HWS: Exploration Camp

FUN WITH SCIENCE CAMP

We are elated to have the opportunity to teach your child about many facets of science that exceed what teachers can provide in the regular classroom environment during the school year.

The goals of this program are to:
• Offer students an opportunity to work with, and perform hands-on experiments under, the guidance of a science
professional, Professor de Denus, and teacher Mindy Ritter, who are passionate about science
• Provide active learning based on science concepts and standards
• Develop collaboration among students, teachers and science professionals,
• Relate scientific concepts to the real world, and foster the independent thinking of each child
• Each day of this five-day camp will have a theme
We will spend four days experimenting with food science, sports science, detective science, and polymer science. The final day will be a culmination of fun activities from all areas.

Camp Directors

Professor Christine de Denus
Professor Christine de Denus graduated from John Taylor High School (Winnipeg, Canada) in 1988 and the University of Winnipeg in 1993 with a B.S. in Chemistry. She received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Manitoba in 1997 and was a Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada Post-doctoral Fellow at the Pennsylvania State University from 1997 to 1999. She has been at Hobart and William Smith Colleges since the Fall of 1999. Since her arrival she has taught general, organic, forensic, instrumental, and inorganic chemistry as well as a First-Year Seminar, Chemistry and Crime. In addition to her teaching duties, she is the chair of the chemistry department, serves on a number of campus committees, is a member of numerous scientific organizations, is the faculty athletic fellow for WS basketball and lacrosse, and runs an active research laboratory with undergraduate students. She has been involved with teaching science to students in K-3 at West Street School for the past four years in collaboration with Mindy Ritter. Currently, de Denus and Ritter are teaching an after school science program for students in the third grade that has been funded through an HWS faculty research grant. She is also a soccer, basketball and lacrosse coach at the local YMCA.

Mindy (McGuigan) Ritter
Mindy (McGuigan) Ritter graduated from Geneva High School in 1985, SUNY-Geneseo in 1989 with a B.S. in Education and Sociology minor. She received her M.S. in Education from SUNY-Geneseo in 1993 and holds permanent certification. Ritter has taught first grade at West Street School in Geneva for the past 18 years. She has served on the ELA as district chair (2 years), on the District Building Literacy Team (2 years), has taught an after-school science club for first and second grade students. Currently, she serves on the committee to re-establish Gifted/Talented/Enrichment Program in Geneva, is a Ski Club Adviser, and is teaching an after school science program for third grade students through an HWS faculty research grant. She has also been active with the YMCA coaching tee-ball, coach-pitch, and soccer.

Grade Levels for the Camp

This camp is for children who have completed first, second, and third grades. Enrollment will be limited to 20 students for each week.

Facilities Used for Science Camp

The Hobart and William Smith Science camp utilizes the facilities and resources of the Colleges to provide children an opportunity to have a week full of academic activity and fun in a safe and friendly environment.
• Science camp will be centered in a science classroom and laboratory, using the Quad and mini-quad around the science
complex for daily activities.
• The Scandling Center will provide a daily buffet style lunch.