Keep Kids Busy This Summer with MCC’s Virtual College for Kids

In the College for Kids program at Middlesex Community College, children and teens ages 8 to 17 can engage in informative, interactive and immersive online classes from a leader of award-winning online education. Middlesex has transitioned College for Kids to online formats for the duration of Summer 2021’s programming to ensure students stay safe and healthy.

MCC’s College for Kids classes provide students with an opportunity to have fun while exploring careers, learning new skills, meeting new friends, boosting self-confidence, and following a routine – all from the comfort of their home. The program features seven weeks of half day programs from 8:30 a.m. to noon, or 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., running July 6 through August 19.

“This past year has been challenging for everybody, so it’s important to provide as close of a sense to normalcy as possible for our youth,” said Lauren Ellis, MCC’s Program Manager for Community Education and Training. “Our College for Kids educators understand how to engage students in a fun and exciting online world of learning that will keep them busy, happy and having fun ­– the best way to spend a summer!”

Public school teachers and expert professionals teach courses on topics such as science, cooking, arts and crafts, photography, fashion design, online gaming, graphic and web design, creative writing and filmmaking.

In Amanda Carkin’s Graphic and Web Design for Beginners class, every student creates their own website. Carkin’s focus for the class is to show students the different tools and techniques of graphic design and have them apply it to a real-world situation of their choice.

“I always found that engaging the students with favorite shows, anime and more has really got the kids thinking for their projects,” Carkin said. “This year will be the same focus, just letting the students’ imaginations grow and have fun doing it – also telling them anything is possible.”

Last year’s College for Kids program also ran online due to the pandemic. Although not in-person, Middlesex was able to pre-package materials and hand them out to families for pick-up for classes that required hands-on tools. For Bethany Peck’s online art classes, students explore – and interact with – a wide range of art materials and techniques.

“With teacher support, students learn to develop confidence in their creative process,” Peck said. “To prevent screen fatigue, age appropriate movement breaks and art games are built into the sessions!”

MCC’s College for Kids will host two virtual information sessions over Zoom for new and returning families to learn more about virtual programs, partnerships and offerings. The first will take place at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20 and the second is at 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. For access to the meeting link, contact Lauren Ellis at ellisl@middlesex.mass.edu.

For the complete 2021 online College for Kids schedule and registration information, visit www.middlesex.mass.edu/collegeforkids/ or call 781-280-3663.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in online education for more than 20 years. We educate, engage and empower a diverse community of learners, offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses. Middlesex Community College: Student success starts here!