Events

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> KIDS SUMMER CLAYTIME Six-week class meeting one time per week   Ages -                 7 - 11 years Tuesday -          9:00 - 11:00 AM Dates -                June 16 through July 28, 2009                                          (No class on Tuesday, July 14) Cost -                  $80.00   This class is for children 7 - 11 years old.  The kids will learn the techniques of handbuilding including pinch pots, coil pots, slab projects as well as sculpted pieces.  With their newfound knowledge, the children will be doing many exciting clay projects such as coil pots, flower pots, birdhouses, creature sculptures plus their own artistic creations.  Exploration of various methods of using glaze and colorants as well as the process of glazing and firing the clay will be included in this class. All clay, tools and materials will be provided.  Stoneware clay and glazes used at Mud Slingers is food safe.  Students will also observe a demonstration on the wheel by a studio member. Projects will be glazed on the last day of class.  Pottery will be fired and ready for pick up within two weeks.    Click  Registration Form   Go to Classes and click on Children's Classes Contact:        Rachel Rogers                   704-796-1600            mudslingerspottery@carolina.rr.com           www.mudslingerspotterync.com

The next free Spell to Write and Read Meeting will be: In Cornelius, Thursday July 16th at 7 p.m. at Beth Thetford's home These meetings are for anyone: -interested in seeing SWR and how it works. -who has bought it and wants help getting started. -who wants a refresher course. -using it who would like to share your experiences and ideas with those who are just starting out. This is a free meeting and there is absolutely no obligation to buy anything. I am just a homeschool mom that uses and loves the program. Some friends asked if I could help them get started using the program and after I did, someone else asked and I have since done about 75 presentations. I buy the materials in bulk and so I can sell them at a discount if you decide you want to buy them. I keep all of the books in stock and can mail them to you later if you want to come and see how it works before you buy a curriculum. There is no pressure to buy anything at the meeting!

 For those who registered earlier. Week-Long Girls and Guys A & P Camp - July 19-24, 2009 Camp Fee (Includes everything): $980 For this camp, we can provide free transportation from and to Charlotte, NC airport via a shuttle bus (2 hour trip) A Week-Long Camp for 9th - 12th Grade Girls and Guys Held on the campus of Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. Check-in is Sunday between 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Check-out is Friday at 1:00 pm. Students will room in a dormitory. Males will be supervised at night by Greg Landry and females by an adult female. Meals will be served in the cafeteria.  http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/AnatomyCamps.htm

The National Wildlife Photo Contest is open to ALL photographers worldwide who are at least 13 years of age. The contest ends on July 20, 2009. There are 3 divisions and 7 categories. Up to 20 photos can be entered for a $15 fee. Only digital image files are acceptable and they must be uploaded to our website. Cash prizes totaling $25,000 plus other prizes will be awarded. Entrants retain their ownership and other rights to their photos except that they grant the National Wildlife Federation limited use and contest promotion rights.   http://www.nwf.org/photozone/photocontestrules.cfm  

Andrew Kern & Andrew Pudewa . . . > On Writing! > > When: July 22, 2009 8:30 - 4:00 > (the day before the CiRCE Annual Conference- A Contemplation of Nature, where both Andrews will also be speaking...) > > Where: Piedmont Renaissance Center > 51 South Union St., Concord, NC 28025 > > What will be presented: > > The distinctives of classical rhetoric - Kern > The three canons as solutions to the three problems; the place of rhetoric as the "deep logic" of the entire curriculum and therefore as the natural ordering principle of the student's studies. Indeed, what was classical rhetoric and what happened to it? > > The five methods everybody must practice to become a great writer - Kern > Theoretical: understanding the science of writing; > Literary: studying the great masterpieces of literature as models; > Critical: learning the details of good usage; > Practical: practicing the art of writing; > Linguistic: translating great works of literature into and out of English. > > The importance of imitation and what it means - Pudewa/Kern > The levels of imitation: Content, form, language, processes, and ideas. When, why, and how. > > Assessment - Pudewa/Kern > Marking and grading; objectivity, motivation, and sanity. How to keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and planting seeds of doubt. > > The four language arts: listening, reading, speaking, and writing - Pudewa > Nurture excellent communication skills even more effectively by understanding the relationship between these four critical skills. > > Developing the essayist: a natural approach - Pudewa > How can a student move from simply reporting facts to the more sophisticated skill of using facts to support an opinion? Learn several different essay models and discover a gradual method of building the analytical writer, even at the elementary level! > > Looking ahead: where do you want to go from here? - Pudewa/Kern > How does Structure & Style relate to The Lost Tools of WritingTM, what are the progymnasmata, and what's next for you? > > Panel: Common problems in teaching writing - Pudewa/Kern > > $59 for CiRCE Conference registrants, $89 otherwise. > Registration fee includes all materials, plus a coupon for 20% off on any IEW or CiRCE purchase! > For more information or to register: > Call The CiRCE Institute at 704-786-9684 > www.circeinstitute. org

All shows $1+ tax. These movies show at AMC theatres at 10am on Weds. Just reminding you if there is rain or the weather is too hot for park as an alternative. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Movie Schedule**

June 17: Space Chimps June 24: Kung Fu Panda July 1: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa July 8: Tale of Despereaux July 15: Horton Hears a Who July 22: The Spiderwick Chronicles July 29: Nim's Island August 5: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Particpating area theatres: AMC Concord Mills 24 8421 Concord Mills Blvd. , Concord Mills Mall - Concord Mills Blvd. And I-85 Concord, NC 28027 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-979-0200 *************************** AMC Northlake 14 7325 Northlake Mall Drive Charlotte, NC 28216 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-596-2189 *************************** AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 9541 South Blvd. , On South Blvd. Just North of I-485 (exit 65A) Charlotte, NC 28273 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-643-1507

Student Research Paper Contest - Dell Laptop Prizes Contest is now open - deadline for research paper is July 22 We've got a great summer research paper contest starting today. This contest will only be open to families who are on this newsletter list. If you received this message from us you're already on our list. If you have frinds who would like to participate, they can sign-up for our free newsletter here.. http://www.HomeschoolScienceAcademy.com Please forward this message to friends who may be interested.      The Contest Prizes Are: 1st Place Prize: Dell Vostra 1720 Laptop Computer (17 inch screen) 2nd Place Prize: Dell Inspiron 15 Laptop Computer (15 inch screen) 3rd Place Prize: Dell Mini 9 Laptop Computer (9 inch screen) Contest details are here.. http://www.homeschoolscienceacademy.com/contest.htm

4-H Summer Fling is a special program sponsored by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Cabarrus County Center‟s 4-H Program. Most activities will be held at the Cabarrus County Center, 715 Cabarrus Avenue West, Concord. TO REGISTER *You may register for a 4-H Summer Fling session ONLINE at www.cabarruscounty4H.com under the link “4-H Summer Fling Registration” or go to http://www.cabarruscounty.us/ReservePartner Payment will be accepted online with a credit or debit card. This is the preferred method of registration. *You may also register IN PERSON at the Cooperative Extension Office, 715 Cabarrus Avenue West, Concord. *Registration will continue throughout the summer, although sessions do have registration deadlines of seven days prior to the session. *Please register each child individually. *Each participant will need a completed 4-H Enrollment Form and Medical Release Form in order to participate. These forms can be found at www.cabarruscounty4h.com. *Classes will be cancelled if the minimum participant numbers are not met. REFUNDS *Refunds will be made ONLY if your class is cancelled, not if you personally have a conflict after registration. *We greatly appreciate volunteers assisting and leading classes. Therefore, youth who present constant behavior problems will be asked to withdraw from Summer Fling without a refund. For more information, contact the Cooperative Extension Office at (704)920-3310.   Christmas in July Ages 8 – 13 July 28 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Participants in this program will make Christmas crafts, cook a Christmas lunch, decorate cookies and play Christmas games. 1517 $18 Minimum No. – 10   Acres of Adventures Day Camp Ages 5 – 10 August 4 – 6 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. This will be a great camp to introduce young people to agriculture and life science. We will participate in fun-filled activities and experiments using hands-on learning. Activities will include games, play, arts and crafts, food and music. Participants will explore the world of agriculture all around us. Participants will need to bring a drink and lunch each day . 1519 $45 Minimum No. – 10   2009 Cabarrus County 4-H Summer Fling

All shows $1+ tax. These movies show at AMC theatres at 10am on Weds. Just reminding you if there is rain or the weather is too hot for park as an alternative. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Movie Schedule**

June 17: Space Chimps June 24: Kung Fu Panda July 1: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa July 8: Tale of Despereaux July 15: Horton Hears a Who July 22: The Spiderwick Chronicles July 29: Nim's Island August 5: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Particpating area theatres: AMC Concord Mills 24 8421 Concord Mills Blvd. , Concord Mills Mall - Concord Mills Blvd. And I-85 Concord, NC 28027 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-979-0200 *************************** AMC Northlake 14 7325 Northlake Mall Drive Charlotte, NC 28216 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-596-2189 *************************** AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 9541 South Blvd. , On South Blvd. Just North of I-485 (exit 65A) Charlotte, NC 28273 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-643-1507

Put these dates on your calendar.  Reminders will be sent. Homeschool BounceU Bring your socks and come out to join your friends at BounceU for some bouncing fun. Please rsvp to ronda_peerbolte@ yahoo.com so i can let them know how many staff members we will need.  Fridays May 8th 1-3pm June 12th  1-3pm July 31st  1-3pm August 21st  1-3pm Cost: $ 5.95 per bouncer All Homeschoolers / All Ages www.bounceu.com 10624 Metromont Parkway Charlotte, NC 28269 (704) 921-8771 BounceU is located at the corner of Harris Blvd and Hwy 115 on the north edge of Charlotte. This bounce facility is great for all ages.  It is very appropriate for older kids with giant slides, obstacle courses, basketball, dodge ball area, cool boxing ring with over sized gloves, tug a war and climbing areas. You must wear socks: if you forget them you can buys some there.

FREE: DigiGirlz High Tech Camp is designed by Microsoft to give girls a chance to experience what it is like to develop cutting edge technology.  One of these camps will be in Charlotte at their Microsoft headquarters this summer, Aug. 3-6th.  Must be 13 at time of application and in grade 8-11 in the 2008-2009 school year.   For more info, go to: http://www.microsof t.com/about/ diversity/ programs/ digigirlz/ hightechcamp. aspx Link to application:  https://microsoft. crgevents. com/DigiGirlzCam p2009/Content/ Home.aspx   High Tech Camp F.A.Q.   Q. How do I apply to attend a camp? A. We will start accepting on-line applications on February 24, 2009 for the Redmond, WA; Charlotte, NC and Fargo, ND camps. All other camp registrations will open in March. Please continue to check this site for updates and information on the camp you are interested in attending. Q. How much does the camp cost? A. There is no cost associated with the camp. Microsoft provides the camp free of charge for attending girls. Q. Is there a GPA requirement I have to meet to be accepted into the DigiGirlz camp? A. No. There is not a GPA requirement. However, you must meet age and grade requirements to apply to a camp. Q. I have limited technical skills. Do you require a certain level of technical experience to attend a camp? A. No. The camp is open to girls of all skill levels. The camp provides hands-on workshops that are led by supportive instructors who can help you increase your abilities. For girls who may have already taken technology classes in school, the camp workshops will provide you with quick exposure to new technologies but may not go as in-depth as what you experienced in semester long courses. Q. If I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered, may I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Where will the camps be located in 2009? A. 2009 camp locations are still being determined. The total roster of camp locations will be posted by April 2009. Q. I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered. How can I get a camp started in my city? A. The camp locations are determined primarily by the location of Microsoft offices where Microsoft employees can participate in the planning and implementation of the multi-day events. Access to on-line curriculum has been provided on this site to enable individual girls or groups, who are not able to attend a camp, to learn some of the same things being taught in the camps. Q. I don't live in the United States. May I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Is this an overnight camp? A. The camps are offered during the day only. The times may vary slightly by location. Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. Camp participants must make their own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. I will enter the seventh grade in the fall. Am I eligible to apply for the camp? A. You must be at least 13 years old at the time of application to be eligible, and you can apply only to camps that accept seventh graders (or the equivalent grade level in your country/region). Most of the camps are targeted towards students currently in high school. Grade eligibility requirements for individual camp locations will be posted starting in February 2009. Q. I am a teacher. May I attend the camp to understand what my students are learning? A. It is up to each camp coordinator to determine if adult observers are allowed to attend the camp. Some camps have allowed teachers to observe the camp so that the teachers can encourage girls to engage in technology programs throughout the school year. Microsoft is not able to offer continuing education credits for teacher attendance at this camp. If you are a teacher and are interested in observing the camp, please send an e-mail message to DigiGirlz High Tech Camp Questions and include the location of the camp you would like to observe. You will be contacted if the specific camp allows observers. Q. I am a parent. May I attend the camp with my daughter? A. Generally, parents are not allowed to attend the camps. If a camp participant has special needs that require a parent to serve as a personal attendant during the camp, let us know. Some camps have a camp closing event that parents are allowed to attend. If that option is available, information will be provided during the camp acceptance process. Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Why do the camps accept girls from specific target grades only and why do these grades vary by camp? A. There are several reasons why each camp focuses on girls from specific grade levels. These reasons include the number of girls a camp can accommodate, the required maturity level, and the content and complexity of the materials being presented. Q. Why don't you have camps for girls in middle school? A. DigiGirlz has chosen to focus primarily on girls in high school to introduce them to the considerable opportunities and career choices available in the high-tech industry. The goal is to solidify the link between school and work so that girls can make informed decisions during their high school and college years. Q. Do you have a camp for boys? A. No, we currently do not host camps for boys. The focus is on girls because of the following alarming statistics about girls in technology, from the NCWIT Scorecard 2007:

• Girls make up fewer than 15 percent of all Advanced Placement (AP) computer science test takers in secondary schools. This is the lowest representation of any AP discipline.
• Between 1983 and 2006, the share of computer science bachelor's degrees awarded to women dropped from 36 percent to 21 percent.
• Women hold half of professional positions overall but fewer than 22 percent of software engineering positions.
• Within in the top Fortune 500 IT companies, fewer than 5 percent of Chief Technical Officers (CTOs) are women.

Download the NCWIT Scorecard 2007 (Portable Document Format file, 1.66 MB) Q. What should I do if I have questions that aren't answered here?

FREE: DigiGirlz High Tech Camp is designed by Microsoft to give girls a chance to experience what it is like to develop cutting edge technology.  One of these camps will be in Charlotte at their Microsoft headquarters this summer, Aug. 3-6th.  Must be 13 at time of application and in grade 8-11 in the 2008-2009 school year.   For more info, go to: http://www.microsof t.com/about/ diversity/ programs/ digigirlz/ hightechcamp. aspx Link to application:  https://microsoft. crgevents. com/DigiGirlzCam p2009/Content/ Home.aspx   High Tech Camp F.A.Q.   Q. How do I apply to attend a camp? A. We will start accepting on-line applications on February 24, 2009 for the Redmond, WA; Charlotte, NC and Fargo, ND camps. All other camp registrations will open in March. Please continue to check this site for updates and information on the camp you are interested in attending. Q. How much does the camp cost? A. There is no cost associated with the camp. Microsoft provides the camp free of charge for attending girls. Q. Is there a GPA requirement I have to meet to be accepted into the DigiGirlz camp? A. No. There is not a GPA requirement. However, you must meet age and grade requirements to apply to a camp. Q. I have limited technical skills. Do you require a certain level of technical experience to attend a camp? A. No. The camp is open to girls of all skill levels. The camp provides hands-on workshops that are led by supportive instructors who can help you increase your abilities. For girls who may have already taken technology classes in school, the camp workshops will provide you with quick exposure to new technologies but may not go as in-depth as what you experienced in semester long courses. Q. If I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered, may I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Where will the camps be located in 2009? A. 2009 camp locations are still being determined. The total roster of camp locations will be posted by April 2009. Q. I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered. How can I get a camp started in my city? A. The camp locations are determined primarily by the location of Microsoft offices where Microsoft employees can participate in the planning and implementation of the multi-day events. Access to on-line curriculum has been provided on this site to enable individual girls or groups, who are not able to attend a camp, to learn some of the same things being taught in the camps. Q. I don't live in the United States. May I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Is this an overnight camp? A. The camps are offered during the day only. The times may vary slightly by location. Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. Camp participants must make their own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. I will enter the seventh grade in the fall. Am I eligible to apply for the camp? A. You must be at least 13 years old at the time of application to be eligible, and you can apply only to camps that accept seventh graders (or the equivalent grade level in your country/region). Most of the camps are targeted towards students currently in high school. Grade eligibility requirements for individual camp locations will be posted starting in February 2009. Q. I am a teacher. May I attend the camp to understand what my students are learning? A. It is up to each camp coordinator to determine if adult observers are allowed to attend the camp. Some camps have allowed teachers to observe the camp so that the teachers can encourage girls to engage in technology programs throughout the school year. Microsoft is not able to offer continuing education credits for teacher attendance at this camp. If you are a teacher and are interested in observing the camp, please send an e-mail message to DigiGirlz High Tech Camp Questions and include the location of the camp you would like to observe. You will be contacted if the specific camp allows observers. Q. I am a parent. May I attend the camp with my daughter? A. Generally, parents are not allowed to attend the camps. If a camp participant has special needs that require a parent to serve as a personal attendant during the camp, let us know. Some camps have a camp closing event that parents are allowed to attend. If that option is available, information will be provided during the camp acceptance process. Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Why do the camps accept girls from specific target grades only and why do these grades vary by camp? A. There are several reasons why each camp focuses on girls from specific grade levels. These reasons include the number of girls a camp can accommodate, the required maturity level, and the content and complexity of the materials being presented. Q. Why don't you have camps for girls in middle school? A. DigiGirlz has chosen to focus primarily on girls in high school to introduce them to the considerable opportunities and career choices available in the high-tech industry. The goal is to solidify the link between school and work so that girls can make informed decisions during their high school and college years. Q. Do you have a camp for boys? A. No, we currently do not host camps for boys. The focus is on girls because of the following alarming statistics about girls in technology, from the NCWIT Scorecard 2007:

• Girls make up fewer than 15 percent of all Advanced Placement (AP) computer science test takers in secondary schools. This is the lowest representation of any AP discipline.
• Between 1983 and 2006, the share of computer science bachelor's degrees awarded to women dropped from 36 percent to 21 percent.
• Women hold half of professional positions overall but fewer than 22 percent of software engineering positions.
• Within in the top Fortune 500 IT companies, fewer than 5 percent of Chief Technical Officers (CTOs) are women.

Download the NCWIT Scorecard 2007 (Portable Document Format file, 1.66 MB) Q. What should I do if I have questions that aren't answered here?

4-H Summer Fling is a special program sponsored by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension – Cabarrus County Center‟s 4-H Program. Most activities will be held at the Cabarrus County Center, 715 Cabarrus Avenue West, Concord. TO REGISTER *You may register for a 4-H Summer Fling session ONLINE at www.cabarruscounty4H.com under the link “4-H Summer Fling Registration” or go to http://www.cabarruscounty.us/ReservePartner Payment will be accepted online with a credit or debit card. This is the preferred method of registration. *You may also register IN PERSON at the Cooperative Extension Office, 715 Cabarrus Avenue West, Concord. *Registration will continue throughout the summer, although sessions do have registration deadlines of seven days prior to the session. *Please register each child individually. *Each participant will need a completed 4-H Enrollment Form and Medical Release Form in order to participate. These forms can be found at www.cabarruscounty4h.com. *Classes will be cancelled if the minimum participant numbers are not met. REFUNDS *Refunds will be made ONLY if your class is cancelled, not if you personally have a conflict after registration. *We greatly appreciate volunteers assisting and leading classes. Therefore, youth who present constant behavior problems will be asked to withdraw from Summer Fling without a refund. For more information, contact the Cooperative Extension Office at (704)920-3310.   Acres of Adventures Day Camp Ages 5 – 10 August 4 – 6 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. This will be a great camp to introduce young people to agriculture and life science. We will participate in fun-filled activities and experiments using hands-on learning. Activities will include games, play, arts and crafts, food and music. Participants will explore the world of agriculture all around us. Participants will need to bring a drink and lunch each day . 1519 $45 Minimum No. – 10   2009 Cabarrus County 4-H Summer Fling

FREE: DigiGirlz High Tech Camp is designed by Microsoft to give girls a chance to experience what it is like to develop cutting edge technology.  One of these camps will be in Charlotte at their Microsoft headquarters this summer, Aug. 3-6th.  Must be 13 at time of application and in grade 8-11 in the 2008-2009 school year.   For more info, go to: http://www.microsof t.com/about/ diversity/ programs/ digigirlz/ hightechcamp. aspx Link to application:  https://microsoft. crgevents. com/DigiGirlzCam p2009/Content/ Home.aspx   High Tech Camp F.A.Q.   Q. How do I apply to attend a camp? A. We will start accepting on-line applications on February 24, 2009 for the Redmond, WA; Charlotte, NC and Fargo, ND camps. All other camp registrations will open in March. Please continue to check this site for updates and information on the camp you are interested in attending. Q. How much does the camp cost? A. There is no cost associated with the camp. Microsoft provides the camp free of charge for attending girls. Q. Is there a GPA requirement I have to meet to be accepted into the DigiGirlz camp? A. No. There is not a GPA requirement. However, you must meet age and grade requirements to apply to a camp. Q. I have limited technical skills. Do you require a certain level of technical experience to attend a camp? A. No. The camp is open to girls of all skill levels. The camp provides hands-on workshops that are led by supportive instructors who can help you increase your abilities. For girls who may have already taken technology classes in school, the camp workshops will provide you with quick exposure to new technologies but may not go as in-depth as what you experienced in semester long courses. Q. If I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered, may I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Where will the camps be located in 2009? A. 2009 camp locations are still being determined. The total roster of camp locations will be posted by April 2009. Q. I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered. How can I get a camp started in my city? A. The camp locations are determined primarily by the location of Microsoft offices where Microsoft employees can participate in the planning and implementation of the multi-day events. Access to on-line curriculum has been provided on this site to enable individual girls or groups, who are not able to attend a camp, to learn some of the same things being taught in the camps. Q. I don't live in the United States. May I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Is this an overnight camp? A. The camps are offered during the day only. The times may vary slightly by location. Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. Camp participants must make their own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. I will enter the seventh grade in the fall. Am I eligible to apply for the camp? A. You must be at least 13 years old at the time of application to be eligible, and you can apply only to camps that accept seventh graders (or the equivalent grade level in your country/region). Most of the camps are targeted towards students currently in high school. Grade eligibility requirements for individual camp locations will be posted starting in February 2009. Q. I am a teacher. May I attend the camp to understand what my students are learning? A. It is up to each camp coordinator to determine if adult observers are allowed to attend the camp. Some camps have allowed teachers to observe the camp so that the teachers can encourage girls to engage in technology programs throughout the school year. Microsoft is not able to offer continuing education credits for teacher attendance at this camp. If you are a teacher and are interested in observing the camp, please send an e-mail message to DigiGirlz High Tech Camp Questions and include the location of the camp you would like to observe. You will be contacted if the specific camp allows observers. Q. I am a parent. May I attend the camp with my daughter? A. Generally, parents are not allowed to attend the camps. If a camp participant has special needs that require a parent to serve as a personal attendant during the camp, let us know. Some camps have a camp closing event that parents are allowed to attend. If that option is available, information will be provided during the camp acceptance process. Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Why do the camps accept girls from specific target grades only and why do these grades vary by camp? A. There are several reasons why each camp focuses on girls from specific grade levels. These reasons include the number of girls a camp can accommodate, the required maturity level, and the content and complexity of the materials being presented. Q. Why don't you have camps for girls in middle school? A. DigiGirlz has chosen to focus primarily on girls in high school to introduce them to the considerable opportunities and career choices available in the high-tech industry. The goal is to solidify the link between school and work so that girls can make informed decisions during their high school and college years. Q. Do you have a camp for boys? A. No, we currently do not host camps for boys. The focus is on girls because of the following alarming statistics about girls in technology, from the NCWIT Scorecard 2007:

• Girls make up fewer than 15 percent of all Advanced Placement (AP) computer science test takers in secondary schools. This is the lowest representation of any AP discipline.
• Between 1983 and 2006, the share of computer science bachelor's degrees awarded to women dropped from 36 percent to 21 percent.
• Women hold half of professional positions overall but fewer than 22 percent of software engineering positions.
• Within in the top Fortune 500 IT companies, fewer than 5 percent of Chief Technical Officers (CTOs) are women.

Download the NCWIT Scorecard 2007 (Portable Document Format file, 1.66 MB) Q. What should I do if I have questions that aren't answered here?

"PREPARING FOR COLLEGE" AUGUST 17, 2009 6:30-9PM COVENANT DAY HIGH SCHOOL 200 Covenant Church Lane, Matthews, NC 28105 SPONSORED BY PATH HOMESCHOOL GROUP As the school year begins this fall, take a few hours to come and learn from two local speakers some tips and ideas for preparing your child for college. Our topics will be: Are We Finished Yet? Educational choices beyond high school. Heather Mills: Guidance Counselor at Covenant Day School. She has been counseling either part-time or full-time for 13 years. She is an active member of NACCAP (North American Christian College Professionals) and helps her students and their parents to think beyond location and name recognition, to the importance of finding a college/university that will be good fit for their son or daughter. Scholarship Gold: How to apply, prepare and interview for college scholarships and win Elizabeth Hartley, author of Scholarship Gold As a scholarship coach, author, winner of multiple full scholarships and former scholarship judge, her mission is to ensure that students know how to identify their academic goals, get motivated to pursue them and get as much scholarship funding in the process as possible. She works with many homeschoolers. You are encouraged to bring your high school students. After each session, there will be a time for questions. A love offering of $4.00/family is suggested. Please RSVP to this event by August 5th, 2009 Questions or to RSVP: Anita Hudson at hudsonaf@yahoo. com **Doors will be open by 6:15 ***Covenant Day High School is located across the street from Christ Covenant Church. The HINTS Bookfair is held each year at the church in the lower school gym. Park across the street in the church/lower school parking lot and cross the street to the High school. Room location will be announced closer to the meeting.

All shows $1+ tax. These movies show at AMC theatres at 10am on Weds. Just reminding you if there is rain or the weather is too hot for park as an alternative. Hope everyone is enjoying their summer! Movie Schedule**

June 17: Space Chimps June 24: Kung Fu Panda July 1: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa July 8: Tale of Despereaux July 15: Horton Hears a Who July 22: The Spiderwick Chronicles July 29: Nim's Island August 5: Star Wars: The Clone Wars Particpating area theatres: AMC Concord Mills 24 8421 Concord Mills Blvd. , Concord Mills Mall - Concord Mills Blvd. And I-85 Concord, NC 28027 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-979-0200 *************************** AMC Northlake 14 7325 Northlake Mall Drive Charlotte, NC 28216 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-596-2189 *************************** AMC Carolina Pavilion 22 9541 South Blvd. , On South Blvd. Just North of I-485 (exit 65A) Charlotte, NC 28273 More info About Theatre Map & Driving Directions Guest Services: 704-643-1507

FREE: DigiGirlz High Tech Camp is designed by Microsoft to give girls a chance to experience what it is like to develop cutting edge technology.  One of these camps will be in Charlotte at their Microsoft headquarters this summer, Aug. 3-6th.  Must be 13 at time of application and in grade 8-11 in the 2008-2009 school year.   For more info, go to: http://www.microsof t.com/about/ diversity/ programs/ digigirlz/ hightechcamp. aspx Link to application:  https://microsoft. crgevents. com/DigiGirlzCam p2009/Content/ Home.aspx   High Tech Camp F.A.Q.   Q. How do I apply to attend a camp? A. We will start accepting on-line applications on February 24, 2009 for the Redmond, WA; Charlotte, NC and Fargo, ND camps. All other camp registrations will open in March. Please continue to check this site for updates and information on the camp you are interested in attending. Q. How much does the camp cost? A. There is no cost associated with the camp. Microsoft provides the camp free of charge for attending girls. Q. Is there a GPA requirement I have to meet to be accepted into the DigiGirlz camp? A. No. There is not a GPA requirement. However, you must meet age and grade requirements to apply to a camp. Q. I have limited technical skills. Do you require a certain level of technical experience to attend a camp? A. No. The camp is open to girls of all skill levels. The camp provides hands-on workshops that are led by supportive instructors who can help you increase your abilities. For girls who may have already taken technology classes in school, the camp workshops will provide you with quick exposure to new technologies but may not go as in-depth as what you experienced in semester long courses. Q. If I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered, may I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Where will the camps be located in 2009? A. 2009 camp locations are still being determined. The total roster of camp locations will be posted by April 2009. Q. I don't live in one of the cities where camps are being offered. How can I get a camp started in my city? A. The camp locations are determined primarily by the location of Microsoft offices where Microsoft employees can participate in the planning and implementation of the multi-day events. Access to on-line curriculum has been provided on this site to enable individual girls or groups, who are not able to attend a camp, to learn some of the same things being taught in the camps. Q. I don't live in the United States. May I still apply and attend? A. Yes. All girls who meet the age and grade requirements are encouraged to apply to any of the camps. However, Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. It is up to you to make your own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. Is this an overnight camp? A. The camps are offered during the day only. The times may vary slightly by location. Microsoft does not provide lodging and transportation for the camp. Camp participants must make their own arrangements and pay for these expenses. Q. I will enter the seventh grade in the fall. Am I eligible to apply for the camp? A. You must be at least 13 years old at the time of application to be eligible, and you can apply only to camps that accept seventh graders (or the equivalent grade level in your country/region). Most of the camps are targeted towards students currently in high school. Grade eligibility requirements for individual camp locations will be posted starting in February 2009. Q. I am a teacher. May I attend the camp to understand what my students are learning? A. It is up to each camp coordinator to determine if adult observers are allowed to attend the camp. Some camps have allowed teachers to observe the camp so that the teachers can encourage girls to engage in technology programs throughout the school year. Microsoft is not able to offer continuing education credits for teacher attendance at this camp. If you are a teacher and are interested in observing the camp, please send an e-mail message to DigiGirlz High Tech Camp Questions and include the location of the camp you would like to observe. You will be contacted if the specific camp allows observers. Q. I am a parent. May I attend the camp with my daughter? A. Generally, parents are not allowed to attend the camps. If a camp participant has special needs that require a parent to serve as a personal attendant during the camp, let us know. Some camps have a camp closing event that parents are allowed to attend. If that option is available, information will be provided during the camp acceptance process. Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. Which camps are still accepting applications? A. Because the camps are filled to capacity, we can accept no more applications for this year. There are no waiting lists for the camps because we already accept more girls into the program than the number of spaces that are available in each camp—to account for last-minute cancellations. There are no plans for additional camps in 2008. Please check this Web site in January 2009 for information about 2009 camp locations, camp eligibility requirements, and access to the online application tool for 2009. Camp Due date Notification of acceptance Charlotte, NC Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Fargo, ND Filled to capacity May 23, 2008 Irvine, CA Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Las Colinas, TX Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 Redmond, WA Filled to capacity June 20, 2008 Stony Brook, NY Filled to capacity June 27, 2008 Washington, D.C. Filled to capacity June 13, 2008 --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. I applied to a camp by using the online application tool. When will I know if I have been accepted into the camp? A. The table above lists acceptance notification dates for each camp. You will be notified no later than the date listed for the camp to which you applied. Top of page --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Is lunch provided or should I bring money? A. Both breakfast and lunch are provided free of charge for camp attendees. Any special dietary needs that are requested will be addressed after you are accepted into the camp. --> Q. Why do the camps accept girls from specific target grades only and why do these grades vary by camp? A. There are several reasons why each camp focuses on girls from specific grade levels. These reasons include the number of girls a camp can accommodate, the required maturity level, and the content and complexity of the materials being presented. Q. Why don't you have camps for girls in middle school? A. DigiGirlz has chosen to focus primarily on girls in high school to introduce them to the considerable opportunities and career choices available in the high-tech industry. The goal is to solidify the link between school and work so that girls can make informed decisions during their high school and college years. Q. Do you have a camp for boys? A. No, we currently do not host camps for boys. The focus is on girls because of the following alarming statistics about girls in technology, from the NCWIT Scorecard 2007:

• Girls make up fewer than 15 percent of all Advanced Placement (AP) computer science test takers in secondary schools. This is the lowest representation of any AP discipline.
• Between 1983 and 2006, the share of computer science bachelor's degrees awarded to women dropped from 36 percent to 21 percent.
• Women hold half of professional positions overall but fewer than 22 percent of software engineering positions.
• Within in the top Fortune 500 IT companies, fewer than 5 percent of Chief Technical Officers (CTOs) are women.

Download the NCWIT Scorecard 2007 (Portable Document Format file, 1.66 MB) Q. What should I do if I have questions that aren't answered here?

The Love to Learn Conference has moved to Charlotte for 2009! Many of the most popular speakers and sessions are back along with a host of exciting new topics. The new location is on the CPCC Elizabeth Avenue campus near uptown Charlotte. Here are some of the topics that will be addressed at this year’s conference:   *Getting Ready to Learn *The “How to” of Homeschooling High School *Reading in Their Own Time *Understanding the Right Brained Child *Understanding the Homeschooling Laws in SC *Philosophies of Homeschooling *NC and SC Vaccination Exemption Laws *The 3 R’s of Deschooling   To find out more, visit http://www.LoveToLe arnConference. com for information on how to register for the third annual Love to Learn Conference.  The Love to Learn Conference was created to fill the need for up to date, accurate, unbiased, information concerning issues that affect the climate of homeschooling in North Carolina.  We want to provide a variety of speakers and sessions on a wide array of homeschooling topics.  There will be something for everyone from the beginning homeschool family to those more experienced.  We are pleased to create an inviting environment for the sharing of homeschool information.  We are inclusive, and open to all homeschoolers.  We hope you come to enjoy and share this homeschool journey.   The Love to Learn Homeschool Resource and Information Conference August 8, 2009  This conference is organized each year to fill the need for up to date, accurate, unbiased, information concerning issues that affect the climate of homeschooling in North and South Carolina.  We want to provide a variety of speakers and session on a wode array of homeschooling topics.  There will be something for everyone from the beginning homeschool family to those more experienced.  We are pleased to announce that the 2009 conference will be held at Central Piedmont Community College in Charlotte, at their Elizabeth Avenue campus. Charlotte has the advantage of being centrally located to a very large population of homeschoolers in both NC and SC. A HUGE thank you to everyone who makes it possible. Click here to read what people are saying about the  Love to Learn Conference We invite you to visit our vendor area to peruse the latest in homeschooling resources and speak with those that create and/or sell items of interest.