A liberal arts summer camp
The collaboratory
Explore. collaborate. Discover.
Learn with Purdue Fort Wayne Faculty
Have you ever wondered what college is like? Would you like to get a head start and connect with faculty? Do you have a passion for learning new things? Or maybe you are just the kind of person who looks for new experiences that allow you to grow. If so, you should consider joining us this summer for “The Collaboratory.”
"The Collaboratory" is a learning institute for anyone ages 14-18. During the week-long day camp held at Purdue Fort Wayne, you will engage with our award-winning faculty, who will lead you in collaborative activities, exciting field trips to museums and archives in Fort Wayne, and thought-provoking conversations centered around a wide range of topics related to the liberal arts.
You will explore everything from how books are made (you will even get to learn book-binding and make your own book!), to how to tell a good digital story, to the ways culture shapes food consumption, to the diverse cultures and histories that shape our communities—and much, much more!
Dates: June 10-14, 2024 | 9:00 AM -3:30 PM each day | Liberal Arts Building, Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fee: $50 (includes light breakfast and lunch each day)
Scholarships are available. For more information or if you have questions, contact [email protected] or 260-481-6160.
Registration is now open and ends June 5, 2024.
Registration is now open and continues through June 5. We encourage early registration as space is limited.
Please note that the registration link below will take you to Purdue’s BoilerBase system, a portal used by all Purdue campuses for registration for all Youth Programs. To access it, you create a username and password for the Purdue system, if you do not already have one. After you click on the link, you will see that there are two options for logging in: the first is for those who already have a Purdue career account (please note that a Purdue Fort Wayne username and password will not work here). Everyone else will use the non-Purdue log in option.
While the BoilerBase system looks complicated, once you establish an account, the process is streamlined and easy to navigate. When you submit your registration, you will then be sent to a confirmation window that includes a link for payment. You must follow this link and complete payment to finish your registration and secure your spot in the camp. Have questions or registration issues? Please call 260-481-6160 for assistance.
Fee Waivers: Should you find the $50 registration fee prohibitively expensive, please inquire about our waivers by emailing [email protected].
REGISTer here
We are excited to preview some of what we have planned for The Collaboratory! Check back again for more updates that will be posted soon.
Professor Curtis Crisler, current Indiana Poet Laureate and professor of creative writing, will lead an activity entitled “Writing the Ekphrastic Poem - Where to Find Poems.” Participants will study the artist Dawoud Bey’s photos, “Class Pictures.” In keeping with the ekphrastic form, everyone will create new poems by using Dawoud’s photos of teenagers.
Dr. Arthur Herbig, professor of media production, will lead an activity entitled “Staying on Brand or Telling Your Story?” Participants will look at social media use and learn how to craft a public identity through it. This will include some hands-on learning and practice, too, that will lead to new perspectives on digital storytelling!
Dr. Emily Tock, Reference and Instruction Librarian for the College of Liberal Arts, will lead an activity centered around the history of the book, from papyrus scrolls to the codex to eBooks! In addition to examining and handling old books from the Helmke Library collection, participants will learn the Coptic book binding method and tools of the trade and make their very own blank journal from recycled books to take home at the end of the camp!
Dr. Hal Odden, associate professor of anthropology, will lead an activity entitled “Anthropology of Food.” Participants will learn about how culture, history, and human biology influence what we eat, how we eat, and what we like to eat. Participants will also have the opportunity to try different foods from around the world as examples! Bring your taste palette and sense of adventure for this one!
Dr. Ann Livschiz, associate professor of history, will lead participants through a discussion of how war destroys the idea of home for people, focusing on Ukraine and how people, especially young people, in Ukraine are trying to protect their home and Ukrainian culture through art and the use of social media.
Dr. Andrew Kopec, associate professor of English, is partnering with the librarians of the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center to lead participants through an exploration of a local 19th abolition newspaper. Everyone will have the opportunity to learn about how to research community histories going back to the 19th C and do some exploration on their own during this fun field trip to the ACPL.
