we will work on are common build events in Science Olympiad competitions, such as mousetrap cars, miniature catapults, and marble runs.
Engineering with LEGO
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 26–30
Time: 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Teacher: Mikel Seidl/Chris Kozlov
Combining colorful LEGO building elements, easy-to-use hardware, and an intuitive drag-and-drop coding language based on Scratch, this course continuously engages students through playful learning activities to think critically and solve complex problems, regardless of their learning level. From easy-entry projects to limitless creative design possibilities, including the option to explore text-based coding with Python, this course helps students learn the essential STEAM and 21st century skills needed to become the innovative minds of tomorrow... while having fun!
Session #6: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Forensic Science
Crime Scene Investigation
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 26–30
Time: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Teacher: Ruth Smith
Do you like solving riddles and thinking logically through evidence. Campers will be given opportunities to test their analytical powers while comparing evidence to samples. You will learn how to methodically secure, search and investigate a crime scene. Based on the story and the clues, you will learn how to justify any conclusions you draw from handwriting samples, blood splatter, hair, fiber, fingerprint and toxicology evidence. During this class several Science Olympiad concepts will be covered.
Science Olympiad
Builds
Length: 1 week of ½ day classes
Dates: June 26–30
Time: 12:15-3:15 p.m.
Teacher: Erica Wood
Do you like to design things? Build or engineer things using everyday items? Test and modify designs to perfect their purpose? In this week-long course, we will design, construct, and modify different building projects. It will be messy at times and some things won't work perfectly the first time (or the second time...). We will work to fix failed designs and improve working designs. In doing so we will collaborate with peers and think creatively and analytically. The projects we will work on are common build events in Science Olympiad competitions, such as mousetrap cars, miniature catapults, and marble runs.