Weekend Enrichment

Does your child need additional challenges beyond the traditional school curriculum? Are they passionately interested in a particular topic? Would they like a chance to meet other like-minded kids? Our Weekend Enrichment program is designed to supplement what elementary and junior high students learn in school and give them a chance to explore their interests — or discover new ones!

About the Program

Weekend Enrichment consists of half-day enrichment opportunities for elementary and junior high students (grades 3 — 8) that take place at the Belin-Blank Center on the University of Iowa campus. Classes in STEM, arts, and the humanities will cultivate students’ interest and spark their curiosity! Students do not have to be in a gifted and talented program to participate in Weekend Enrichment.

The spring session of Weekend Enrichment will be Saturday, April 20, 2024.

The Weekend Enrichment program is designed to challenge students in their areas of interest and strength. Students are introduced to advanced level topics and other interested kids their age. Class sizes are small, and they take place on the University of Iowa campus, giving your child access to valuable university resources and experts. Our instructors are vetted professionals, including classroom teachers, local artists, graduate students, and professors who have the expertise to delve into a subject at an advanced level, while keeping it accessible for the age group.

Classes

Coding with Sphero Robots!

Grades 3-6

April 20:   09:00AM - 12:00PM

Want to discover a fun new way to learn programming? Try out this Sphero Mini course! A Sphero Mini is a small, durable, interactive sphere (think the size of a golf ball), which responds to coding commands issued via Bluetooth from an iPad. This is a beginners’ guide to block coding, and the sequence of commands that make a robot go!


$85

Applications are closed.

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Creative Writing: Mining Our Memories for Effective Storytelling

Grades 3-6

April 20:   09:00AM - 12:00PM

Explore your own unique experiences to tell your best story! In this brand-new course, you will learn past the fundamentals of storytelling, to get at the richness of imagery and how to best articulate that in your own unique way. We will generate numerous seeds for stories and get you started on how to best water those seeds to see them to fruition. There will be opportunities to share if students feel comfortable doing so. Whether you’ve taken a creative writing class before or not, you’ll have a blast and leave feeling excited about continuing your writing journey.


$85

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Video Game Coding with Bloxels

Grades 3-6

April 20:   01:00PM - 04:00PM

Have you ever wanted to create your own video game? Try out Bloxels! In this course you’ll be the designer and developer of your own video game where you craft the animations, backgrounds, and characters in a world of your design. You can even add superpowers to your characters! At the end of this course, you’ll publish your game for others in the Bloxel community to play.


$85

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Tech Adventures: Hands-On Programming for Young Innovators

Grades 5-6

April 20:   01:00PM - 04:00PM

Unlock the fascinating world of electronics and programming with our Introduction to Arduino Projects! This beginner-friendly course is designed to equip participants with the fundamental knowledge and skills needed to create exciting projects using Arduino microcontrollers.

Students will learn the basics of electronics, including circuit design, components, and microcontroller programming techniques. They will dive into the Arduino platform, understanding its capabilities and how to effectively program it using the Arduino Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Hands-on exercises and guided projects will provide ample opportunities for practical learning, allowing students to build confidence in their abilities.

By the end of the day, participants will have completed several engaging projects, ranging from simple LED blinking to more complex tasks such as sensor interfacing. Whether you're a hobbyist, a budding inventor, or someone curious about the intersection of technology and creativity, this class will empower you to bring your ideas to life through the exciting world of Arduino. Join us and unleash your imagination!

 

Applications are closed.

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Science Explorations: Water Quality Adventure

Grades 6-8

April 20:   09:00AM - 12:00PM

Join us for this exciting exploration of environmental science! Budding young scientists will love this chance to explore a fictional scenario and conduct water quality testing in order to find the source of pollution in an imaginary town. In this scenario, you will learn about what affects water quality, make a claim about the source of the pollutant, and test your hypothesis.


$85

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How to Register

Want to join us? We're here to help with all the information you will need in order to register.

Eligibility

Any student who is currently in 3rd–8th grade is eligible to apply for Weekend Enrichment. They do not need to be in a talented and gifted program to apply. Qualified students will show a high level of interest in the topic, motivation to learn, and ability to positively contribute to a classroom environment.

Registration Process

Here's how to apply:

  1. Identify one or more classes that are a good fit for your student’s academic strengths and interests. Classes should be selected based on the student's grade during the current academic year.
  2. Complete a registration form for each selected class.
  3. If there are more eligible students than seats in a class, then students will be registered on a first-come, first-served basis and a waitlist will be generated for the class.
  4. Submit payment.

After You've Registered

Get ready for lots of learning and tons of fun! Here you can find answers to all the questions you may have while making your plans to join us.

Cost & Financial Aid

Cost

Each student will pay a program fee of $85 per class. If your student registers for both a morning and an afternoon class, the total cost is $170. Please note the fee for Weekend Enrichment is not eligible for tax credits or other pretax reimbursements because it is an educational rather than a child care program.

Payment Deadlines

You must pay in full by the day of your student's class in order to participate in Weekend Enrichment. All fees are payable to the Belin-Blank Center.

Financial Aid

You may apply for financial aid when you register your student for the program. Information including parent/guardian salary, enrollment in free/reduced lunch, or other federal or state assistance programs will be collected at that time. Those that apply for financial aid will initially only be charged half the cost of the program. However, after your information has been reviewed, a decision will be made, and you will receive an email regarding the amount of your award. Financial aid is awarded on a first-come-first-served basis, while funds are available.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellations of a student's enrollment must be processed by Belin-Blank Center staff.

  1. If a cancellation occurs at least four weeks before the class begins, we will refund program fees, less a $20 cancellation fee per class.
  2. If a cancellation occurs less than four weeks before the class starts, we will refund half the cost of program fees.
  3. If a cancellation occurs within a week of the start date of the class, no refund is given to any cancellations, regardless of circumstance.
  4. If a student misses class, regardless of reason, program fees will not be prorated and refunds will not be issued.

Schedule

Morning classes will meet from 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and afternoon classes will meet from 1 p.m.–4 p.m. While students may register for both a morning class and an afternoon class, please note that lunch supervision will not be provided between the morning and afternoon sessions.

Location

Weekend Enrichment takes place at the Blank Honors Center on the University of Iowa campus.

Contact Us

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belinblank@uiowa.edu
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1-319-335-6148
1-800-336-6463