Summer Registration

The start of school and homeschooling is around the corner. Kids' calendars will be filling up, and they will want to munch between meals. In this workshop, kids will learn to make 7 delicious, filling snacks for themselves. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

• Nachos
• Sticky Sesame Cauliflower Bites
• Pomegranate Slushy
• Strawberry Almond Protein Bars
• Air Fried Ranch Chickpeas
• Cinnamon Sticky Buns
• Strawberry Cheesecake Dip

Prerequisites: None

Children are invited to a magical tea party that they prepare themselves! Young chefs will create a delicious menu of finger foods that they will enjoy with tea, hot chocolate, or juice. Recipes created on the first day will be refrigerated and retained for our party on the second day. The Compass Commons area will be transformed with tablecloths, tea lights, and summer centerpieces. Participants will be invited to bring one stuffed friend and one grown-up to join them for the tea party held the last 30 minutes of the second day. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

• Cucumber Sandwiches
• Mini Quiches
• Asparagus Crostini
• Mini Cream Puffs
• Lemon Cake
• Mini Blueberry Scones

Prerequisites: None

Discover the world of robotics using kids' favorite, interlocking building bricks! Students will build and program whimsical, mechanized projects using the WeDo 2.0 robotics system by LEGO Education. In this workshop, young builders will build two droids: one that can scoop and shove soil, such as on the Martian surface, and one that can "walk" on wheels to explore a pretend planet. Their robots will be built using special-shaped LEGO components from the WeDo Educational set, motors, motion sensors, tilt sensors and a programmable, Bluetooth control unit ("brain"). Students will use classroom tablets to program the control units using intuitive drag-and-drop coding modules. Prior experience with LEGO or coding is not required. All equipment is furnished.

Prerequisites: None

Students will learn about the Mesozoic flora and fauna of the prehistoric world and be introduced to the ideas of plate tectonics, species variation, and the evolution of plants. This knowledge will be applied through several games in which the students will learn the characteristics of the various dinosaurs and other creatures that lived with them and how to cooperate in a group. In the role playing game "Saurian Safari", students will simulate a cooperative hunt through a Mesozoic game park using miniature figures, and in "Try-To-Survive-Asaurus," students will try to survive in the harsh and changing environment of the dinosaurs while portraying their very own dinosaur with the options of cooperating with or eating their fellow classmates. Over the course of the class, students should be able to explain the differences in the types of dinosaurs and plants found during the period, be it Cretaceous, Jurassic, or Triassic and how these differences are reflected in their very own swamp, forest, or scrub terrain type boards. Each student will create an individual diorama. Students will craft and hand-shape their scene on a 10 x 14 inch foam board using artistic, model-making techniques. They will customize their dioramas with landforms, waterways, plant life, and paint. Once individual projects are constructed, students will populate them with miniature figures and combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to create a larger terrain. Students will then compete in a zoology-based survival strategy game. Each student will create one board and receive a set of miniatures to take home with them. Course documents such as maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on or before the first day of the workshop. This is a 4-day workshop.

Prerequisites: None

Learn to use your sewing machine this summer! Discover the wide world of unique creations you can sew with this essential tool: clothing, costumes, alterations, decorative items, accessories, gifts, toys, and more. This workshop is designed to demystify your sewing machine and get you started. Learn to thread your machine, understand the basic functions, adjust tension, and select and practice stitches through guided sewing activities. Each participant must bring a sewing machine with power cord, foot pedal, and at least one bobbin. Participants must provide the model number of their sewing machines prior to the start of the workshop. This enables the instructor to find practice handouts specific to each machine, otherwise they will receive a generic handout.

Prerequisites: None

Students will use LEGO to design and build simple engineering projects out of everyone's favorite building toy! Students will explore concepts and vocabulary in physics, mechanical engineering, structural engineering, aerospace engineering, and architecture while playing with their creations. In this workshop, students will look at extraordinary engineering in cities and towns with projects such as a skyscraper, house, suspension bridge, and a rail system. Each session begins with 10-minutes of free build from tubs of LEGO components followed by a short discussion and demonstration of the day's project and concepts. Students build individually or in groups. Instructors will provide individual assistance, facilitate challenges, performance testing, competitions, and modifications to projects. Notes: (1) Students must be minimum age 5, be able to follow directions, and be able to separate from their parents for this workshop. (2) Projects are built from shared, Instructor-owned components, so students will not bring completed projects home. Parents, however, can drop in 15 minutes before the end of each session to photograph their child's construction.

Prerequisites: None

Mixed martial arts is a fun physical fitness workshop for tweens that blends the Brazilian self-defense martial art of Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai, a combat boxing-like sport from Thailand. An experienced coach, black belt, and practitioner of mixed martial arts will lead a well-rounded physical fitness program that incorporates moves and strategies from both sports to increase strength, flexibility, conditioning, endurance, coordination, and balance. Jiu-Jitsu uses grappling and ground work, while Muay Thai introduces standing strikes with fists, elbows, knees, and shins. The latter emphasizes distance and being in or out of an opponent's range with the legs and feet being used to kick and maintain distance. Mixed Martial Arts helps tweens stay active, builds self-esteem, and encourages teamwork. Students will practice techniques for resolving conflicts, dealing with bullies, projecting confidence, and developing stranger awareness in the games and exercises they complete in class. Some partner work may be co-ed. Students must be a minimum of age 10 to enroll. Students will work on mats in socks or bare feet and should come to class wearing loose, comfortable clothing, such as running pants or sweatpants and bring a refillable water bottle.

Prerequisites: None

Castles were the ultimate expression of Medieval political power. From there, the noble few could rule the peasant masses, sending out elite knights to exert their will on the countryside, collecting taxes and making war. The designs of castles varied from simple wooden forts and towers to devilishly complicated stone monoliths with layers of defenses, all to allow few to contend with many. It was usually so monumentally dangerous and ineffective to attack these fortresses head on, that the preferred methods of subduing them were either treachery or starvation. But for those opponents who could muster huge armies, amass proper siege equipment, and employ tactics, the successful storming of a castle could be the turning point in an entire war. This class will examine the evolution of castle defenses in the Middle Ages. Students will either work individually to create small towers and wooden motte-and-bailey forts or work cooperatively to recreate massive historical stone castles, like those of the Normans and French in Europe or the Crusaders in the Middle East. But what goes up, must come down, and students will build these dioramas to recreate castles under siege, completed with attacking forces and battle machines. Using artistic model-making techniques, hand tools, and historical maps, students will each form a 10" X 14" shaped, foam diorama with landscape and architectural elements (hills, valleys, rivers, ridges, vegetation, stone walls, moats, towers, etc) to represent a medieval castle. Students will each receive 1:72 scale soldiers to populate their construction. Once individual projects are constructed, students will combine their dioramas alongside those of their classmates to approximate a larger fortress. Students will spend the remainder of the quarter learning about the tactics and outcomes of the military engagement while playing a table-top strategy game. Student strategists will use a simplified version of the Axis and Allies gaming rule system for moving troops and equipment. Along with their classmates, students will see how a battle against a castle might have progressed and test different outcome scenarios that might have occurred with different battlefield choices. The instructor will use maps and visual presentations to explain the historical background and circumstances leading up to the specific battle. Course documents, such as period maps, game rules and all other instructional media will be available via a Google Drive link which will be emailed to parents. There is a $25.00 materials fee payable to the instructor on the first day of class. This is a 4-day workshop.

Prerequisites: None

Taste your way across America in this cross-country culinary adventure. From diners to dining rooms, create and enjoy regional favorites on your imaginary drive across the US. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

Northeast

• New England Clam Chowder
• Boston Baked Beans
• Boston Cream Pie

South

• Southern Tomato and Cheese Pie (with homemade pie crust)
• Pimento Cheese Spread
• Blue Ribbon Deviled Eggs
• Mississippi Mud Pie

New Orleans

• Cajun Orzo with Sausage
• Shrimp and Grits
• Bananas Foster Cheesecake

This engaging cooking workshop will get students excited about helping in the kitchen, experimenting, and trying new foods. Students will be introduced to ingredients and flavors they may not regularly eat. They will discover the joy of cooking while practicing skills that range from math (volume, weight, unit conversion, fractions, decimals), reading (instructions, ingredients), geography (traditions, flavors, food sources), and science (nutrition, food chemistry), and life skills. They will also learn important kitchen skills such as safety, sanitation, knife skills, and other tricks of the trade. Culinary vocabulary and terms are introduced in class, and recipes are provided online for enrolled students to prepare their new foods at home.

Notes: Recipes may contain nuts, dairy, wheat, gluten, eggs, soy, etc. All food supplies will be conventional, mass market ingredients. Recipes cannot be adapted to students with food allergies or dietary restrictions. Specialty food preparations/certifications such as halal, kosher, and organic will not be used due to cost and sourcing logistics.

Lab/Supply Fee: A supply fee of $54.00 is due payable to the instructor on the first day of class.

What to Bring: None- Disposable aprons and take-home containers provided.

What to Wear: Students should wear clean clothes, closed-toe shoes, and have long hair tied back, braided, or secured under a bandana (male and female). For more information and FAQs, see the Compass Cooking Classes webpage.

This is a 3-day program.

Prerequisites: None

Summer luaus transport us to barefoot beach barbecues under picturesque Pacific palms. Celebrate Hawaiian hospitality and tropical tastes when learning to make the favorite foods of our fiftieth state. Recipes are selected to be nutritious, fun, and simple to make. The Compass chefs' culinary adventures will include:

• Air Fry Hawaiian Chicken
• Bruddah Potato Mac
• Tropical Fruit Salad
• Loco Moco Rice
• Pineapple Tarts
• Butter Mochi Cookies

Prerequisites: None

What if schoolwork was fun, and learning happened through games? In Gameschooling, that is exactly what kids will do! The group will play a variety of board games that have underlying educational skills. We are not talking about tedious multiplication facts disguised as a game. Instead, kids will discover and play a wide variety of popular- and lesser-known- board games. The selected games will encourage critical thinking, logic, reasoning, and problem solving. Some involve predictions and probability, while other games encourage cooperation and collaborative solutions. Many games feature a theme from an academic discipline such as history, geography, or science. The game master will curate a portfolio of class games from her private collection such as "Wingspan" (ornithology); "Ticket to Ride" (geography); "Isle of Skye" (spatial relations); "Trekking the National Parks" (geography/natural resources); and "Blokus" (geometry/spatial relations).

Prerequisites: None

Embark on a magical journey this summer with our enchanting workshop "Magical Creatures' Quest: A Familiar Problem!" This workshop is for middle school students who adore whimsical tales, creative adventures, and the magic of tabletop role-playing games. Each day of the workshop, the group will weave a captivating story where each participant takes on the role of a magical animal on a quest to reunite with its owner. Are you more like a daring dragon, mysterious mermaid, playful Pegasus, or a fearless fairy? Each session presents a new chapter, filled with challenges, mysteries, and opportunities for magical mischief. Tweens will unleash their creativity and collaborate with other participants to shape the adventure, solve puzzles, and make decisions to advance the story. The workshop will be managed by an experienced Game Master who will guide students through the art of role-playing. Tweens will connect and form friendships with other middle schoolers who share a love of magical stories and imaginative play- in person! Previous role-playing experience is not required, but this workshop serves as a great introduction for tweens and teens who might be interested in embarking on Dungeons and Dragons. This is a 3-day program.

Prerequisites: None

This Women's Self Defense Workshop is for older teen girls and young adult women who are heading to college for the first time, returning to campus, working, driving, or traveling alone. First and foremost, this workshop will teach young women about situational awareness and making safe choices: critical life lessons that they would rather hear from a professional than a parent. Students will work in pairs and small groups to act out mock scenarios, rehearse strategies to get away from an attacker, and practice defensive moves and strikes. The National Center for Education Statistics reports a decline in the overall college crime rates from 2009-2019 due to falling burglary rates, but a steady increase in forcible sex offenses during the same time. If you are not sure self defense is needed or pertinent to your daughter, see the following very concerning campus assault statistics: https://students.umw.edu/counseling/sexual-assault-information/statistics/ This workshop is taught by Iman Casteneda, Compass's homeschool PE and Jiu Jitsu Fit instructor. She earned a black belt in Jiu Jitsu under Royce Gracie, a particularly grueling program that took her more than 10 years to prepare for. She is also personal trainer, Cross-Fit instructor, Muy Thai practitioner, former MMA (mixed martial arts) competitor, former EMT, and survivor of assault. Note: Minimum age: 16. This workshop is also appropriate for young women who have had previous instruction in self defense as a refresher for strategies and techniques. This is a 3-day program.

Prerequisites: None