By Wendy Harrison
Special to the News-Herald

Satisfying a child’s curiosity about creepy crawlers, paper sculptures, front snap kick techniques or even things that go bump in the night is as easy as enrolling them in Kids College 2012.

Sponsored by the Paul D. Camp Community College Regional Workforce Development division, the summer enrichment series for rising second through 12th graders offers more than 50 distinct classes and 90 sessions, according to program director Teri Zurfluh.

“This year, 75 percent of the classes are new,” she said. “We brought back a lot of the favorites, two of which are Riverkeeper Adventures with the Blackwater Nottoway Riverkeeper Program, and Kayak Kids with Blackwater Outfitters & Nottoway River Guides. These two were extremely popular.”

The program runs from June 18 through Aug. 10 with workshops that cover arts and expression; career exploration; hobbies and interests; science, technology, engineering and math; and student success.

Youth can learn about Dr. Seuss’ sculptures or create their own works of art by learning the techniques of paper quilling, tie-dying, writing and illustration.

New in career exploration is Arch-kid-tecture I and II, where participants explore the art of building and design.

“We will also have the Health Careers Academy under that topic, as well, for students 13 to 18 who want to learn more about the opportunities in the health care field,” Zurfluh said. The academy is offered in partnership with the PDCCC Nursing program and Southampton Memorial Hospital.

In addition, a broad array of workshops will be offered in the hobbies and interests category.

“Since this is an Olympic year, we are having a Kids College Olympics class, where students will also learn about some of the different countries that will have athletes competing in the actual event.”

Zurfluh’s 8-year-old son, Miller, who aged into the program last summer, even came up with the idea for the Monster Mash class, which will highlight the myths and legends of Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster and others.

Paleontology, geology and digital imaging are new in the science and technology area, as well as the Wacky Science Series that features experiments in Gross-ology 101, Kitchen Chemistry and Water Wonders.

Kids College partners with many agencies, businesses and organizations to offer a variety of classes, but also holds a special partnership with the Suffolk Center for the Cultural Arts.

“We are providing a Kids College shuttle to the Suffolk center for three classes offered during their Kids Arts College,” said Zurfluh.

Approximately 200 area youth were served last summer. For more information, visit www.pdc.edu/kids-college/ or contact Zurfluh at 569-6700 or tzurfluh@pdc.edu.

Those who register by June 1 will receive a $25 discount on each child’s tuition.