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Grandparents University
Grandparents University

Majors

Majors

This year, there are a variety of Grandparents University majors, all of which are taught by Purdue faculty and staff or Boilermaker experts. Some majors are available for both sessions, but many are only available during one of the sessions.

An adult must accompany each child at all times. For that reason, please select majors based on the ages and physical abilities of everyone in your group.

Guide to physical activity levels

Levels of physical activity vary among majors, so please choose what best suits your abilities. Every attempt will be made to honor accessibility requests made in advance.

  • Low: Most activities and tours take place indoors with some walking required. Majors will have mostly seated activities.
  • Medium: Some movement and walking required between classrooms and venues, which may include stairs. Long periods of standing may be required, and outdoor activity is possible.
  • High: Significant movement and physical activity required, including walking or hiking outdoors.

This year, there are a variety of Grandparents University majors, all of which are taught by Purdue faculty and staff or Boilermaker experts. Some majors are available for both sessions, but many are only available during one of the sessions.

An adult must accompany each child at all times. For that reason, please select majors based on the ages and physical abilities of everyone in your group.

Guide to physical activity levels

Levels of physical activity vary among majors, so please choose what best suits your abilities. Every attempt will be made to honor accessibility requests made in advance.

  • Low: Most activities and tours take place indoors with some walking required. Majors will have mostly seated activities.
  • Medium: Some movement and walking required between classrooms and venues, which may include stairs. Long periods of standing may be required, and outdoor activity is possible.
  • High: Significant movement and physical activity required, including walking or hiking outdoors.

CHOOSE A SESSION

LEAVEA BLANK
Hexagon icon showing for the ABCs of ABE major, featuring a leaf within a beaker.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

ABCs of ABE

TAUGHT BY: 

Mandy Limiac

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Experience the world of agricultural and biological engineering—from farm and forest to food and pharmaceuticals! Learn about the kinds of technologies that help crop production around the globe, discover how ecological engineers create designs and restore natural ecosystems, and hear how bioprocess engineers solve problems related to health, food, and the environment.

Examples of activities

  • Discover how drones and robots are pushing agriculture into the digital age—and then fly/drive them
  • Explore a stream redesign site
  • Get a taste for bioprocess engineering by making popping boba

ABCs of ABE

Hexagon icon showing for the Advancing Animal Health major, featuring an outline of a dog and a cat with the medical plus sign.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Advancing Animal Health

TAUGHT BY: 

Bethany Laffoon and Holly McCalip

Facilitated BY: 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Discover some of the day-to-day activities of a veterinarian and veterinary nurse. You’ll get to see what they see by working directly with live animals, studying X-rays, and even examining the microorganisms that live inside a cow’s stomach!

Examples of activities

  • Practice physical exam techniques on a dog
  • Reach inside a real cow’s stomach
  • Look at blood cells under a microscope

Advancing Animal Health

Can You See It?

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Can You See It?

TAUGHT BY: 

Katherine Dean

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts
It wasn’t long ago that you were in the dark about the results of your photography—literally. Explore the beauty of analog film photography, which includes loading film into a 35 mm camera, printing contact sheets, and developing negatives in a traditional darkroom!

Examples of activities

  • Discover the secrets of good photographic composition
  • Take your new photography skills on a campus walk using 35 mm film in an analog film camera
  • Process black-and-white film

Can You See It?

Dynamics Dance

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Dynamics of Dance

TAUGHT BY: 

Renee Murray

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts
What inspires you to break into dance? Have you ever thought about the moves your body makes when you’re dancing? While enjoying fun music, explore the different shapes, motions, and images we can make with our bodies through dance. Then, incorporate everything you’ve learned into an original dance you’ll perform in the dance program studio!

Examples of activities

  • Enjoy learning various modern dance techniques
  • Create an original dance inspired by everyday surroundings
  • Enhance your dance and stage presence by incorporating positive feedback

Dynamics of Dance

Hexagon icon showing for the Engineering in Space major, featuring a rocket ship.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Engineering in Space

TAUGHT BY: 

Katie Smith

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Thomas S. and Harvey D. Wilmeth Active Learning Center
When you think about going to space, you probably think about astronauts. But what about engineers? Through the design, creation, and operation of aircraft, rockets, and space-based systems, engineers play a big part in space exploration! Discover space from an engineer’s perspective, and learn about their roles in recent missions to space.

Examples of activities

  • Build your very own rocket
  • Explore space engineering through origami

Engineering in Space

Hexagon icon showing for the Health Explorers major, featuring EKG lines within a heart graphic.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Health Explorers

TAUGHT BY: 

Elizabeth Wertz

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–10

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

You’re being paged—get ready to unravel some of the mysteries of the human body! Discover what a career in health care would be like by working with and learning from Boilermakers in Purdue’s School of Nursing.

Examples of activities

  • Learn about vital signs and practice taking them
  • Discover the world of germs—how they spread and how to keep yourself healthy
  • Explore various systems of the body and how they work together

Health Explorers

Hexagon icon showing for the Hot Science major, featuring a chili pepper within a flame.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Hot Science

TAUGHT BY: 

Amanda Deering and Tari Gary

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

What do peppers, bacteria, and hot sauce all have in common? You! Before you create your own hot sauce to take home, you’ll learn more about its basic ingredient—bacteria. Study the natural bacteria present on different varieties of peppers, and discover how that bacteria can be put to work to make hot sauce!

Examples of activities

  • Use Petri dishes to explore the natural bacteria on different peppers
  • Prepare hot sauces from the peppers—making sure to measure the pH and allowing it to ferment overnight
  • Test the pH the next day, evaluate the different results, and take your hot sauce home to enjoy

Hot Science

Hexagon icon showing for the Insect Expedition major, featuring a beetle.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Insect Expedition

TAUGHT BY: 

Emily Justus

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Explore the awesome world of arthropods—the species that makes up approximately 80% of all living animals on Earth. The numbers are large, but the creatures are not! Insects, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and isopods—discover how all of these bugs interact with each other and the world around them.

Examples of activities

  • Explore the habitats of these crawling creatures
  • Learn about what they need to survive
  • Meet and interact with residents of the Purdue Bug Barn

Insect Expedition

Hexagon icon showing for the Microbes to Medicines major, featuring bacteria.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Microbes to Medicines

TAUGHT BY: 

Elizabeth Parkinson

Facilitated BY: 

College of Science

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Get ready to look at dirt like a scientist, and explore the bacteria that live in your own backyard! Discover how the bacteria found in soil can be used to make antibiotics—maybe even ones you’ve taken!

Examples of activities

  • Isolate bacteria from soil
  • Learn how microorganisms make molecules that we use as medicines
  • Observe Streptomyces bacteria and the colored compounds they produce

Microbes to Medicines

Hexagon icon showing for the Monster Innovation major, featuring a robot with antenna and six arms.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Monster Innovation

TAUGHT BY: 

Victoria Thomas

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Monsters are on the loose in Purdue Libraries! Well, not yet, but they will be once you create them! After making sure your design complies with American Society of Monster Engineering standards and that it doesn’t infringe on other monster patents, you’ll be able to transform your design into a constructed creation.

Examples of activities

  • Design a cardboard monster prototype
  • Study standards and patents for prototypes
  • Add excitement to the creation with circuitry

Monster Innovation

Printing Creativi-Tee

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Printing Creativi-Tee

TAUGHT BY: 

Zoe Nielsen

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

The next time someone asks where you got your shirt, you’ll be able to proudly say, “I made it!” Using a design you’ve created, experience the process of screen printing from start to finish. You’ll even get to carve your own stamp design, so get ready to use your creativity!

Examples of activities

  • Use relief printmaking to carve a design
  • Print your design on a T-shirt to take home

Printing Creativi-Tee

Ready, Set, Code

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Ready, Set, Code!

TAUGHT BY: 

Nielsen Pereira

Facilitated BY: 

College of Education

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Get ready to create something so ridiculous that it just might work! Discover how to creatively solve real-world problems as you program your own car and build a Rube Goldberg machine—a chain-reaction device that uses everyday materials to complete a simple task in a complicated and entertaining way.

Examples of activities

  • Explore the concepts of coding, robotics, and creative engineering
  • Learn about autonomous vehicles before programming a robotic car
  • Figure out the basics of programming using Scratch, a website that helps children create digital stories, games, and animations through coding

Ready, Set, Code!

Hexagon icon showing for the Running a Restaurant major, featuring a hand holding a serving platter with steam.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Running a Restaurant

TAUGHT BY: 

Bruce Goad

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Opening a dream restaurant is only the beginning. Many times, the secret to a restaurant’s success is in the details. Explore the essentials of great hospitality and the factors that make a food-service operation successful, including flexibility, professionalism, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and—of course—delicious menus!

Examples of activities

  • Design your dream restaurant—choose a theme, location, name, and must-have menu items
  • Prepare a dish in a commercial kitchen with assistance from a Purdue chef
  • Master your front-of-house skills—setting a fancy table, hiring employees, and providing the best customer service

Running a Restaurant

Sew Many Memories

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Sew Many Memories

TAUGHT BY: 

Ashley Bellet

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Do you have a blanket from when you were little that still brings you a sense of comfort? Or lucky socks you can’t get rid of—no matter how dirty they are? Get ready to dive into the history of fabrics and clothing, uncovering the special memories they hold and the stories they tell about the past.

Examples of activities

  • Discover how clothing and fabric shape our lives as individuals and as a society
  • Learn the basics of sewing using hand stitches and sewing machines
  • Sew your very own pillow to take home

Sew Many Memories

Shaping Spaces

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Shaping Spaces

TAUGHT BY: 

Yong In

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Unleash your imagination in the exciting world of interior design. Discover how a dream becomes a design that transforms into a beautifully crafted room. By exploring different colors, textures, and layouts, you’ll begin to see the spaces around you like never before!

Examples of activities

  • Learn how color, texture, layout, and furniture affect the interior spaces around us
  • Work together to create a colorful mood board for a dream room
  • Build a creative world through fun hands-on model making

Shaping Spaces

Hexagon icon showing for the Shark Tank Jr. major, featuring a hand holding a bag with the money symbol on it.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Shark Tank Jr.

TAUGHT BY: 

Wan-Ting Chiu

Facilitated BY: 

Mitch Daniels School of Business

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Messy rooms. Confusing homework problems. Chores you wish would do themselves. You encounter problems every day! If you have ever come up with a solution, then it’s time to enter the shark tank. Discover your inner entrepreneur before getting the chance to pitch your very own ideas!

Examples of activities

  • Create possible solutions to real-world problems
  • Learn about product development and how to conduct market research
  • Discover how to find solutions to problems through reverse brainstorming

Shark Tank Jr.

Sketches & Sculptures

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Sketches & Sculptures

TAUGHT BY: 

Robert Sabol

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Ready to create a masterpiece? Get inspired by Edgar Degas, one of the world’s most famous artists. After exploring his work and techniques, you’ll sketch and sculpt your own creations. Your finished pieces will go on display next to the Degas Collection at the Purdue Memorial Union!

Examples of activities

  • Draw sketches on an iPad
  • Create figurative clay sculptures
  • Complete a grid enlargement of one of Degas’s paintings

Sketches & Sculptures

Hexagon icon showing for the STEM-IT! major, featuring a robot with a lightning bolt on its chest.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

STEM-IT!

TAUGHT BY: 

Sascha Harrell

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Polytechnic Institute

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Discover innovative ways to design, solve problems, and create in the exciting world of STEM! From building with Legos to working with robots, get ready to explore just how engaging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can be—and why STEM is important.

Examples of activities

  • Experience 3D printing
  • Explore STEM through robotics, including Dobot, Dash and Dot, and Sphero
  • Tour a micromanufacturing testbed in action

STEM-IT!

The Music Airplanes

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

The Music of Airplanes

TAUGHT BY: 

Tae Hong Park

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

If you close your eyes on Purdue’s campus, you’ll hear all kinds of sounds—students talking, cars honking, the whirr of bikes and scooters, and even plane engines overhead! Get ready to transform the sounds at Purdue University Airport into a piece of music using your phone and computer software.

Examples of activities

  • Record audio at the Purdue Airport on a “soundwalk”
  • Organize the sounds using custom software
  • Create a “soundscape” musical piece with the recorded audio using GarageBand

The Music of Airplanes

Understanding Nature

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Understanding Nature

TAUGHT BY: 

Megan Gunn

Facilitated BY: 

Forestry and Natural Resources

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Have you ever looked at a tree or a stream and wondered if it’s healthy? Did you know that we can use the environment around us to make decisions for the future? Discover the various techniques aquatic science, forestry, and wildlife specialists use to gather information from nature.

Examples of activities

  • Practice aquatic sampling techniques
  • Learn how to identify different types of wildlife
  • Explore a forest by measuring its trees and plants

Understanding Nature

Wellness Warriors

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Wellness Warriors

TAUGHT BY: 

Lauren Link

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

At the heart of every Boilermaker champion is a commitment to health. Go behind the scenes of Purdue Athletics to discover the multidisciplinary approach that supports the health and performance of athletes, including nutrition, wellness, and strength training.

Examples of activities

  • Tour the facilities that Boilermaker athletes call home
  • Create your own performance snack
  • Practice sports medicine by learning basic stretches and athletic taping

Wellness Warriors

Whodunit

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Whodunit?

TAUGHT BY: 

Amanda Zelechoski

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

A crime has taken place, and we need “brain detectives!” Dive into the world of forensic psychology, where experts use their knowledge about how people think and behave to help the legal system answer questions. Explore the roles of a forensic psychologist—including analyzing behavior—by participating in mock trials.

Examples of activities

  • Create a criminal profile
  • Build the perfect jury
  • Testify in a mock trial as an expert witness

Whodunit?

Hexagon icon showing for the Writing With an Author major, featuring a hand holding a pencil.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Writing with an Author

TAUGHT BY: 

Angie Klink (LA’81)

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–10

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

This is your chance to learn from and write with a beloved Boilermaker author! Every book starts with just an idea, but then it goes through quite the journey—research, interviews, putting words to ideas, and illustrations. Get ready to go on your own journey as you create a book filled with memories!

Examples of activities

  • Interview grandparents to create a lap-book biography
  • Celebrate your achievements as an author with a book launch
  • Spend time with a surprise visitor

Writing with an Author

Hexagon icon showing for the ABCs of ABE major, featuring a leaf within a beaker.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

ABCs of ABE

TAUGHT BY: 

Mandy Limiac

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Experience the world of agricultural and biological engineering—from farm and forest to food and pharmaceuticals! Learn about the kinds of technologies that help crop production around the globe, discover how ecological engineers create designs and restore natural ecosystems, and hear how bioprocess engineers solve problems related to health, food, and the environment.

Examples of activities

        • Discover how drones and robots are pushing agriculture into the digital age—and then fly/drive them
        • Explore a stream redesign site
        • Get a taste for bioprocess engineering by making popping boba

ABCs of ABE

Adventure Awaits

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Adventure Awaits

TAUGHT BY: 

Innocensia Owuor

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Get ready for a journey filled with maps, games, and puzzles! Unleash your creativity as you explore the world using simple mapping tools. Along the way, you’ll discover how maps connect the past to the present and learn to read symbols, directions, and coordinates through scavenger hunts and nature walks.

Examples of activities

  • Create a family history book by marking places where family members have lived, studied, traveled, or celebrated special moments
  • Discover how to identify natural features and man-made structures from above using satellite images
  • Design and map a fictional island—complete with mountains, rivers, and cities

Adventure Awaits

AI&U

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

AI & U

TAUGHT BY: 

Rachel Haselby

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

TBD
Alexa. Siri. ChatGPT. Gemini. Artificial intelligence is all around you—and you may not even realize it. As you explore innovative ways to plan a dream vacation and embark on an unforgettable virtual experience, you’ll discover how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and what its future might hold.

Examples of activities

  • Use an AI chatbot to create an itinerary for a dream destination
  • Navigate Google Maps to view potential locations you’d like to visit
  • Discover how technology can become your magic carpet to explore new worlds

AI & U

Hexagon icon showing for the All the Small Things major, featuring a DNA model.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

All the Small Things

TAUGHT BY: 

Ron Reger and Neil Dilley

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Can you imagine a world that’s too small to see? Introducing nanotechnology! Explore nanoscale science and engineering, and learn about their impacts on society. By engaging with engineers and scientists, you’ll discover materials and technologies that are changing the world.

Examples of activities

  • Experiment with and manipulate liquid crystals and thin films
  • Tour the nanotechnology center’s research cleanroom
  • Watch a nano ice cream demonstration before enjoying your own sweet treat

All the Small Things

Can You See It?

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Can You See It?

TAUGHT BY: 

Katherine Dean

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts
It wasn’t long ago that you were in the dark about the results of your photography—literally. Explore the beauty of analog film photography, which includes loading film into a 35 mm camera, printing contact sheets, and developing negatives in a traditional darkroom!

Examples of activities

  • Discover the secrets of good photographic composition
  • Take your new photography skills on a campus walk using 35 mm film in an analog film camera
  • Process black-and-white film

Can You See It?

Capturing Light

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Capturing Light

TAUGHT BY: 

Patricia Swanson

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

With the help of digital cameras and our phones, we can take great photos pretty effortlessly. But do you know how a camera actually works? Discover the history of modern-day photography by making your own pinhole camera. You’ll even learn how to create an image without a camera using only light!

Examples of activities

  • Discover the origins of optics
  • Make a pinhole camera out of cardboard
  • Experience photography through a cyanotype activity as you create blue-and-white images without a camera

Capturing Light

Dig Deep

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Dig Deep

TAUGHT BY: 

Sara Allen, Sherry Fulk-Bringman, and Shams Rahmani

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

There’s just something scrumptious about sweet corn off the cob in the summer. But how does sweet corn become sweet? Get ready to get your hands dirty! Discover how agronomists use genetics and the soil beneath your feet to grow the food and fiber that fuel the world.

Examples of activities

  • Explore how new crop varieties are developed at Purdue
  • Discover the impact of soil on your daily life—from growing food to camping to installing basements
  • Experience traditional and cutting-edge soil technologies

Dig Deep

Dynamics Dance

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Dynamics of Dance

TAUGHT BY: 

Kathleen Hickey

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

What inspires you to break into dance? Have you ever thought about the moves your body makes when you’re dancing? While enjoying fun music, explore the different shapes, motions, and images we can make with our bodies through dance. Then, incorporate everything you’ve learned into an original dance you’ll perform in the dance program studio!

Examples of activities

  • Enjoy learning various modern dance techniques
  • Create an original dance inspired by everyday surroundings
  • Enhance your dance and stage presence by incorporating positive feedback

Dynamics of Dance

Hexagon icon showing for the Engineering in Space major, featuring a rocket ship.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Engineering in Space

TAUGHT BY: 

Katie Smith

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

When you think about going to space, you probably think about astronauts. But what about engineers? Through the design, creation, and operation of aircraft, rockets, and space-based systems, engineers play a big part in space exploration! Discover space from an engineer’s perspective, and learn about their roles in recent missions to space.

Examples of activities

  • Build your very own rocket
  • Explore space engineering through origami

Engineering in Space

Hexagon icon showing for the Insect Expedition major, featuring a beetle.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Insect Expedition

TAUGHT BY: 

Emily Justus

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Explore the awesome world of arthropods—the species that makes up approximately 80% of all living animals on Earth. The numbers are large, but the creatures are not! Insects, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and isopods—discover how all of these bugs interact with each other and the world around them.

Examples of activities

  • Explore the habitats of these crawling creatures
  • Learn about what they need to survive
  • Meet and interact with residents of the Purdue Bug Barn

Insect Expedition

Once Upon a Sound

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Once Upon a Studio

TAUGHT BY: 

Mercer Aplin

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Take a deep breath. Get into character. It’s time to step into the studio! Bring a classic fairy tale to life in the most captivating way as you explore the foundations of theatrical sound design, including music, sound effects, and vocal techniques.

Examples of activities

  • Record dialogue from a well-known fairy tale in Purdue Theatre’s Audio Production Studio
  • Work with faculty members to select music and sounds to enhance the story
  • Experience the magic of the finished product

Once Upon a Studio

Paw-some Partners

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Paw-some Partners

TAUGHT BY: 

Leanne Nieforth

Facilitated BY: 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

If you have a pet, do they stay close to you when you’re feeling sad or sick? Animals have an incredible ability to both understand and help us. Explore the psychology behind the special bond between animals and humans, and discover the many important jobs animals can do!

Examples of activities

  • Meet therapy dogs and learn how they help their humans
  • Enjoy a demonstration with a trained police working dog
  • Complete an art activity that reflects how pets make us feel

Paw-some Partners

Printing Creativi-Tee

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Printing Creativi-Tee

TAUGHT BY: 

Zoe Nielsen

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

The next time someone asks where you got your shirt, you’ll be able to proudly say, “I made it!” Using a design you’ve created, experience the process of screen printing from start to finish. You’ll even get to carve your own stamp design, so get ready to use your creativity!

Examples of activities

  • Use relief printmaking to carve a design
  • Print your design on a T-shirt to take home

Printing Creativi-Tee

Radiation in Action

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Radiation in Action

TAUGHT BY: 

Alison Roth

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

When you hear the word radiation, do you think of being bitten by a radioactive spider or the gamma rays that created the Hulk? As exciting as these stories are, the reality of radiation might be even more fascinating. Discover how to measure radiation, how it benefits our health, and how it’s used to treat cancer.

Examples of activities

  • Discover the process of radioactive decay using candy
  • Build your own radiation detector with a balloon
  • Clean up a radioactive spill

Radiation in Action

Hexagon icon showing for the Running a Restaurant major, featuring a hand holding a serving platter with steam.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Running a Restaurant

TAUGHT BY: 

Bruce Goad

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Opening a dream restaurant is only the beginning. Many times, the secret to a restaurant’s success is in the details. Explore the essentials of great hospitality and the factors that make a food-service operation successful, including flexibility, professionalism, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and—of course—delicious menus!

Examples of activities

  • Design your dream restaurant—choose a theme, location, name, and must-have menu items
  • Prepare a dish in a commercial kitchen with assistance from a Purdue chef
  • Master your front-of-house skills—setting a fancy table, hiring employees, and providing the best customer service

Running a Restaurant

Sew Many Memories

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Sew Many Memories

TAUGHT BY: 

Ashley Bellet

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Do you have a blanket from when you were little that still brings you a sense of comfort? Or lucky socks you can’t get rid of—no matter how dirty they are? Get ready to dive into the history of fabrics and clothing, uncovering the special memories they hold and the stories they tell about the past.

Examples of activities

  • Discover how clothing and fabric shape our lives as individuals and as a society
  • Learn the basics of sewing using hand stitches and sewing machines
  • Sew your very own pillow to take home

Sew Many Memories

Shaping Spaces

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Shaping Spaces

TAUGHT BY: 

Yong In

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Unleash your imagination in the exciting world of interior design. Discover how a dream becomes a design that transforms into a beautifully crafted room. By exploring different colors, textures, and layouts, you’ll begin to see the spaces around you like never before!

Examples of activities

  • Learn how color, texture, layout, and furniture affect the interior spaces around us
  • Work together to create a colorful mood board for a dream room
  • Build a creative world through fun hands-on model making

Shaping Spaces

Hexagon icon showing for the Shark Tank Jr. major, featuring a hand holding a bag with the money symbol on it.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Shark Tank Jr.

TAUGHT BY: 

Wan-Ting Chiu

Facilitated BY: 

Mitch Daniels School of Business

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Messy rooms. Confusing homework problems. Chores you wish would do themselves. You encounter problems every day! If you have ever come up with a solution, then it’s time to enter the shark tank. Discover your inner entrepreneur before getting the chance to pitch your very own ideas!

Examples of activities

  • Create possible solutions to real-world problems
  • Learn about product development and how to conduct market research
  • Discover how to find solutions to problems through reverse brainstorming

Shark Tank Jr.

Sketches & Sculptures

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Sketches & Sculptures

TAUGHT BY: 

Robert Sabol

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Ready to create a masterpiece? Get inspired by Edgar Degas, one of the world’s most famous artists. After exploring his work and techniques, you’ll sketch and sculpt your own creations. Your finished pieces will go on display next to the Degas Collection at the Purdue Memorial Union!

Examples of activities

  • Draw sketches on an iPad
  • Create figurative clay sculptures
  • Complete a grid enlargement of one of Degas’s paintings

Sketches & Sculptures

Hexagon icon showing for the STEM-IT! major, featuring a robot with a lightning bolt on its chest.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

STEM-IT!

TAUGHT BY: 

Sascha Harrell

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Polytechnic Institute

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Discover innovative ways to design, solve problems, and create in the exciting world of STEM! From building with Legos to working with robots, get ready to explore just how engaging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can be—and why STEM is important.

Examples of activities

  • Experience 3D printing
  • Explore STEM through robotics, including Dobot, Dash and Dot, and Sphero
  • Tour a micromanufacturing testbed in action

STEM-IT!

Hexagon icon showing for the The Art of Nature major, featuring a squirrel holding a plant.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

The Art of Nature

TAUGHT BY: 

Effie Campbell

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Experience nature in a brand-new way by combining art with science! Get ready to sketch scientific observations using various creative techniques and create your own maps. You’ll even discover how trees can talk to us! You will be amazed by what you can create while exploring the world around you.

Examples of activities

  • Become a cartographer by creating a watercolor fantasy map
  • Learn how to observe and describe nature through scientific sketching
  • Uncover the communication methods of trees

The Art of Nature

The Music Airplanes

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

The Music of Airplanes

TAUGHT BY: 

Tae Hong Park

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

If you close your eyes on Purdue’s campus, you’ll hear all kinds of sounds—students talking, cars honking, the whirr of bikes and scooters, and even plane engines overhead! Get ready to transform the sounds at Purdue University Airport into a piece of music using your phone and computer software.

Examples of activities

  • Record audio at the Purdue Airport on a “soundwalk”
  • Organize the sounds using custom software
  • Create a “soundscape” musical piece with the recorded audio using GarageBand

The Music of Airplanes

Understanding Nature

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Understanding Nature

TAUGHT BY: 

Megan Gunn and Ben McCallister

Facilitated BY: 

Forestry and Natural Resources

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Have you ever looked at a tree or a stream and wondered if it’s healthy? Did you know that we can use the environment around us to make decisions for the future? Discover the various techniques aquatic science, forestry, and wildlife specialists use to gather information from nature.

Examples of activities

  • Practice aquatic sampling techniques
  • Learn how to identify different types of wildlife
  • Explore a forest by measuring its trees and plants

Understanding Nature

Wellness Warriors

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Wellness Warriors

TAUGHT BY: 

Lauren Link

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

At the heart of every Boilermaker champion is a commitment to health. Go behind the scenes of Purdue Athletics to discover the multidisciplinary approach that supports the health and performance of athletes, including nutrition, wellness, and strength training.

Examples of activities

  • Tour the facilities that Boilermaker athletes call home
  • Create your own performance snack
  • Practice sports medicine by learning basic stretches and athletic taping

Wellness Warriors

Hexagon icon showing for the ABCs of ABE major, featuring a leaf within a beaker.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

ABCs of ABE

TAUGHT BY: 

Mandy Limiac

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Experience the world of agricultural and biological engineering—from farm and forest to food and pharmaceuticals! Learn about the kinds of technologies that help crop production around the globe, discover how ecological engineers create designs and restore natural ecosystems, and hear how bioprocess engineers solve problems related to health, food, and the environment.

Examples of activities

  • Discover how drones and robots are pushing agriculture into the digital age—and then fly/drive them
  • Explore a stream redesign site
  • Get a taste for bioprocess engineering by making popping boba

ABCs of ABE

Hexagon icon showing for the Advancing Animal Health major, featuring an outline of a dog and a cat with the medical plus sign.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Advancing Animal Health

TAUGHT BY: 

Bethany Laffoon and Holly McCalip

Facilitated BY: 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Discover some of the day-to-day activities of a veterinarian and veterinary nurse. You’ll get to see what they see by working directly with live animals, studying X-rays, and even examining the microorganisms that live inside a cow’s stomach!

Examples of activities

  • Practice physical exam techniques on a dog
  • Reach inside a real cow’s stomach
  • Look at blood cells under a microscope

Advancing Animal Health

Can You See It?

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Can You See It?

TAUGHT BY: 

Katherine Dean

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts
It wasn’t long ago that you were in the dark about the results of your photography—literally. Explore the beauty of analog film photography, which includes loading film into a 35 mm camera, printing contact sheets, and developing negatives in a traditional darkroom!

Examples of activities

  • Discover the secrets of good photographic composition
  • Take your new photography skills on a campus walk using 35 mm film in an analog film camera
  • Process black-and-white film

Can You See It?

Dynamics Dance

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Dynamics of Dance

TAUGHT BY: 

Renee Murray

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts
What inspires you to break into dance? Have you ever thought about the moves your body makes when you’re dancing? While enjoying fun music, explore the different shapes, motions, and images we can make with our bodies through dance. Then, incorporate everything you’ve learned into an original dance you’ll perform in the dance program studio!

Examples of activities

  • Enjoy learning various modern dance techniques
  • Create an original dance inspired by everyday surroundings
  • Enhance your dance and stage presence by incorporating positive feedback

Dynamics of Dance

Hexagon icon showing for the Engineering in Space major, featuring a rocket ship.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Engineering in Space

TAUGHT BY: 

Katie Smith

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Thomas S. and Harvey D. Wilmeth Active Learning Center
When you think about going to space, you probably think about astronauts. But what about engineers? Through the design, creation, and operation of aircraft, rockets, and space-based systems, engineers play a big part in space exploration! Discover space from an engineer’s perspective, and learn about their roles in recent missions to space.

Examples of activities

  • Build your very own rocket
  • Explore space engineering through origami

Engineering in Space

Hexagon icon showing for the Health Explorers major, featuring EKG lines within a heart graphic.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Health Explorers

TAUGHT BY: 

Elizabeth Wertz

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–10

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

You’re being paged—get ready to unravel some of the mysteries of the human body! Discover what a career in health care would be like by working with and learning from Boilermakers in Purdue’s School of Nursing.

Examples of activities

  • Learn about vital signs and practice taking them
  • Discover the world of germs—how they spread and how to keep yourself healthy
  • Explore various systems of the body and how they work together

Health Explorers

Hexagon icon showing for the Hot Science major, featuring a chili pepper within a flame.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Hot Science

TAUGHT BY: 

Amanda Deering and Tari Gary

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

What do peppers, bacteria, and hot sauce all have in common? You! Before you create your own hot sauce to take home, you’ll learn more about its basic ingredient—bacteria. Study the natural bacteria present on different varieties of peppers, and discover how that bacteria can be put to work to make hot sauce!

Examples of activities

  • Use Petri dishes to explore the natural bacteria on different peppers
  • Prepare hot sauces from the peppers—making sure to measure the pH and allowing it to ferment overnight
  • Test the pH the next day, evaluate the different results, and take your hot sauce home to enjoy

Hot Science

Hexagon icon showing for the Insect Expedition major, featuring a beetle.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Insect Expedition

TAUGHT BY: 

Emily Justus

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Explore the awesome world of arthropods—the species that makes up approximately 80% of all living animals on Earth. The numbers are large, but the creatures are not! Insects, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and isopods—discover how all of these bugs interact with each other and the world around them.

Examples of activities

  • Explore the habitats of these crawling creatures
  • Learn about what they need to survive
  • Meet and interact with residents of the Purdue Bug Barn

Insect Expedition

Hexagon icon showing for the Microbes to Medicines major, featuring bacteria.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Microbes to Medicines

TAUGHT BY: 

Elizabeth Parkinson

Facilitated BY: 

College of Science

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Get ready to look at dirt like a scientist, and explore the bacteria that live in your own backyard! Discover how the bacteria found in soil can be used to make antibiotics—maybe even ones you’ve taken!

Examples of activities

  • Isolate bacteria from soil
  • Learn how microorganisms make molecules that we use as medicines
  • Observe Streptomyces bacteria and the colored compounds they produce

Microbes to Medicines

Hexagon icon showing for the Monster Innovation major, featuring a robot with antenna and six arms.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Monster Innovation

TAUGHT BY: 

Victoria Thomas

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Monsters are on the loose in Purdue Libraries! Well, not yet, but they will be once you create them! After making sure your design complies with American Society of Monster Engineering standards and that it doesn’t infringe on other monster patents, you’ll be able to transform your design into a constructed creation.

Examples of activities

  • Design a cardboard monster prototype
  • Study standards and patents for prototypes
  • Add excitement to the creation with circuitry

Monster Innovation

Printing Creativi-Tee

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Printing Creativi-Tee

TAUGHT BY: 

Zoe Nielsen

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

The next time someone asks where you got your shirt, you’ll be able to proudly say, “I made it!” Using a design you’ve created, experience the process of screen printing from start to finish. You’ll even get to carve your own stamp design, so get ready to use your creativity!

Examples of activities

  • Use relief printmaking to carve a design
  • Print your design on a T-shirt to take home

Printing Creativi-Tee

Ready, Set, Code

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Ready, Set, Code!

TAUGHT BY: 

Nielsen Pereira

Facilitated BY: 

College of Education

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Get ready to create something so ridiculous that it just might work! Discover how to creatively solve real-world problems as you program your own car and build a Rube Goldberg machine—a chain-reaction device that uses everyday materials to complete a simple task in a complicated and entertaining way.

Examples of activities

  • Explore the concepts of coding, robotics, and creative engineering
  • Learn about autonomous vehicles before programming a robotic car
  • Figure out the basics of programming using Scratch, a website that helps children create digital stories, games, and animations through coding

Ready, Set, Code!

Hexagon icon showing for the Running a Restaurant major, featuring a hand holding a serving platter with steam.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Running a Restaurant

TAUGHT BY: 

Bruce Goad

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Opening a dream restaurant is only the beginning. Many times, the secret to a restaurant’s success is in the details. Explore the essentials of great hospitality and the factors that make a food-service operation successful, including flexibility, professionalism, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and—of course—delicious menus!

Examples of activities

  • Design your dream restaurant—choose a theme, location, name, and must-have menu items
  • Prepare a dish in a commercial kitchen with assistance from a Purdue chef
  • Master your front-of-house skills—setting a fancy table, hiring employees, and providing the best customer service

Running a Restaurant

Sew Many Memories

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Sew Many Memories

TAUGHT BY: 

Ashley Bellet

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Do you have a blanket from when you were little that still brings you a sense of comfort? Or lucky socks you can’t get rid of—no matter how dirty they are? Get ready to dive into the history of fabrics and clothing, uncovering the special memories they hold and the stories they tell about the past.

Examples of activities

  • Discover how clothing and fabric shape our lives as individuals and as a society
  • Learn the basics of sewing using hand stitches and sewing machines
  • Sew your very own pillow to take home

Sew Many Memories

Shaping Spaces

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Shaping Spaces

TAUGHT BY: 

Yong In

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Unleash your imagination in the exciting world of interior design. Discover how a dream becomes a design that transforms into a beautifully crafted room. By exploring different colors, textures, and layouts, you’ll begin to see the spaces around you like never before!

Examples of activities

  • Learn how color, texture, layout, and furniture affect the interior spaces around us
  • Work together to create a colorful mood board for a dream room
  • Build a creative world through fun hands-on model making

Shaping Spaces

Hexagon icon showing for the Shark Tank Jr. major, featuring a hand holding a bag with the money symbol on it.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Shark Tank Jr.

TAUGHT BY: 

Wan-Ting Chiu

Facilitated BY: 

Mitch Daniels School of Business

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Messy rooms. Confusing homework problems. Chores you wish would do themselves. You encounter problems every day! If you have ever come up with a solution, then it’s time to enter the shark tank. Discover your inner entrepreneur before getting the chance to pitch your very own ideas!

Examples of activities

  • Create possible solutions to real-world problems
  • Learn about product development and how to conduct market research
  • Discover how to find solutions to problems through reverse brainstorming

Shark Tank Jr.

Sketches & Sculptures

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Sketches & Sculptures

TAUGHT BY: 

Robert Sabol

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Ready to create a masterpiece? Get inspired by Edgar Degas, one of the world’s most famous artists. After exploring his work and techniques, you’ll sketch and sculpt your own creations. Your finished pieces will go on display next to the Degas Collection at the Purdue Memorial Union!

Examples of activities

  • Draw sketches on an iPad
  • Create figurative clay sculptures
  • Complete a grid enlargement of one of Degas’s paintings

Sketches & Sculptures

Hexagon icon showing for the STEM-IT! major, featuring a robot with a lightning bolt on its chest.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

STEM-IT!

TAUGHT BY: 

Sascha Harrell

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Polytechnic Institute

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Discover innovative ways to design, solve problems, and create in the exciting world of STEM! From building with Legos to working with robots, get ready to explore just how engaging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can be—and why STEM is important.

Examples of activities

  • Experience 3D printing
  • Explore STEM through robotics, including Dobot, Dash and Dot, and Sphero
  • Tour a micromanufacturing testbed in action

STEM-IT!

The Music Airplanes

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

The Music of Airplanes

TAUGHT BY: 

Tae Hong Park

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

If you close your eyes on Purdue’s campus, you’ll hear all kinds of sounds—students talking, cars honking, the whirr of bikes and scooters, and even plane engines overhead! Get ready to transform the sounds at Purdue University Airport into a piece of music using your phone and computer software.

Examples of activities

  • Record audio at the Purdue Airport on a “soundwalk”
  • Organize the sounds using custom software
  • Create a “soundscape” musical piece with the recorded audio using GarageBand

The Music of Airplanes

Understanding Nature

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Understanding Nature

TAUGHT BY: 

Megan Gunn

Facilitated BY: 

Forestry and Natural Resources

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Have you ever looked at a tree or a stream and wondered if it’s healthy? Did you know that we can use the environment around us to make decisions for the future? Discover the various techniques aquatic science, forestry, and wildlife specialists use to gather information from nature.

Examples of activities

  • Practice aquatic sampling techniques
  • Learn how to identify different types of wildlife
  • Explore a forest by measuring its trees and plants

Understanding Nature

Wellness Warriors

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Wellness Warriors

TAUGHT BY: 

Lauren Link

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

At the heart of every Boilermaker champion is a commitment to health. Go behind the scenes of Purdue Athletics to discover the multidisciplinary approach that supports the health and performance of athletes, including nutrition, wellness, and strength training.

Examples of activities

  • Tour the facilities that Boilermaker athletes call home
  • Create your own performance snack
  • Practice sports medicine by learning basic stretches and athletic taping

Wellness Warriors

Whodunit

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Whodunit?

TAUGHT BY: 

Amanda Zelechoski

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

A crime has taken place, and we need “brain detectives!” Dive into the world of forensic psychology, where experts use their knowledge about how people think and behave to help the legal system answer questions. Explore the roles of a forensic psychologist—including analyzing behavior—by participating in mock trials.

Examples of activities

  • Create a criminal profile
  • Build the perfect jury
  • Testify in a mock trial as an expert witness

Whodunit?

Hexagon icon showing for the Writing With an Author major, featuring a hand holding a pencil.

SESSION 1, JULY 17—18

Writing with an Author

TAUGHT BY: 

Angie Klink (LA’81)

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–10

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

This is your chance to learn from and write with a beloved Boilermaker author! Every book starts with just an idea, but then it goes through quite the journey—research, interviews, putting words to ideas, and illustrations. Get ready to go on your own journey as you create a book filled with memories!

Examples of activities

  • Interview grandparents to create a lap-book biography
  • Celebrate your achievements as an author with a book launch
  • Spend time with a surprise visitor

Writing with an Author

Hexagon icon showing for the ABCs of ABE major, featuring a leaf within a beaker.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

ABCs of ABE

TAUGHT BY: 

Mandy Limiac

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Experience the world of agricultural and biological engineering—from farm and forest to food and pharmaceuticals! Learn about the kinds of technologies that help crop production around the globe, discover how ecological engineers create designs and restore natural ecosystems, and hear how bioprocess engineers solve problems related to health, food, and the environment.

Examples of activities

        • Discover how drones and robots are pushing agriculture into the digital age—and then fly/drive them
        • Explore a stream redesign site
        • Get a taste for bioprocess engineering by making popping boba

ABCs of ABE

Adventure Awaits

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Adventure Awaits

TAUGHT BY: 

Innocensia Owuor

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Get ready for a journey filled with maps, games, and puzzles! Unleash your creativity as you explore the world using simple mapping tools. Along the way, you’ll discover how maps connect the past to the present and learn to read symbols, directions, and coordinates through scavenger hunts and nature walks.

Examples of activities

  • Create a family history book by marking places where family members have lived, studied, traveled, or celebrated special moments
  • Discover how to identify natural features and man-made structures from above using satellite images
  • Design and map a fictional island—complete with mountains, rivers, and cities

Adventure Awaits

AI&U

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

AI & U

TAUGHT BY: 

Rachel Haselby

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

TBD
Alexa. Siri. ChatGPT. Gemini. Artificial intelligence is all around you—and you may not even realize it. As you explore innovative ways to plan a dream vacation and embark on an unforgettable virtual experience, you’ll discover how AI works, how to use it responsibly, and what its future might hold.

Examples of activities

  • Use an AI chatbot to create an itinerary for a dream destination
  • Navigate Google Maps to view potential locations you’d like to visit
  • Discover how technology can become your magic carpet to explore new worlds

AI & U

Hexagon icon showing for the All the Small Things major, featuring a DNA model.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

All the Small Things

TAUGHT BY: 

Ron Reger and Neil Dilley

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Can you imagine a world that’s too small to see? Introducing nanotechnology! Explore nanoscale science and engineering, and learn about their impacts on society. By engaging with engineers and scientists, you’ll discover materials and technologies that are changing the world.

Examples of activities

  • Experiment with and manipulate liquid crystals and thin films
  • Tour the nanotechnology center’s research cleanroom
  • Watch a nano ice cream demonstration before enjoying your own sweet treat

All the Small Things

Can You See It?

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Can You See It?

TAUGHT BY: 

Katherine Dean

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Yue-Kong Pao Hall of Visual and Performing Arts
It wasn’t long ago that you were in the dark about the results of your photography—literally. Explore the beauty of analog film photography, which includes loading film into a 35 mm camera, printing contact sheets, and developing negatives in a traditional darkroom!

Examples of activities

  • Discover the secrets of good photographic composition
  • Take your new photography skills on a campus walk using 35 mm film in an analog film camera
  • Process black-and-white film

Can You See It?

Capturing Light

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Capturing Light

TAUGHT BY: 

Patricia Swanson

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Libraries and School of Information Studies

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

With the help of digital cameras and our phones, we can take great photos pretty effortlessly. But do you know how a camera actually works? Discover the history of modern-day photography by making your own pinhole camera. You’ll even learn how to create an image without a camera using only light!

Examples of activities

  • Discover the origins of optics
  • Make a pinhole camera out of cardboard
  • Experience photography through a cyanotype activity as you create blue-and-white images without a camera

Capturing Light

Dig Deep

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Dig Deep

TAUGHT BY: 

Sara Allen, Sherry Fulk-Bringman, and Shams Rahmani

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

There’s just something scrumptious about sweet corn off the cob in the summer. But how does sweet corn become sweet? Get ready to get your hands dirty! Discover how agronomists use genetics and the soil beneath your feet to grow the food and fiber that fuel the world.

Examples of activities

  • Explore how new crop varieties are developed at Purdue
  • Discover the impact of soil on your daily life—from growing food to camping to installing basements
  • Experience traditional and cutting-edge soil technologies

Dig Deep

Dynamics Dance

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Dynamics of Dance

TAUGHT BY: 

Kathleen Hickey

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

What inspires you to break into dance? Have you ever thought about the moves your body makes when you’re dancing? While enjoying fun music, explore the different shapes, motions, and images we can make with our bodies through dance. Then, incorporate everything you’ve learned into an original dance you’ll perform in the dance program studio!

Examples of activities

  • Enjoy learning various modern dance techniques
  • Create an original dance inspired by everyday surroundings
  • Enhance your dance and stage presence by incorporating positive feedback

Dynamics of Dance

Hexagon icon showing for the Engineering in Space major, featuring a rocket ship.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Engineering in Space

TAUGHT BY: 

Katie Smith

Facilitated BY: 

College of Engineering

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

When you think about going to space, you probably think about astronauts. But what about engineers? Through the design, creation, and operation of aircraft, rockets, and space-based systems, engineers play a big part in space exploration! Discover space from an engineer’s perspective, and learn about their roles in recent missions to space.

Examples of activities

  • Build your very own rocket
  • Explore space engineering through origami

Engineering in Space

Hexagon icon showing for the Insect Expedition major, featuring a beetle.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Insect Expedition

TAUGHT BY: 

Emily Justus

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Explore the awesome world of arthropods—the species that makes up approximately 80% of all living animals on Earth. The numbers are large, but the creatures are not! Insects, spiders, scorpions, millipedes, and isopods—discover how all of these bugs interact with each other and the world around them.

Examples of activities

  • Explore the habitats of these crawling creatures
  • Learn about what they need to survive
  • Meet and interact with residents of the Purdue Bug Barn

Insect Expedition

Once Upon a Sound

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Once Upon a Studio

TAUGHT BY: 

Mercer Aplin

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Take a deep breath. Get into character. It’s time to step into the studio! Bring a classic fairy tale to life in the most captivating way as you explore the foundations of theatrical sound design, including music, sound effects, and vocal techniques.

Examples of activities

  • Record dialogue from a well-known fairy tale in Purdue Theatre’s Audio Production Studio
  • Work with faculty members to select music and sounds to enhance the story
  • Experience the magic of the finished product

Once Upon a Studio

Paw-some Partners

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Paw-some Partners

TAUGHT BY: 

Leanne Nieforth

Facilitated BY: 

College of Veterinary Medicine

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

If you have a pet, do they stay close to you when you’re feeling sad or sick? Animals have an incredible ability to both understand and help us. Explore the psychology behind the special bond between animals and humans, and discover the many important jobs animals can do!

Examples of activities

  • Meet therapy dogs and learn how they help their humans
  • Enjoy a demonstration with a trained police working dog
  • Complete an art activity that reflects how pets make us feel

Paw-some Partners

Printing Creativi-Tee

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Printing Creativi-Tee

TAUGHT BY: 

Zoe Nielsen

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

The next time someone asks where you got your shirt, you’ll be able to proudly say, “I made it!” Using a design you’ve created, experience the process of screen printing from start to finish. You’ll even get to carve your own stamp design, so get ready to use your creativity!

Examples of activities

  • Use relief printmaking to carve a design
  • Print your design on a T-shirt to take home

Printing Creativi-Tee

Radiation in Action

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Radiation in Action

TAUGHT BY: 

Alison Roth

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

When you hear the word radiation, do you think of being bitten by a radioactive spider or the gamma rays that created the Hulk? As exciting as these stories are, the reality of radiation might be even more fascinating. Discover how to measure radiation, how it benefits our health, and how it’s used to treat cancer.

Examples of activities

  • Discover the process of radioactive decay using candy
  • Build your own radiation detector with a balloon
  • Clean up a radioactive spill

Radiation in Action

Hexagon icon showing for the Running a Restaurant major, featuring a hand holding a serving platter with steam.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Running a Restaurant

TAUGHT BY: 

Bruce Goad

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Opening a dream restaurant is only the beginning. Many times, the secret to a restaurant’s success is in the details. Explore the essentials of great hospitality and the factors that make a food-service operation successful, including flexibility, professionalism, creating a welcoming atmosphere, and—of course—delicious menus!

Examples of activities

  • Design your dream restaurant—choose a theme, location, name, and must-have menu items
  • Prepare a dish in a commercial kitchen with assistance from a Purdue chef
  • Master your front-of-house skills—setting a fancy table, hiring employees, and providing the best customer service

Running a Restaurant

Sew Many Memories

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Sew Many Memories

TAUGHT BY: 

Ashley Bellet

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Do you have a blanket from when you were little that still brings you a sense of comfort? Or lucky socks you can’t get rid of—no matter how dirty they are? Get ready to dive into the history of fabrics and clothing, uncovering the special memories they hold and the stories they tell about the past.

Examples of activities

  • Discover how clothing and fabric shape our lives as individuals and as a society
  • Learn the basics of sewing using hand stitches and sewing machines
  • Sew your very own pillow to take home

Sew Many Memories

Shaping Spaces

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Shaping Spaces

TAUGHT BY: 

Yong In

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Unleash your imagination in the exciting world of interior design. Discover how a dream becomes a design that transforms into a beautifully crafted room. By exploring different colors, textures, and layouts, you’ll begin to see the spaces around you like never before!

Examples of activities

  • Learn how color, texture, layout, and furniture affect the interior spaces around us
  • Work together to create a colorful mood board for a dream room
  • Build a creative world through fun hands-on model making

Shaping Spaces

Hexagon icon showing for the Shark Tank Jr. major, featuring a hand holding a bag with the money symbol on it.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Shark Tank Jr.

TAUGHT BY: 

Wan-Ting Chiu

Facilitated BY: 

Mitch Daniels School of Business

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Messy rooms. Confusing homework problems. Chores you wish would do themselves. You encounter problems every day! If you have ever come up with a solution, then it’s time to enter the shark tank. Discover your inner entrepreneur before getting the chance to pitch your very own ideas!

Examples of activities

  • Create possible solutions to real-world problems
  • Learn about product development and how to conduct market research
  • Discover how to find solutions to problems through reverse brainstorming

Shark Tank Jr.

Sketches & Sculptures

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Sketches & Sculptures

TAUGHT BY: 

Robert Sabol

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Ready to create a masterpiece? Get inspired by Edgar Degas, one of the world’s most famous artists. After exploring his work and techniques, you’ll sketch and sculpt your own creations. Your finished pieces will go on display next to the Degas Collection at the Purdue Memorial Union!

Examples of activities

  • Draw sketches on an iPad
  • Create figurative clay sculptures
  • Complete a grid enlargement of one of Degas’s paintings

Sketches & Sculptures

Hexagon icon showing for the STEM-IT! major, featuring a robot with a lightning bolt on its chest.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

STEM-IT!

TAUGHT BY: 

Sascha Harrell

Facilitated BY: 

Purdue Polytechnic Institute

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Medium

Location:

Discover innovative ways to design, solve problems, and create in the exciting world of STEM! From building with Legos to working with robots, get ready to explore just how engaging science, technology, engineering, and mathematics can be—and why STEM is important.

Examples of activities

  • Experience 3D printing
  • Explore STEM through robotics, including Dobot, Dash and Dot, and Sphero
  • Tour a micromanufacturing testbed in action

STEM-IT!

Hexagon icon showing for the The Art of Nature major, featuring a squirrel holding a plant.

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

The Art of Nature

TAUGHT BY: 

Effie Campbell

Facilitated BY: 

College of Agriculture

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

Low

Location:

Experience nature in a brand-new way by combining art with science! Get ready to sketch scientific observations using various creative techniques and create your own maps. You’ll even discover how trees can talk to us! You will be amazed by what you can create while exploring the world around you.

Examples of activities

  • Become a cartographer by creating a watercolor fantasy map
  • Learn how to observe and describe nature through scientific sketching
  • Uncover the communication methods of trees

The Art of Nature

The Music Airplanes

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

The Music of Airplanes

TAUGHT BY: 

Tae Hong Park

Facilitated BY: 

College of Liberal Arts

Age Group:

11–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

If you close your eyes on Purdue’s campus, you’ll hear all kinds of sounds—students talking, cars honking, the whirr of bikes and scooters, and even plane engines overhead! Get ready to transform the sounds at Purdue University Airport into a piece of music using your phone and computer software.

Examples of activities

  • Record audio at the Purdue Airport on a “soundwalk”
  • Organize the sounds using custom software
  • Create a “soundscape” musical piece with the recorded audio using GarageBand

The Music of Airplanes

Understanding Nature

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Understanding Nature

TAUGHT BY: 

Megan Gunn and Ben McCallister

Facilitated BY: 

Forestry and Natural Resources

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

Have you ever looked at a tree or a stream and wondered if it’s healthy? Did you know that we can use the environment around us to make decisions for the future? Discover the various techniques aquatic science, forestry, and wildlife specialists use to gather information from nature.

Examples of activities

  • Practice aquatic sampling techniques
  • Learn how to identify different types of wildlife
  • Explore a forest by measuring its trees and plants

Understanding Nature

Wellness Warriors

SESSION 2, JULY 24–25

Wellness Warriors

TAUGHT BY: 

Lauren Link

Facilitated BY: 

College of Health and Human Sciences

Age Group:

7–14

Activity Level:

High

Location:

At the heart of every Boilermaker champion is a commitment to health. Go behind the scenes of Purdue Athletics to discover the multidisciplinary approach that supports the health and performance of athletes, including nutrition, wellness, and strength training.

Examples of activities

  • Tour the facilities that Boilermaker athletes call home
  • Create your own performance snack
  • Practice sports medicine by learning basic stretches and athletic taping

Wellness Warriors

Questions? Contact Us!

Office of Special Events
765-494-0900‍
specialevents@purdueforlife.org