Summit Summer 2009: Setting Sail on their Own

Looking for a sure bet in these difficult economic times? The future businessmen and women who took part in Summit Summer’s “All Aboard the Entrepreneurship” camp have investing opportunities for you. From a technology company that helps clients manage all of their information to chocolate covered fried apples, their ideas were original and innovative.

Camp instructors Erinn and Nelson Diaz led the students through the creative process—from coming up with the idea for a business to choosing a unique name, branding, making a marketing plan, identifying the perfect client, and setting short and long-term goals. They took a field trip to the Chamber of Commerce and got advice from former Summit staff member Nike Roach who owns several small businesses.

Rising sixth grader Joseph Hilleary had fun doing research to find the perfect one-of-a-kind name for his technology company. He also wanted a symbol as part of his logo. When reading about the Greek alphabet, Joseph discovered that several letters had been dropped or changed over the centuries. Thus, Qoppa Technologies was born. “He was excited to come everyday,” says his mom Meg, who let him choose two camps to attend this summer. Joseph says he enjoyed taking part in a more serious camp and learning about business ideas that were new to him. He recommended that a study of entrepreneurship be included in the School curriculum.

Move over Charles Schwab, Entrepreneurship camper Chase Schaub is on your heels. His company, SitLine, manufactures chairs which move along a track so no more having to stand while waiting in line. His potential clients included tourist attractions and theme parks. “Why Stand When You Can Sit,” read his tagline.

On the last day of camp, parents came to hear the students’ plans and watch video presentations of their original, and often humorous, ads. Descriptions and samples of Josh Breakstone’s chocolate covered Fryer Apples made everyone’s mouth water. His plan that “the best advertising is word of mouth” reflected both a play on words and sound marketing strategy. Josh, a rising sixth grader, loved that Summit offered this kind of camp, which appealed to his business sense. He had prior selling experience and had previously operated his own lemonade stand.

Throughout the week, students learned about business ethics, positive thinking, setting realistic goals, brainstorming and taking advantage of a tough economy. After the last class, Josh was busy making a copy of his business plan to share with his grandmother, undoubtedly a potential investor. By 2017 he had planned to be a college student, driving a solar powered car, and making $10,000 a month selling his apples. Sounds like a man with a plan!

Summit Summer 2009- How ‘Bout those ‘Bots!

In the darkened room a light strip circled the perimeter of a large, black table. Surrounding it, two teams of students battled it out. They maneuvered their remote controlled robot cars, trying to force the opponent into the “black hole” in the center. Last one standing won.

These custom-built robots were the culmination of last week’s Summit Summer robotics camp in which students learned the ropes by constructing robots from Lego Mindstorm XT kits before building their own creations.

Students started the week by building a tribot with two wheels on the sides and one in front. Next, they programmed them to follow a simple oval printed on a floor mat. The robot followed the shape based on pattern and color recognition. As the students’ level of expertise progressed, they created ‘bots that could follow more complex patterns. By the end of the week, they built a robot from instructions posted on the internet. One of their finished products was a “power saw” that could cut paper. There was also a puppy, the ever-popular catapult, and a rattlesnake.

If there is a robot workshop on the Summit campus, you can bet rising eighth grader Keenan Rogers is involved. He has attended numerous workshops taught by camp instructors, Director of Technology Chris Culp ’82, and Josh Perry ‘94 a Computer Specialist at the School.  Keenan enjoys the more complicated projects and recently worked alongside Chris and a group of students to build a solar panel from scratch.

Eleven-year-old Pinto Deora, a rising 7th grader at Hanes Middle School, looked forward to attending another Summit Summer Robotics Camp this year. “I love the challenge of building one and being able to tell it what to do,” he says. The future engineer highly recommends the very popular camp to others for the learning opportunities, fun, and great teachers.

These students inaugurated the new Robotics Lab, attending the first class held in the magnificent new Arts and Technology building. The spacious lab contains new power tools for constructing robots and a bank of 11 computer stations line the wall. A real-world robot, called a CNC machine, will enable students to cut out custom pieces for their robots. And, with wall-to-wall cabinets, there is space for lots of ‘bots to come.

2009 Summit Summer camps run through July. For more information on the remaining camps, go to www.summitschool.com/summer

Summit Summer 2009– Stars, Mars, and Candy Bars

Intrigue, plot twists, rings with magical powers, trips to Mars, fairies, and a Michael Jackson dance tribute—the action/comedy “The Stolen Ring” had it all. Summit alum Sally Meehan ‘90, led rising 4th-6th graders on a journey from imagination to realization in the Summit Summer camp “Stars of the Silver Screen.”

On the first day, students brainstormed ideas for the storyline and developed a list of characters and who would portray them. They chose costumes and props and scouted locations around campus as they filmed. Ten to 12 scenes were filmed each day and edited that evening by camp assistant Travis Boyd ’06. The edited segments were put together on Thursday and the finished film premiered on Friday. Camp Director Jeff Turner continued his popular tradition of making a cameo appearance in each film.

“We started by discussing what makes a good story, and how it has a clear beginning, middle, and end,” said Sally, a former Summit teacher who has headed the camp for years. She also served as film editor in the early years of the camp. She has since passed on that responsibility to high school students who are alums of the School. Camp assistants have included Nathan Culp ‘06 and Travis’s brothers, Alex ‘04, and Nick Boyd ‘08. “They know what is appropriate,” says Sally. “As former Summit students, I know them and know they will do the right thing.”

Rising 6th grader Chase Hinson has attended the camp for the past three years. A fantasy film buff, Chase has enjoyed getting to know fellow students in the class. “I am always sad when it is over because there has never been a year when I haven’t made new friends,” he says. Former Summit student David Mulder holds the record for attending the most “Stars of the Silver Screen” camps– six. Both he and Chase are also active in local theater productions.

Grant Cain and sister Olivia, students at Meadowlark Middle School, also enjoy making new friends. Grant, who had a lead roll in the film as John Butterfinger, P.I., liked shooting on campus for the past several years as ongoing building demolition and construction has provided great backdrops.

Sally noted that each student brought something special to the camp. Rising fifth grader, Annecy Daggett, put together fabulous costumes and shared her dance skills, as did Olivia and David. Chase turned out to be a talented mimic who can take on any character, human or animal.

Travis, one of 12 alums working in Summit Summer camps this year, had attended a film camp for older students and was glad that Jeff Turner asked him to assist this year. A recent graduate of Forsyth Country Day, he worked on the tech crew for school productions. He is headed to N.C. State University in the fall, where he plans to further his technical skills as a computer science major.

Last week, sixty-eight campers chose from camps that focused on fitness and food, storytelling, digital photography, sports, and girl power. The Fourth of July holiday inspired a Patriotic Party theme for the Eclectic Experience.

On Friday, Martin Tucker’s Digital Photography students displayed beautiful photographs taken on their trip to Old Salem. The show’s title “The Decisive Moment” refers to the skill of snapping a photo at the right time- not half a second too early, or too late, to capture the perfect image. Rising sixth grader Aditi Pilani said she loved learning the rules of photography. Her favorite part was taking photos and creating her own magazine.

2009 Summit Summer camps run through July. For more information on the remaining camps, go to www.summitschool.com/summer

Summit Summer 2009- Dirt to Delicious

The School came alive once again last week as the sounds of 113 happy campers resonated across the campus. During the first week of Summit Summer 2009, current students and campers from schools around the community attended nine camps. They confidently mastered new math concepts, learned to golf, honed their drawing skills, photographed animals at the NC Zoo, and wrote and starred in an original film. One of the favorite camp offerings was “From Dirt to Dish.”

Teacher Joanne Hinman led her students on a journey during which they learned the concepts of organic gardening as it translates to nutritious and delicious dining.  They started the week with a trip to Mrs. Hinman’s own garden where she explained garden design, plant placement, light orientation, and the basics of what plants need to survive.  This formed the foundation of the concepts of organic gardening—creating the right growing environment and choosing companion plants that help repel unwanted insects.  Students loved picking veggies that were used in dishes they created later in the week. Some favorites were zucchini pancakes and carrot, squash, and sweet potato oven-baked chips.

At the Hinman family mountain home in Low Gap, NC, the budding chefs visited the surrounding organic orchard. They learned about drainage, tree orientation when growing on a slope, and the importance of heritage varieties. All had great fun as they gathered around a campfire to cook foil packs of “camper’s stew” and baked apples.

Since learning at Summit takes place all over the campus, students spent time in the School’s herb garden—noting their favorite varieties. The enormous bullfrog that lives in the pond eyed the children as they explored the banks. Mrs. Hinman led a discussion about nutrition, sources of protein, fats, sugars and carbohydrates. What we need and what to avoid.

After a week of eating nutritious, delicious offerings, the students were more open to trying new foods. Eleven-year-old Nova Mendoza, a student at the Arts-Based Elementary School, was attending her second Summit Summer camp, an annual gift from her grandmother. Last year at drama camp she had the chance to check out some of the other cool offerings and couldn’t wait to come back this year. “I mostly liked experimenting and making new foods,” she said. “I never would have tried squash or zucchini on my own. The zucchini pancakes were surprisingly delicious.”

Rising Summit sixth grader Josh Breakstone enjoys cooking and gardening so “From Dirt to Dish” was the perfect camp choice for him. He loved creating his own dishes and there was a definite gleam in his eye as he recalled the yummy apple with cinnamon, butter and sugar that he had baked over the fire.

Austin Gray had previously attended the “Music, Mind and Reading Camp” and couldn’t wait to come back and try another “fun camp.” He most enjoyed the visit by Graylyn Chef Andrew Mehaffey. “When I first came here I thought what an amazing school. Everyone is so nice and it is so much fun to learn,” says Austin, who attends Meadowlark Elementary School.

Teacher Joanne Hinman hopes that some industrious gardeners have been encouraged and inspired. “We also believe everyone has had his or her taste buds challenged to try new flavors, textures, and colors of foods,” she says. “Go organic, you will be glad you did.”

2009 Summit Summer camps run through July. For more information on the remaining camps, go to www.summitschool.com/summer