Pre-Law

Explore the exciting world of law and justice! In this hands-on program, you’ll discover how laws are made and what really happens in a courtroom. Visit the State Capitol to see how new laws are created, then step inside the courtroom to learn how they are challenged and defended.

Take on different courtroom roles and learn the steps of a trial while developing key legal and communication skills—interviewing clients, organizing facts, creating case timelines, and mastering the art of advocacy.

Through engaging lessons and real-world examples, you’ll think like a lawyer, solve problems, and collaborate as part of a team. By the end, you’ll have built confidence as a leader, critical thinker, and communicator—all while gaining a deeper understanding of how our legal system works.

Monday - Government in Action
Focus: Legislative, Executive and Judicial Branches of Government

Tuesday - Foundations of Government & Courts
Focus: Constitution, branches of government, and courtroom basics

Wednesday - Building a Case
Focus: Legal reasoning, strategy, and evidence

Thursday - Trial Skills & Advocacy
Focus: Persuasion, questioning, and courtroom performance

Friday - Mock Trial
Focus: Application & performance

Patterns in Nature: Exploring the Fibonacci Sequence Through Math and Design

In this class, students will explore how mathematics appears naturally in the world around us through patterns, shapes, and design. From the spirals of shells and pinecones to the symmetry of flowers and leaves, students will discover how nature uses mathematical structure to create beauty.

A central focus of the course is the Fibonacci sequence and its connection to patterns found in nature and art. Students will learn how the sequence is built, explore the idea of the golden ratio, and investigate how these ideas appear in geometry, coordinate graphing, and visual design. Through problem solving, hands-on exploration, and creative projects, students will see how math is not just a set of rules; it is a powerful tool for understanding and creating the world around us.

Monday - Patterns in Nature - Observing and recognizing mathematical patterns
Tuesday - The Fibonacci Sequence
Wednesday - Connecting numbers to shapes: Geometry, Spirals, and the Golden Ratio
Thursday - Applying Fibonacci: Graphs, Networks, and Problem Solving
Friday - Math Meets Art (Design Challenge)

Soles & Styles: Visual Design Through Wearable Art

This immersive studio course invites students to explore sneaker culture, visual storytelling, and wearable design through hands-on creation. Students will learn how artists and designers transform everyday footwear and apparel into expressive works of art by combining illustration, color theory, pattern design, and personal narrative. Over the course of the week, students will conceptualize, design, and paint a pair of custom sneakers while also creating a coordinated, original apparel piece that reflects their artistic identity. Emphasis is placed on creative process, craftsmanship, iteration, and presenting design choices with intention.

Day 1: Sneaker Culture & Design Foundations

  • Introduction to sneaker art, streetwear culture, and artist-designed footwear
  • Examination of professional sneaker designers and custom artists

Mini-lessons on:

  • Color theory and contrast
  • Line, pattern, and texture
  • Visual storytelling through design
  • Brainstorming and sketching sneaker concepts
  • Development of a personal theme or narrative for the sneaker design

Day 2: Planning & Base Design Execution

  • Finalizing sneaker sketches and color palettes
  • Transferring designs from sketch to sneaker surface
  • Instruction on materials, paint techniques, layering, and precision
  • Begin painting base layers and primary design elements
  • Studio work with individual feedback and peer critique

Day 3: Detail, Depth & Refinement

  • Adding advanced details such as shading, highlights, textures, and symbolic elements
  • Techniques for clean edges, blending, and durability
  • Continued studio time focused on completing sneaker artwork
  • Reflection on design choices and revisions based on critique

Day 4: Sneaker Touch-Ups & Apparel Design Concepts

  • Final touch-ups and refinements on sneakers
  • Introduction to custom apparel design (t-shirts, hoodies, tote bags, or similar items)
  • Apparel design principles:
  • Placement and scale
  • Typography and imagery
  • Cohesion between sneakers and apparel
  • Sketching and planning an original apparel design that complements the sneakers

Day 5: Apparel Creation & Design Showcase

  • Creating the custom apparel piece using paint, fabric markers, or transfer techniques
  • Final detailing and finishing work
  • Preparation for presentation:
  • Naming the collection
  • Explaining inspiration and artistic choices
  • Informal design showcase and critique session
  • Reflection on creative process, challenges, and growth

***Students will be required to bring one pair of shoes from an approved list.***

Minecraft

The most popular video game of all time, Minecraft is a sandbox game that drops players into an infinite world of harvestable resources in which they can build to their hearts’ content.

This class will task small teams of students to create an “Adventure Mode Dungeon” game within Minecraft with their own personal flair, learning principles of game design that will serve them in future creations, even outside of Minecraft.
Monday & Tuesday – Students receive instruction to increase building efficiency and learn how to guide a player using commands, Redstone, and level design. Students plan/start build.

Wednesday – Students finish a draft of their build with continued assistance from instructors.

Thursday and Friday – Students test and fix bugs with build.