Archives for March 2015

Disclosure- We received a week of IMACS Summer Camp for each of my girls to facilitate our review.  All opinions are 100% our own.

For over 20 years, IMACS has been giving South Florida students an outlet for reaching their highest potential in math, computer science and logical reasoning and they have the success stories to prove it.  They have five locations, three of which – Boca Raton, Plantation, and Weston – offer the IMACS Hi-Tech Summer Camp.  My girls and I had the opportunity last summer to experience the IMACS Summer Camp for ourselves and it was an amazing experience.  IMACS Summer Camp is made up of 3 different academic programs- Logic Puzzles, Electronics, and Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics.  Logic Puzzles has team games, group interactions and friendly competitions.  Electronics is “hands-on” as students build projects that they keep.  Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics contains self-paced, virtual challenges.

Electronics

The Electronics class is a self-paced class in which students follow the lessons of the workbook in order and complete various projects.  There are worksheets after each project to check for understanding of concepts.  During each lesson there are also stopping points where the students must stop and have the instructor check their work up to that point.  The students learn real world symbols for electronic components to make circuit designs such as the symbol for battery, light bulb, and wire.  I love that the students aren’t just putting together cool projects but they are learning and gaining real world experiences.  The projects are all engaging and I was amazed at all the skills my girls were learning.  I never would have thought my 10 year old would be using wire cutters and other tools.  She gained so much confidence from this class.  All of the tools and parts are provided for the students and care is taken to keep the students protected as they are monitored and must wear protective gear such as goggles to keep their eyes safe.  I really enjoyed watching the students interact with each other and help each other with their projects.  It was nice seeing students not only learn from the instructor and self-discovery, but also by teaching concepts to the other students.  Older students get to do more advanced projects that include learning skills such as soldering.

Logic Puzzles

In the Logic Puzzles class the students work in teams, groups, and pairs to complete various types of logic games and puzzles.  They start off with 2 “String Games” as a whole group.  A string game consists of two strings on the white board that overlap like a Venn Diagram.  There are several pieces that get put on the board either in one of the sections of the string or on the outside of the string.  The students take turns trying to figure out what the “rule” is for that game based on where the items are placed.
In the logic puzzles class they also play board games that require logic and thinking skills such as Othello.  They play these games usually in pairs for about 30 minutes of the class as the teacher walks around the room and instructs the students on game play and strategy.Another part of the class are the critical thinking puzzles that are shown on the overhead projector.  This is usually about 45 minutes of the 2 hour class.  Here’s an example of some critical thinking puzzles:

Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics

In the Computer Programming and Virtual Robotics class students learn introductory programming and problem-solving skills.

IMACS sessions run from June 8 through August 21, 2015 with weekly sessions (Monday through Friday). Students can enroll in one or more weeks of full-day camp or individual 2-hour classes. IMACS has classes to accommodate almost all students, from first graders through even the most talented 12th graders. Students can choose to enjoy a full day of camp in which they would take all 3 classes or they can choose to enroll in individual classes.  Each session is one week long for both full day camp and individual classes.  Costs for the full-day camp range from $420 to $564 per week and individual class costs range from $90 to $289.  Parents who enroll their child by April 1st will receive a 10% early registration discount.  Multiple class and sibling discounts of 10% are also available for any full day and individual programs within each session.

IMACS camp is flexible.  You choose the weeks you want and they do not need to be consecutive.  This is great for scheduling your summer the way you want.  New campers are welcome each week.  There is no registration fee and no supply fee. Need to drop your child off early?  For campers starting at 9:15, early drop off is available from 8:00 to 9:15 at no charge!

Full Day Camp

Entering Grades 3–8: Campers benefit by participating in all three IMACS summer academic programs: Logic Puzzles, Computer Programming & Virtual Robotics, and Electronics. Campers are totally immersed in fun-filled academic pursuits such as playing strategic logic games, designing and building electronic devices, and programming computers.

Entering Grades 9–10: Students will have the tremendous benefit of studying three IMACS courses: Computer Science, Logic for Mathematics, and Electronics. This is an intellectually stimulating program for outstanding students. An aptitude test is required to properly place your child. Call IMACS to schedule an appointment.

The Full Day camp is 9:15 – 4:15. Early drop-off for full day campers begins at 8:00am at no additional charge. Lunch is 11:15 – 12:00. There are small breaks within each class and between classes.

Individual Classes

Entering Grades 1–12: Campers may enroll in individual classes. Each class meets Monday through Friday for two hours each day (except for campers entering grades 1 or 2).

Logic Puzzles- (Entering Grades 1-8)
Entering Grades 1–2: Games! Puzzles! Fun! (But don’t tell your kids that they are learning how to reason and are developing a love of mathematical thinking.)

Entering Grades 3–8: Mysteries of pure logic are presented in fun, compelling stories. Painstakingly designed, this class leads campers from elementary deductive reasoning to skills that exceed those of most college graduates! Team logic games, exciting tournaments, and, as in every IMACS class, new challenges each week!

Computer Programming & Virtual Robotics (Entering Grades 3–9)

Campers don’t merely use the computer in this course. They write computer programs! Using the programming language LOGO, developed at MIT, campers are challenged by projects designed by the IMACS Curriculum Development Group. With individualized guidance, campers develop basic programming and problem-solving skills. Campers can also apply these skills in the IMACS Virtual Robotics Lab, where programmable, configurable robots exist in a virtual world that contains the physical realities of friction, acceleration, and conservation of momentum. Campers showcase their triumphs on their personalized IMACS web pages.

Electronics (Entering Grades 3–10)

These classes introduce campers to the fascinating world of electronics. Campers learn about electrical components such as resistors, diodes, LEDs, capacitors, transistors and integrated circuits and use them to design and construct fun projects. Courses are tailored according to age and ability so that each camper is able to advance as far as his or her interests and abilities allow. Campers may keep the electronic devices that they build.

Computer Science (Entering Grades 7–12) Aptitude Test Required

Students pursue an academic, university-level computer science course. The IMACS curriculum has been used in prestigious programs such as Duke University’s Talent Identification Program and Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Talented Youth. Students work with interactive tools available only at IMACS and are taught by highly qualified and trained professionals. This class goes well beyond a traditional introductory course, introducing advanced concepts such as recursion, functional programming, object-oriented programming, and artificial intelligence. Contact IMACS to find out if this class is appropriate for your child.

Logic for Mathematics (Entering Grades 8–12) Aptitude Test Required

Logic for Mathematics is an unparalleled course in pure mathematical logic. Designed for the most talented secondary school students, it is the envy of university mathematics courses everywhere! This multimedia class improves upon our world-renowned Elements of Mathematics curriculum. Contact IMACS to find out if this class is appropriate for your child.

Want to Learn More About IMACS?

Students and parents have an opportunity to experience IMACS for themselves at free IMACS Summer Camp Open Houses in Boca Raton, Weston, and Plantation.  Open House attendees have a chance to win a raffle for a free week of full-day camp. At every open house, IMACS will hold two raffles–one for a free week of Full Day camp (for students entering 3rd grade and above) and one for a free week of Primary Logic Puzzles (for students entering 1st and 2nd grade).  For more information on the raffles and to RSVP for an Open House in Boca Raton, Weston, or Plantation, visit www.imacs.org/freesummer.
Attend an Open House:
March 14 – Weston
March 28 – Plantation
April 11 – Boca
April 18 – Weston
April 25 – Plantation
May 9 – Boca
May 16 – Weston
May 30 – Plantation

For more information go to www.imacs.org/summer to learn more about their summer camp.  You may also reach IMACS at 954-791-2333, 561-470-1178, or parentrelations@imacs.org.

IMACS is giving away a week of full-day camp to one of my lucky blog readers.  This is a $564 value!!!

Enter below: