SPLASH!
What is it?
Splash! brings high school students from all over Chicago to the University of Chicago campus for one Saturday in the fall. The high school students take short classes taught by college students in areas that teachers are really passionate about.
The program brings together college and high school students and exposes high school students to topics they may not be able to access in a traditional high school curriculum. The classes at Splash! 2012 covered topics ranging from genetic engineering and dystopian fiction to dance and introductory Mongolian. The focus is on teaching fun and engaging classes that never make learning seem like work.
Splash is 100% FREE to attend and free lunch is also provided.
When? Who? Where?
One Saturday each fall. (The next Splash! will be on October 4, 2014.) Open to all high school students, grades 9-12. Check-in and registration are in Ida Noyes on the University of Chicago Campus at 1212 East 59th Street (to accommodate the volume). Classes are held in Harper Hall (1116 East 59th Street) and some of the surrounding buildings.
How do I sign up?
Student registration opens on our website near the beginning of September. Our most popular classes fill up pretty quickly, so it’s always a good idea to register early.
If you aren’t able to sign up online, we have an on-site registration option where you can sign up for the program and choose your classes on the day of Splash. Please note that if you decide to pursue this option, class choice will be limited.
CASCADE!
What is it?
Cascade! is a five-week program for high school students that exposes them to interesting topics they may never have seen before in high school. Like Splash!, Cascade! allows students to meet college students and other high school students in a fun context. Unlike Splash!, Cascade! allows students to explore topics in a bit more depth than a one-day program can allow and to become closer to their teachers.
Students take classes in one or two time slots, with about six options in each slot. Each class will meet five times: one hour every Tuesday afternoon/evening for five consecutive weeks. There will be no testing or grades, but there may be small amounts of homework assigned from week to week in some classes. Attendance at all sessions is required, but if you really must miss a class please be sure to tell your teacher in advance.
When is it?
Twice a year, in fall and in winter, for five weeks each time. The next Cascade begins on Tuesday, October 21st and will end on November 18th. Always Tuesday late afternoons, with the first session running from 5:00 to 6:00 and the second from 6:30 to 7:30. (In between, there will be food available for purchase at a reasonable price.) Keep in mind that you can attend either one time slot or both.
Where is it?
Cascade! is held in Harper Hall on the University of Chicago campus, 1116 East 59th Street in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Specific maps and directions will be provided when you sign up for the program.
How do I sign up?
Registration for Cascade happens on this website, and begins roughly one month in advance of the program’s start date.
Registration for Winter Cascade 2014 is now open! Check out our course catalog!
How much does Cascade cost?
Cascade is completely free to attend. We offer dinner between classes for a reasonable price. Students with dietary restrictions are encouraged to bring their own dinner.
