June 29 - July 1
University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana

Welcome to the Illini Summer Academies! This 3-day event provides Illinois teens new opportunities to explore the University of Illinois campus; study potential careers or leadership skills; and meet youth from across the state.

In general, Academies are open to ANY Illinois youth who is currently in 8th to 12th grade. They must be an incoming high school freshman to graduating senior this summer and must fall within the 14-18 age range as of September 1, 2009. In addition, some of the academies have restricted their attendance to specific grade levels due to science class requirements. Those restrictions are listed below by the specific Academies.

All academies will take place on 3 days in late June on the University of Illinois campus in Champaign/Urbana. Delegates will live in college dormitories and have opportunities to tour the campus. This is a live-in academy; delegates will not be allowed to commute to the campus for daily activities. Joint activities for all delegates will be scheduled for each evening, as well as an opening and closing session, offering delegates a chance to meet and socialize with teens attending different academies and from across the state. A formal banquet is also scheduled for one evening of the event.

Academy Information

In 2009, we are offering seven different academies -- each providing 15 hours of interactive activities and study in a specific field of interest. Space is limited -- each academy has set a maximum number of youth delegates they will accept. Some have also placed a high school level restriction on their academy. Spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

Academies will be held at locations throughout the campus, including classrooms, labs, and the residence halls. Some academies may also provide off-campus visits in their curriculum.

2009 Academy Offerings

Aerospace Engineering Academy

How do aircraft fly and spacecraft orbit? That question and others will be addressed in this hands-on Aerospace Engineering session. Delegates will conduct experiments in rocket propulsion, flight mechanics, and fluid dynamics. You’ll have the opportunity to design a spacecraft with a mission to Mars, and explore your creativity in our "What Would MacGyver Do?" challenge. 25 delegates maximum. No repeat attendees from 2008 permitted.

Agricultural & Biological Engineering Academy - Technical Systems Management

Do you like to work with your hands?  Then, come learn about the many things that we do in Technical Systems Management!  You can learn about robotics, construction, precision farming, biological systems, and renewable energy.  You may get to build a micro-steam car, program a robot to accomplish a specific task, or learn how to build an air cannon.  We'd love to see you this summer! 12 delegates maximum.

Crop Sciences Academy

Crop science is an exciting field with many career opportunities where knowledge about plants, insects, biology, agriculture, genetics, plant pathology and other topics are used to improve plants and their products and enhance agricultural production. Join this academy to: Explore plant biotechnology; Discover how to identify insects; Observe the subterranean world of roots and nematodes; Investigate climate change and the effects on crops; Go on field trips and more! 30 delegates maximum

Food Science & Human Nutrition Academy

(Limited to currently enrolled freshman through seniors)

Think nutrition is all about fruits and vegetables? How often do you read the nutritional facts label on food packaging? Discover the exciting and infinite world of food science and human nutrition as you learn about: Food chemistry; Sensory testing; Healthy culinary skills; Fad diets; Sports nutrition; Molecular nutrition; and Food safety. You will participate hands on in the kitchen and learn about nutrition from people in the profession! Get inspired to positively impact your health and the health of the people around you! 20 delegates maximum.

Leadership Academy

Start to LIVE It Up! Discover how you learn, manage resources and make decisions as a leader. Through active participation, become an effective leader who explores new skills, values differences and inspires others. At the culmination of this Academy, you'll use your new skills to excel in a mind-blowing, campus-wide challenge! 100 delegates maximum.

Veterinary Medicine Academy

(Limited to currently enrolled sophomores, juniors & seniors)

Are you interested in animals, medicine, and science? Do you like helping people? Do you like unraveling mysteries? Do you like real challenges? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the wide world of veterinary medicine just may be for you. Veterinarians have a strong interest and ability in science. They enjoy working with people as well as with animals. Take a step into the world of veterinary medicine and see what veterinary school is like, learn about the different aspects of veterinary medicine, and more. 25 delegates maximum. No repeat attendees from 2008 permitted.

Youth Community Informatics Academy

Quests require a certain passion and zeal for the process of the journey. With the right tools, and the knowledge that discovery requires inquiry, innovation, and intrepidness, you will discover what it takes to learn from your environment and how to initiate change. Gain hands-on experience with information technologies such as video, social networking tools, mapping software and more. Use these tools to investigate, mobilize, organize, map, and report information related to community issues. Explore careers in which these skills are used in diverse community informatics settings such as libraries, community centers, museums, schools, and corporations. 40 delegates maximum

2009 Tentative Schedule

Chaperones

Adult chaperones must be screened by the University of Illinois Extension’s Volunteer Screening Procedures and must be age 21 or over. If a high school teacher or youth group leader wishes to serve as a chaperone, a copy of their approved school screening must be placed on file at their local University of Illinois Extension office and a State Police check must be run. All chaperones must also have reviewed the University of Illinois Extension Overnight Chaperone Orientation website at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/4hchaperone/. Local Extension staff should have copies of the chaperone's completion of this site on file in their local offices.

Chaperones receive a fee discount!! Chaperones are not expected to participate in academy workshops. They will be expected to ensure their assigned delegates are "out the door" in the morning and then have the day free until approximately 4:30 p.m.. Adult chaperones will be expected to be available and "on duty" from 4:30 p.m. until curfew and "on call" until the morning breakfast. Chaperones stay in the dormitories. The chaperone fee covers meals, housing, and extra activities. Chaperones are responsible for no more than 10 youth of the same gender.

A teleconference orientation for chaperones will be held in early June. In addition, chaperones will receive a complete Orientation packet that describes their responsibilities during the event. Chaperones will be required to attend an on-site meeting on the first day of the Academy to again review the packet, their responsibilities, and any changes to the program.

Fees and Registration

Each academy has set their own registration fee according to the activities and experiences they are providing. All fees also include a 2-night stay in University Housing (2 delegates per room); seven meals; programming materials; transportation when needed, and special activity insurance.

A limited number of scholarships for Illinois 4-H members will be available through the Illinois 4-H Foundation. You may download this application here:

Youth of U.S. Military families (Active, Guard, or Reserves) also have scholarship opportunities available. Contact Linda Kupferschmid at lkupfers@illinois.edu for more information.

All registrations must be completed on-line! Registration for all academies will open March 1. Early-bird registration will be available until April 15. To receive the early bird discount, mailed payments and medical and release forms must be postmarked by April 15.

Registrations posted received after April 15 will be charged the regular registration fee as noted for each academy. Final registrations will close Tuesday, May 26. All mailed payments and medical and release forms for regular registration fees must be postmarked by May 26 to confirm registration. Academy registration will "close" when the academy is full or May 26, whichever is first.

Fees for each of the academies is listed below. Please note there is a $15 early bird discount for registrations received before April 15.

Refunds

All cancellations and refund requests must be received in writing by the State 4-H Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date specified in order to receive any portion of a refund. Requests may be faxed (217/333-9287) or e-mailed to Deb Stocker (dstocker@illinois.edu).

• Cancellations before or on May 26 will receive a complete refund.
• Cancellations between May 26 and June 1 will receive a 50% refund.

No refunds will be issued for cancellations received after 5:00 p.m. on June 1.

To register, please use our online registration system.