Coastal Carolina University is offering a summer youth program for rising third- through eighth-graders from June 11 through July 27. Hands-on, interactive courses include astronomy, theater, invention studio, ecology, outdoor adventure, Claymation, CSI, Spanish, junior robotics, animation, marine science, small animals and critters, and more. Students may sign up by the week or for the entire summer.

Half-day classes are from 9 a.m. to noon or from 1 to 4 p.m.; full-day classes are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Before-class childcare (7:45 to 8:45 a.m.) and after-class (4 to 5:30 p.m.) childcare are available at additional cost. Registration fees vary according to length and content of courses, with fees beginning at $95 per student. Discounts are offered for multiple children in a family and for children of full-time Coastal faculty and staff. Participants are encouraged to register before June 1.

Transportation for all field trips is provided by the university. Parents, siblings and friends are invited for the last half hour/hour of class on Fridays for a culminating presentation/performance highlighting to observe what students have done during the class week.

The classes are taught by Coastal instructors, Horry County teachers and community experts. For the full list of classes or to register, call 349-2665 or visit www.coastal.edu/cec/mini.html on the Internet. Some of the classes being offered include:

Arts and Crafts

Beading and jewelry making

Birds and butterflies

Marvelous World of Japan

Science

Invention Studio

Ecology/Biology

Water Matters

CSI (micro and molecular biology)

Incredible bats

Marine science

Sports

Golf

Tennis

Technology

Animation

PowerPoint presentations

Outdoor adventures

Games, rope course, survival fishing

Performing Arts

Introduction to musical theater

Interpretive acting

Hip-Hop, African dance and step

Survey of dance forms

Mathematics

Mathletics (math using sports as a model)

Foreign language and culture

Ay Caramba!

Japanese 101

Let's Go to Bolivia!