"Summer Opportunities for Young People" is nothing short of being a matchmaker for kids and any number of fun summer activities affiliated with Indiana University. Whatever side of the pairing you stand on—you either have a child to place or an IU-affiliated program to promote—the listing is a great resource.

Created by Judy Schroeder, vice president and chief communications officer for the IU Alumni Association (IUAA), and Ted Boardman, communications/technology editor at IUAA, the directory is new this year and available on an IUAA Web page. The idea behind the listing, of course, is to provide parents with a one-stop shopping list of good things to occupy potentially bored children come June. But it also is a great opportunity for directors of IU summer programs to reach their audiences and keep their information up to date.

"People who have an IU-affiliated program can simply contact me with their information, and we go from there," said Boardman.

An article in the March/April 2002 Indiana Alumni magazine may give you a better idea of the assortment of camps and programs available (see Web site below). Most, the article states, fall into one of three categories—athletic, academic or arts—although there also are special needs opportunities, such as IU Kokomo’s camp for kids learning to cope with asthma or diabetes. Some programs accept children as young as five years of age and as old as 18, while others go for the entire family. There are sleep-over camps and day camps; programs for kids at beginning or advanced levels of this and that; and camps spanning the state—from the IU Northwest campus in Gary to the IU Southeast campus in New Albany. Some programs even offer high schoolers college credit.

Whatever the kids’ interests or abilities, IU summer programs serve several purposes. First, of course, is to help parents occupy children safely and productively during the long, hot days of summer when "real" school is but an annoying thought. But IU programs also help children expand their worlds a little further outside the home, away from Mom and Dad, to try a new activity. Or maybe the aim is to progress at one they already love and will practice for life. Goals are set and reinforced, whether they are tilted toward an eventual career in international affairs or languages, or improving a golf swing or high jump. And, they get an idea of the environment of a university campus.

But most of all, IU programs can provide the chance for kids to see that, while a summer off is a great break, learning is fun and is a life-long affair, one not restricted to the classroom.

For more information about "Summer Opportunities for Young People," go to:

http://www.alumni.indiana.edu/fun/summer

To access Indiana Alumni magazine and its feature, "Summers That Rock: IU’s Not Just for Grown-Ups," go to:

http://www.indiana.edu/~alumni/magtalk/mar-apr02/summer.html