ESU FOR KIDS 2014 COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
64 courses offered this year!
All courses are available for enrollment up to TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2014. From May 28 to July 11, please check
back with www.esu.edu./esu4kids to see which courses are running and which courses had to be cancelled due to
low or no enrollment.
**Remember, it only takes three students to make a class happen.
Scroll below to see each time slot, how many courses are offered during it, and what each course is about.
8:00-9:00 a.m. courses (7 offered)
• Awesome Authors (ages 6-17)
Instructor: Jessica Covington
NEW!!! Want to be an author? Find out what makes your favorite stories memorable! You will use
computers and your imagination to write and publish your own books to keep and share with family and
friends!
• Create Your Own Comic Book (ages 9-17)
Instructor: Becca Perri
NEW!!! If you enjoy drawing, if you enjoy reading comic books, and if you enjoy using your
imagination, we challenge you to take this course! If you choose to accept this challenge, by the end of
this course, you will have created your very own, one of a kind comic book that you can proudly share
your friends and family. As an added bonus, one day it may be worth millions if you choose to become a
comic book creator just like Stan Lee!
• Disney Villain Role Play (ages 6-17)
Instructor: Kevin Simonds
NEW!!! Have you ever noticed that the Disney Villains seem to always lose at the end? Something has
occurred that may just change their luck around. A series of very powerful magical objects have just
fallen into the villains’ hands and they want to rule the Disney universe! Will the Villains succeed this
time, and just how important are the Disney Princesses?
• Magic Treehouse Mysteries (ages 7-10)
Instructor: Samantha VanBuskirk
NEW!!! Have you ever seen dinosaurs after dark, a knight at dawn, or met a mummy in the morning?
You’re about to! Join us as we dive into worlds of dinosaurs, knights, mummies, pirates, and more! As
we read books from the bestselling children’s series, Magic Treehouse, we’ll go on adventures, play
games, and have fun this summer!
• Star Wars Role Play (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Dave Libecap
10th YEAR OFFERED! May the force be with you during this exciting roleplaying course designed for
Star Wars fans! Be a Jedi or give in to the dark side! Players are encouraged to bring multisided dice.
• Video Game Designing (ages 10-17)
Instructor: Scott Hnasko
9th YEAR OFFERED! Have you got what it takes to make a video game? You’ll learn step-by-step how
to use Microsoft PowerPoint to make interactive, animated learning games. Play others’ games as they
try yours! Requirement: a Flash drive
• Young Adult Literature Book Club (ages 10-16)
Instructor: Stacey Brescancine
NEW!!! This course is for older readers who are interested in reading and discussing books. You’ll
participate in literature circle activities that help students to become active readers.
9:10-10:10 a.m. courses (9 offered)
• All About the Animal Kingdom (ages 6-13)
Instructor: Kevin Simonds
NEW!!! Take a worldwide adventure learning all about the amazing animal kingdom. Everything will be covered
from Aardvarks to Zebras. When you finish this class, you just might be an animal expert!
• Amazing Adventure Games II (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Scott Hnasko
NEW!!! Roll the dice and hang on tight! In this follow-up to last year’s popular course, you’ll play
exciting adventure games that will challenge you to problem solve and work with your team to survive.
In one game, you’ll build railway routes in a race across North America. In another game, you’re a
dwarf mining for gold. There’s even more exciting games in store – adventure awaits you!
• ATV Racing: ESU Style (ages 7-11)
Instructor: Samantha VanBuskirk
NEW!!! If you love things that go, then this is your course. Instructed by a nationally acclaimed ATV
racer, you’ll be ready to ride with the best this summer. Though we won’t be able to ride in class, we’ll
talk about everything from safety to sponsors, and what makes these four-wheeled machines go fast.
We’ll even design our own 3D racetracks and submit them for review by real track designers.
• Basic Video Editing (ages 10-17)
Instructor: Kathleen Kraemer
NEW!!! Do you like making videos? Using movie making software, you will learn to edit your videos,
use transitions, adjust clip speed, add and synchronize music, and more. Watch your video dreams come
to life! Requirement: a USB, digital camera or phone with video recording capability, and cords to
connect your device to a computer
• Crafts Around the World (ages 6-10)
Instructor: Emily Sasz
NEW!!! Make a Big Ben clock out of toothpicks. Create a Russian Matroyshka doll. You’ll create
Chinese lanterns, Mexican sombreros, Egyptian pyramids, and much, much more! Students will create
art and learn about the countries as well.
• Elementary Field Hockey (ages 8-12)
Instructor: Becca Perri
OFFERED AGAIN! The game of field hockey is fun-filled, action-packed and a great confidence
builder. You will learn skills, be active, make new friends and have a blast!
Requirement: Shin guards, cleats and/or sneakers, water bottle, mouth guard
• Handmade Jewelry (ages 6-17)
Instructor: Jessica Covington
2nd YEAR OFFERED! Can you make rubber band bracelets? What about duct tape jewelry or tissue
paper flower rings? Learn how to braid and twist to make your own stylish pieces of jewelry! You’ll
design necklaces and rings and more!
• PowerPoint Basics II (ages 7-12)
Instructor: Stacey Brescancine
NEW!!! This course will teach kids all there is to know about PowerPoint! They will learn basic skills
and create at least two slideshows based on individual interests. Students will work collaboratively to
create the ESU for Kids “Graduation Day” presentation as well!
• Warehouse 13 Roleplay (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Dave Libecap
NEW!!! Now that the X-Files have been shut down, you have been selected to be part of the Warehouse
13 team. Role play as an FBI Agent and search the world for interesting and mysterious artifacts from all
of history, and bring them home to the Warehouse for safekeeping. Good luck! Players are encouraged
to bring multisided dice.
10:20-11:20 a.m. courses (10 offered)
• Babysitting 101 (ages 10-13)
Instructor: Samantha VanBuskirk
NEW!!! Are you interested in babysitting? In this course we will learn all about being the best babysitter
ever. From first aid and safety to being prepared with fun games to play with the kids you’re watching,
we will have a blast playing games and getting ready to babysit.
• Become a Writer (ages 9-17)
Instructor: Becca Perri
NEW!!! In this course, you’ll get practice and help to become a stronger writer! We’ll create our own
poems! We’ll write and share our own life stories! You will publish and illustrate your own book!
• Beginner’s Keyboarding (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Dave Libecap
This basic course will show you how you to play keyboard. You’ll start with keyboard harmony,
fingering, scales, and rhythm. You’ll read music. You’ll play simple songs for friends!
Equipment requirements: Keyboard
• Collage Boxes (ages 9-13)
Instructor: Heide Molinaro
NEW!!! Young artists who enroll in this course will envision and create beautiful decorative boxes for
friends and family. A skilled, professional art teacher will teach each student about decoupage and guide
them to make their own individual works of fine art! You can display your collage boxes and beautify
your home!
• Crayon Creations (ages 6-10)
Instructor: Emily Sasz
NEW!!! Students will love the amazing art they’ll create with crayons. Make tie-dye marble crayons,
crayon bowls, spin art, lanterns, candles, just to name a few! Share them with your family and friends!
• Drawing the Animal Kingdom (ages 7-17)
Instructor: Kevin Simonds
NEW!!! Do you love drawing animals or want to learn how to draw animals? If you answered yes, this is
the class for you! You will practice drawing animals from all around the world. From the plains of Africa
to your own backyard, a fantastic assortment of animals awaits each young artist!
• Intro to German (ages 12-17)
Instructor: Kathleen Kraemer
NEW!!! Learning a new language can be fun and exciting. When you take this course, you will become
a basic speaker of German! You’ll start with the German alphabet, basic pronunciation and phrases. You
will learn how to give directions, talk about the weather, shop using German, and much more!
• Marvel Super Heroes Role Play (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Scott Hnasko
4th YEAR OFFERED! Spider-Man or Hulk? Iron Man or Spider Woman? Storm or Wolverine?
Which Marvel Super Hero will YOU be in this exciting role play course? The famous super hero
movies come to life, and YOU decide what the heroes do!
• Math and Card Games (ages 6-17)
Instructor: Jessica Covington
NEW!!! Card games are a perfect way to keep your math skills sharp this summer! Learn how to Spit, Snap, Go
Fish, and play variations of Solitaire that will keep you on the edge of your seat! Our math games will help you
practice adding, subtracting, multiplying and more.
• Tennis 101 (ages 9-13)
Instructor: Stacey Brescancine
NEW!!! This course is geared for kids who have never picked up a racket before! They will first learn the
rules of the game in addition to the numerous tennis moves used to ace opponents. By the end of the
course, kids will be able to play full tennis matches! Requirement: your own tennis racket
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. courses (9 offered)
• Acting (ages 10-17)
Instructor: Scott Hnasko
14th YEAR OFFERED! Learn the basic skills of acting! Perform pantomime and do improvisation. Best
of all, you’ll take act in a play for parents and relatives!
• Animal Artistry (ages 9-13)
Instructor: Heide Molinaro
NEW!!! YOU can learn to draw animals while learning basic techniques that artists use. An
experienced, professional art teacher will demonstrate how to bring animals to life on paper. Draw your
favorite animals! Challenge yourself and explore your creative side!
• Beginner Photography (ages 10-17)
Instructor: Kathleen Kraemer
NEW!!! Do you like to take pictures of your friends and family, pets, or even while on vacation or a trip?
By taking this class you will learn how to perfect your photography skills in categories such as landscape,
people, animals, and even sports! At the end of the class you will even create your own portfolio. We will
touch upon how to digitally edit photos. Requirement: a USB and digital point and shoot camera
• Cartoon Drawing 3 (ages 7-17)
Instructor: Kevin Simonds
This class is back by popular demand – now with even MORE cartoon drawing than ever before. You’ll draw
Disney characters, Pac-Man characters, Transformers characters, and so much more.
• Computer Basics (ages 6-17)
Instructor: Jessica Covington
NEW!!! Do you want to use the computer more efficiently? You will learn how to make handouts and
presentations and be able to type faster. This course is your chance to get your questions answered and
get comfortable with computers!
• Eric Carle Book Fun (ages 6-10)
Instructor: Emily Sasz
NEW!!! Let’s read Eric Carle books and create masterpieces based on his famous stories! You’ll do
activities based on Brown Bear, Brown Bear, The Grouchy Ladybug, The Mixed Up Chameleon, and
many more!
• Jurassic Park Role Play (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Dave Libecap
2nd YEAR OFFERED! Looking for a career of adventure and excitement? Like working with animals?
Want to visit exotic locations? This job could be for you! Jurassic Park needs scientists, technicians,
engineers, veterinarians, doctors, mathematicians, and workers in nearly every field. Apply now—don’t
miss the opportunity of a lifetime! Players are encouraged to bring multisided dice.
• Let’s Get Girly (ages 6-12)
Instructor: Becca Perri
NEW!!! Let’s celebrate being girls! In this course, we’ll make our own lip gloss! We’ll craft our own
purses! We’ll decorate our clothes and make our own nail polish! There’s lots more fun in store…so
sign up now and Let’s Get Girly!
• Pinterest Crafts for Kids (ages 5-8)
Instructor: Samantha VanBuskirk
NEW!!! We’ve searched high and low and found the coolest, silliest, crafts out there! Join us as we create
masterpieces to share with friends and family. You’ll decorate planters and create string art. We’ll be
painting with our feet, drawing with glue, creating gigantic bubbles and more!
• Who Wants to Be An Author? (ages 7-12)
Instructor: Stacey Brescancine
NEW!!! Bring your imagination and start an adventure to become an author! Kids will be introduced to
different forms of writing and create and bind their own books. Share your finished creations with family
and friends!
12:40-1:40 p.m. courses (9 courses offered)
• Comic Book Heroes (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Scott Hnasko
3rd YEAR OFFERED! Spider-Man! Superman! Batman! Wonder Woman! Learn a brief history of
comic books and become an expert on famous comic book heroes! Each day will be an exploration of
a new hero. We’ll talk about their villains and what makes the characters heroic and unique! Best of
all, you’ll create your OWN hero and villains! Win prizes in our comic trivia contests!
• Creative Crafts (ages 6-12)
Instructor: Stacey Brescancine
NEW!!! This class provides kids opportunities to show their creativity and artistic capabilities! They will
learn how to create various art projects including wood building, painting, drawing, and other hands-on
crafts each day.
• Drawing Anything and Everything Part 2 (ages 7-17)
Instructor: Kevin Simonds
SEQUEL CLASS! Do you have a passion for drawing? This is the class for you. You get a little bit of
everything in this one. Tap dancing penguins, Christmas Morning after unwrapping everything, different points of
view, still life, art challenges, and a whole lot more will be included. Let’s draw!
• Draw Like a Professional Illustrator (ages 9-13)
Instructor: Heide Molinaro
NEW!!! Have you seen and enjoyed the work of illustrators like Eric Carle, Jack Ezra Keats, and Faith
Ringgold? A professional art teacher will study their works with you and guide you to make your own
illustrations in their styles! Experiment with different mediums and express yourself, all while
discovering your own style.
• Lord of the Rings Role Play (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Dave Libecap
11th YEAR OFFERED! Explore J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical world of Middle-Earth & its inhabitants!
Create and roll your own character! Take part in a enchanted quest you’ll never forget! You’ll enjoy
Lord of the Rings roleplay & Rings trivia! Players are encouraged to bring multisided dice.
• Mask Making (ages 6-10)
Instructor: Emily Sasz
NEW!!! Students who enroll in this course will learn how to construct different types of masks from
different cultures, nature, and fantasy. You’ll make masks for the Day of the Dead, Amazons, bird, forest
animals, storybook characters, and more!
• Reading Detectives (ages 6-12)
Instructor: Jessica Covington
NEW!!! YOU can be a better reader! Learn how to find the clues authors’ leave and enjoy some classic
stories this summer! Help us accomplish our 100-book challenge! Play computer games, learn new
vocabulary, and practice reading like a detective!
• Scientific Explorers 2 (ages 6-9)
Instructor: Becca Perri
NEW!!! This course is the exciting follow-up to last year’s popular course. It’s time to have fun with
science! We’ll work together to make hypotheses and conduct fun science experiments. Explore and
learn with us!
• Shakespeare and His Everlasting Influence (ages 14-17)
Instructor: Kathleen Kraemer
NEW!!! The Bard of Avon comes to ESU for Kids! Enroll in this course to read, discuss, and learn
about Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, and Macbeth. You will perform scenes from these classic works!
• Skeleton Creek Reading (ages 9-13)
Instructor: Samantha VanBuskirk
NEW!!! Do you like spooky stories? How about spooky movies? If you answered yes to these questions,
then this course is where you need to be this summer! We are going to read the first two books of bestselling author, Patrick Carman’s Skeleton Creek series. The books are part written word and part movie,
which gives them both an extra dose of awesome and an extra dose of scary.
1:50-2:50 p.m. courses (8 courses offered)
• After School Snacks (ages 6-12)
Instructor: Becca Perri
NEW!!! This course is for young, beginner cooks. You’ll make yummy treats like no bake cookies, key
lime pie, strawberry shortcake and more! It’s a new delight each day! Your family and friends will love
your creations!
• Arts ‘n Crafts (ages 6-12)
Instructor: Jessica Covington
NEW!!! Get creative and make a variety of artwork and crafts! In this course, you will paint, make bird
feeders, sun catchers, and much more!
• Beginner Guitar (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Dave Libecap
12th YEAR OFFERED! Have you ever wanted to learn guitar? This course starts with the basics –
chords, scales, fingering, & tuning. By the end, you’ll learn how to play simple guitar songs!
Requirement: Acoustic or electric guitar
• DC Super Villains Role Play (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Scott Hnasko
2nd YEAR OFFERED! You read it correctly – you get to be a DC Super Villain in this thrilling role
play game. Will you be Joker or Catwoman? Bane or Gorilla Grodd? Sinestro or Poison Ivy? Will
YOU get away with your daring crimes? Roll the dice and find out…
• How to Be a Detective (ages 10-17)
Instructor: Kevin Simonds
NEW!!! Do you love getting hooked into a good mystery? Now is your chance to try and be a detective.
You will learn the tips and tricks that detectives need to solve crimes. It’s time to follow the clues and
find out who done it, where, and why?
• James Joyce! (ages 13-17)
Instructor: Kathleen Kraemer
NEW!!! Enroll in this course to read and analyze the works of famous author James Joyce! You’ll learn
about the life and times of this celebrated author. You will read and discuss portions of Dubliners,
Ulysses, and more!
• Newspaper Club (ages 9-12)
Instructor: Samantha VanBuskirk
NEW!!! Calling all reporters! Newspaper club is in session and we’ve got a deadline! During this course,
we will take a look at some silly news stories before creating our own. By graduation day, we’ll have our
very own printed newspaper to share. The best part is that YOU will write all the stories!
• Reader’s Theatre (ages 8-11)
Instructor: Stacey Brescancine
NEW!!! This course offers children opportunities to read and act out fun stories! We will use drama,
costumes, props, and acting skills to bring books to life. This class will end with a special presentation for
all to enjoy!
• Watercolor Exploration (ages 6-10)
Instructor: Emily Sasz
NEW!!! Students in this course will use a variety of techniques and strategies to create watercolor works
of art. They’ll enjoy painting, using markers, tissue paper, coffee filters, shirts, shaving cream, and more!
3:00-4:00 p.m. courses (8 courses offered)
• Advanced Guitar (ages 10-17)
Instructor: Dave Libecap
NEW!!!! This course is recommended for students who have already taken beginner guitar lessons.
You’ll learn how to play more intricate guitar songs! Delight and amaze your family! Requirement:
Acoustic or electric guitar
• Baby Animal Secrets (ages 6-12)
Instructor: Jessica Covington
NEW!!! Did you know that octopus babies raise themselves? Or that elephant calves suck on their
trunks like babies suck their thumbs? You will draw and write about animals and create a class
PowerPoint of all the facts you discover. Come learn fascinating facts and unforgettable baby animal
secrets!
• Chef-Tastic! (ages 10-17)
Instructor: Becca Perri
NEW!!! This course is for older, beginner cooks. In this course, you will learn to cook basic dishes and
plan meals. Enjoy your delicious creations or share them with family and friends! You’ll also take
pictures of your finished products to include in your own digital recipe book!
• Chess for All Ages and Abilities (ages 8-17)
Instructor: Scott Hnasko
15th YEAR OFFERED! Sharpen your logic & broaden your mind! Whether you’ve played chess before
or you’re just a beginner, Chess for All Ages covers chess basics and challenges experienced players.
You’ll love the opportunity to play four-player chess matches! You’ll play in a chess tournament!
• Cupcake Art (ages 6-10)
Instructor: Emily Sasz
NEW!!! Art you can eat? You’ll find it here in cupcake art! Get ready to design and decorate cupcakes
to look like flowers, aliens, and butterflies. How about cupcakes inspired by Dr. Seuss or a trip to the
beach? You’ll make all these cupcake works of art and much more!
• John Green and Multimedia Influence (ages 13-17)
Instructor: Kathleen Kraemer
NEW!!! It’s time to discover and discuss Young Adult Fiction writer John Green! You’ll learn about the
early life and career of this award-winning author. You will read and discuss portions of An Abundance
of Katherines, Looking for Alaska, and others!
• Math Madness: Games Galore! (ages 8-10)
Instructor: Samantha VanBuskirk
NEW!!! Games Galore! is a fun way to stay on top of your math game this summer. We have fourteen different
crazy games planned that all add up to one awesome summer! Some games are played with a partner while others
involve the whole class working in teams in a wild race to the finish. Enjoy Muffin Tin Math, Card Maze, Math
Sort Race and more!
• Phineas and Ferb Role Play (ages 6-17)
Instructor: Kevin Simonds
NEW!!! Phineas and Ferb have just come up with the greatest invention yet: A machine that will allow summer
vacation to last forever! So what can possibly go wrong when altering the timeline? You must travel across time
itself or it will be worse than the last day of summer vacation. Try picturing a world without a summer vacation!
• Scrapbooking Secrets (ages 8-16)
Instructor: Stacey Brescancine
NEW!!! Kids have the opportunity to learn all the basics of scrapbooking! Students start from scratch
creating and designing their own scrapbook adding personal touches to their final product. Requirement:
personal photographs that may be cut and glued.