Fun COCC summer camps designed for youth, adults

It might take place on the stage, standing among castmates when the curtains go up. Or perhaps it happens at a flour-dusted pastry-making station. Or maybe something sparks while making a music mash-up in a digital sound studio. Moments of fun discovery await curious minds at Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) Youth Camps, a fun-filled learning experience for middle schoolers.

Open to ages 10 to 15, the lineup of nearly 40 unique Youth Camps takes place between June 24 and Aug. 23. Options are conveniently available at COCC’s campuses in Bend, Redmond, Madras and Prineville.

Prices for the four-day camps, coordinated by COCC’s Community Education department, range from $49 to $329; partial scholarships are available. The camps are popular — and tend to fill fast. Register by visiting cocc.edu/youth. (Additional learning options for youth, such as “Safe Sitter” babysitter training, are available now.)

This summer’s camps include cyber spies, foods of the world, video game design, Model United Nations, stop motion animation, theater arts, digital arts and photography, among others. Over the weekly camps’ four-day span, each day consists of three to four hours of learning. Most camps are held with both morning and afternoon options.

Helping young people discover new interests is a huge part of the camp experience. So is learning with others — making new friends and collaborating. Students often work in teams or pairs to hash out creative choices and problem-solve challenges.

Research shows that the middle school age is when learning experiences can make an incredible impact on whether a child will go to college or not. The career-oriented nature of many of the camps, set on college campuses, makes for both a successful learning atmosphere and a lasting impression.

“Day in Court: Mock Trial,” for instance, opens eyes to the judicial system — from the role of witnesses to how to compose a closing statement — and connects learning to career ideas. “That Takes the Cake” provides a delectable path through culinary creations in a commercial-grade kitchen. Throughout, Youth Camps at COCC set the stage for continued learning.

“A great opportunity to get youth involved in the community and to grow confidence,” remarked one parent. “Such a great job with everything — the planning, content, take home goodies and COCC swag. Thank you so much for offering these!” said another.

For adults, summer camp at COCC is an option, too. The Central Oregon Summer Spanish Immersion, or COSSI, is a multiday language and cultural experience that’s designed for Spanish-speakers of all levels. The inspirational design is ideal for educators, workers looking to upskill, families readying for an overseas adventure (minimum age is 16) and business travelers improving their language and cultural skills.

Set for June 24-27 at the college’s Redmond campus, the four-day immersion includes a total of eight hours of Spanish instruction — from beginner to superior levels — with an additional four hours of facilitated conversation groups. Cost is $699; register at cocc.edu/cossi or by calling 541-383-7240.

Each participant chooses up to four hours of elective sessions, with topics such as “Gastronomic Tour of Perú,” “Wines from Spanish-Speaking Regions” and “Memorization Techniques.” Nightly events include a brewery social, film screening with ultra-runner Mario Mendoza, wine tasting and an educators’ panel.

Attendees can extend the COSSI experience with a three-day intensive intermediate Spanish course, “The CI Language Lab,” July 1-3, and receive 18 additional hours of instruction. Registered COSSI students receive a 50% discount on this course, but must register by phone.

First held in 2017, COSSI has drawn participants from as far away as Washington, California, Idaho and Nevada.

For more information on Youth Camps and the Central Oregon Spanish Summer Immersion language program, contact Stephanie Goetsch, community education director, at 541-504-2966 or sgoetsch@cocc.edu.