As the song goes, “School’s out for summer.” That doesn’t mean that students will be abandoning their pencils and books. Instead, aspiring authors, architects and auteurs will pay a visit to Cougar Country to participate in several creative camps.
Each summer, the nonprofit organization Wonderworks delivers innovative learning opportunities for Houston area high school students. Many Wonderworks programs are delivered on the UH campus and taught by University faculty and guest artists.
This year, camps will focus on filmmaking, architecture, creative writing and art. They are open to all Houston high school students and need-based scholarships are available. The deadline for registration has been extended to June 10. For more details on Wonderworks and registration details, visit www.wonderworks.org. Interested participants can also request more information by emailing info@wonderworkshouston.org or calling 713-301-4882.
Wonderworks camps run July 15 – 17 at UH and Rice University. This year’s offerings include:
- “By Design” – 20th Anniversary Summer Discovery Program (presented in association with UH’s Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture): Aspiring architects are guided through real world projects by industry pros. Students work in the studios of UH’s Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and embark on tours of Texas’ most iconic architectural sites.
- “Moving Pictures” (presented in association with UH’s Jack Valenti School of Communication): The next Steven Spielberg, George Lucas or Orson Welles might be honing his/her craft at UH this summer. Under the guidance of UH media production professor Keith Houk, students learn the art of filmmaking. They also participate in film appreciation discussions led by local movie experts. By the camp’s end, student groups will produce short features that will be screened for friends and family.
- “Story Lines” (presented in association with UH’s English Department and Creative Writing Program): Students will explore and discuss great works of fiction and view films. With leadership from UH faculty and graduate students, they’ll also compose their own stories.
- “Closer Looks” (presented in association with Rice University’s Department of Art History): Through lectures, films, discussions, writing exercises and field trips, students will examine various artists’ works.
Wonderworks programs are made possible by Houston Endowment, Inc., The Brown Foundation, Architecture Center Houston and the Texas Film Commission.