Although most students are on Ohio University’s campus August through May, a wide variety of enriching summer programs are available for children, high school students and college students.
For children and high school students, OU hosts 10 different summer programs on the Athens campus, spanning various fields.
The E.W. Scripps School of Journalism has hosted its High School Journalism Workshop since 1946, and it is one of the longest-running programs in the country.
Rising high school sophomores to recent high school graduates are eligible to attend and have the opportunity to earn college credit.
The overall camp fee is $450, covering food, lodging, instruction and equipment, and the college credit fee is $50, along with participation in all camp sessions and completion of two assignments.
Mark Turner, an assistant professor, has been the co-director of the program since 2022. He and his co-director, professor Bill Clack, prepare far in advance for the workshop, setting up the curriculum, hiring student journalists known as J-Crew members and recruiting students to participate, Turner said.
The program offers nine different tracks for students to choose from: broadcast reporting, publication design, magazine writing, news writing, visual storytelling, podcasting, sports writing, public relations and sports broadcasting.
“The workshop provides an opportunity to interact with faculty and media professionals while learning to apply established journalism practices with an eye toward innovation and ongoing changes in the media industry,” Turner wrote in an email.
Mia Sammons, a junior studying journalism news and information, worked as a J-Crew member in the broadcast track last summer and is now one of the head directors of the program.
She said it is wonderful to see students come into the program already so passionate about journalism.
“I think with journalism as a whole, people just come into it very eager and with a lot of fire under them, and it's just cool to see that continuing,” Sammons said.
Sammons also said she thinks the program is very beneficial to students, as they will then come to university already knowing vital information about their careers.
“It's an opportunity for (students) to get ahead of everyone else in your class by doing the workshop because you're learning the things that you will have to learn in your classes or your organizations,” Sammons said.
High school students interested in the program have until Friday, June 20, at 11:59 p.m. to sign up. More information on the program and the different tracks students can pick from can be found on the High School Journalism Workshop website.
The Summer Law and Trial Institute is also available to rising high school juniors and seniors in the Appalachian Ohio region.
The application deadline is May 31, and the program is highly selective. The program runs from July 7 to 18, but the first week, from July 7 to 11, is strictly virtual, with students coming to the Athens campus on July 13 where they will stay until the end of the program.
A full list of information on the program can be found on the Summer Law and Trial Institute website.
OU also offers various STEM and art workshops, as well as programs designed to empower students from historically underrepresented communities. More details about each are available on OU’s summer programs website.
For younger students, OU hosts two programs: Tech Savvy for students in grades 5-9 and the Kids on Campus Summer Program for grades 1-12. Both programs allow students to explore new activities, attend workshops and connect with peers.
As most college students know, internships are invaluable opportunities and often help students land their dream jobs. Study abroad and study away programs through OU enable students to travel almost anywhere they desire and earn both class credits and internships.
There are various locations students can travel to through the Affiliate Providers program, the ISA and TEAN by WorldStrides program and the Global Consulting Programs. Depending on a student’s major or area of study, they can travel internationally or stay in the U.S.
U.S.-based programs include the Scripps in D.C. program and Ohio in LA, both of which are geared toward Scripps College of Communication students.
Students can study topics like food and culture through the Food in Sicily program or explore urban and environmental issues in Edinburgh, Scotland. Additional study abroad opportunities are available in destinations such as Thailand, South Africa and Costa Rica, among many others.
Most programs are offered during the spring, summer and fall semesters, as well as over winter break. However, some programs are only available during a specific time of year.
The Office of Global Opportunities provides more information on its website about the many study away locations, program offerings and specific requirements for each opportunity.
