SAIL:

Summer Academy to Inspire Learning

Our goal is to encourage bright kids to go to college by showing them what college is like. We run free week long summer day camps at UO for students from Springfield Middle School. Once in the program, students can continue on with a new camp each summer through high school. Eligibility is based only on ability and need.

The program includes talks and demonstrations by UO faculty, interaction with UO students, and information on how to get ready for college, get into college, and pay for college. The camps are run by interested UO faculty volunteers. Current funding is from the Economics department budget, Prof. Neville's BDL Lab, and a small grant from CAS.

News: We had a very successful 2007 camp, with 31 students and 32 UO volunteers. KVAL-TV did a brief segment on the camp, and The Daily Emerald did an informative story here. Planning is now underway for 2008, please contact us at the address at the bottom if you would like to help.

Donations: This link takes you to the UO Foundation, where you can make a tax-deductible charitable donation earmarked for the SAIL program. Go to the 4th box down and enter "Economics Summer Camp Program" where it says "other".

UO Faculty Volunteers

• Ed Awh, Psychology
• Bruce Blonigen, Economics
• Trudy Cameron, Economics
• John Chalmers, Finance
• Paul Dassonville, Psychology
• Ron Davies, Economics
• Tim Duy, Economics
• Chris Ellis, Economics
• Scott Frey, Psychology
• Jo Anna Gray, Economics
• Bill Harbaugh, Economics and Nanonomics,
• Sara Hodges, Psychology
• Cliff Kentros, Psychology
• Van Kolpin, Economics
• Heiner Linke, Physics
• Ulrich Mayr, Psychology
• Helen Neville, Psychology
• John Nicols, History
• Raghu Parthasarathy, Physics
• Jeremy Piger, Economics
• Joe Stone, Economics
• Marjorie Taylor, Psychology
• Glen Waddell, Economics
• Bob Zimmerman, Physics

UO Staff

• Paul Carlile, Admissions
• Mark Dow, Psychology Staff
• Scott Klein, Brain Dev Lab
• Amy Nuetzman, ALS
• Merrily Sutton, Schnitzer Art Museum

UO Students

• Jeff Currin, Psychology
• Doron Fletcher, Economics
• Melissa Foynes, Psychology
• Bridget Klest, Psychology
• Stephanie McShurley, Economics
• Jessica Murakami, Psychology
• Sheena Petzoldt, Economics
• Alison Shawber, Psychology

Organizers

• Bruce Blonigen, Economics
• Bill Harbaugh, Economics
• Scott Klein, Brain Dev Lab
• Heiner Linke, Physics
• Helen Neville, Psychology
• Eric Pakulak, Psychology
• Raghu Parthasarathy, Physics

Testimonials:

"I would love to do this camp again."

"It was interesting to see a different point of view of others and it gave me a better understanding for now and most likely for the future."

"I am very grateful they have this and am happy to get to go : )"

"Thanks again for working with our kids. I've heard nothing but GREAT things about the program this year. Parents are going out of their way to let me know how positive it was for their child." Sheila Turner, SMS Assistant Principal.

Purpose:

The goal of our summer day camp program is to encourage bright high school students to start thinking about college early, by giving them an experience of what being a college student is like. Camp is free and lasts for a week each summer. Eligibility is based only on need and ability. We recruit students directly from Springfield Middle School. We are sorry but we cannot accept applications.

Students typically start the 4 year program the summer before 9th grade. The 9th grade camp is about economics. The second year, 10th grade students continue on with a week on psychology and neuroscience. In 2008, we expect to add another program in physics and nanoscience, for 11th graders. The 12th grade program is still in development. All the programs include talks from the UO admissions and financial aid offices about getting ready for college and about how to get grants, scholarships, and loans to pay for college.

The Economics camp is focused on teaching about how markets work, international trade, labor, money, environmental economics, and strategic games. The Psychology and Neuroscience camp is focused on how the brain controls human behavior. Physics camp will have a special emphasis on the new science of nanoscience.

Perhaps most importantly, SAIL students get a chance to interact with professors, talk with college students, and experience a little bit of college life.

There is no charge for the program, which is run on a volunteer basis by UO faculty with help from our graduate and undergraduate students. We provide lunch, bus passes, and a $50 fellowship for every student who completes each year's program.

Donations:

Currently the program is run on a volunteer basis and all expenses are paid from department funds. We intend to keep all faculty participation volunteer, but the department funding is not sustainable. If you are interested in contributing towards operating expenses, or to help us expand the program, or if you have thoughts on how to best do this, please contact Bill or Bruce, below.

Wish List:

• $125 will support one student for a week of camp.

• $2500 will support one department's program for a year.

• A part-time staff support coordinator wold alow us to espand the program and speel check our website.

• School year support would allow us to involve UO undergraduates as mentors for our students during the school year.

• Scholarship support would allow us to offer a UO scholarship to students who complete the program successfully. The economists think this would be a great incentive!

Contributions can be sent to

SAIL Summer Camp Fund
Department of Economics
1285 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1285

To donate online, this link takes you to the UO Foundation, where you can make a tax-deductible charitable donation earmarked for the SAIL program. Go to the 4th box down and enter "Economics Summer Camp Program" where it says "other".

Contacts:

Professor Bruce Blonigen - bruceb@uoregon.edu. Phone. 346-4680.

Professor Bill Harbaugh - harbaugh@uoregon.edu. Phone 346-1244.

Sample Schedules:

UO Economics Summer Camp

MONDAY August 13: Introduction to UO and Basic Economics
10:00 – 11:00:    Introduction, camp rules
11:00 – 12:00:    Market Games, Basics of Supply and Demand
12:00 – 1:00      Lunch
1:00 - 2:00:      A Primer on How the Economy Works (Prof. Jeremy Piger)
2:00 - 3:00:       How to Create Money Out of Thin Air (Prof. Jo Anna Gray)

TUESDAY August 14: Science Day
10:15 - 11:15:    How to Get Into College and Have It Paid For (Paul Carlile from UO Admissions)  
11:15 - 12:00:   Attend a Real Economics Class – History of Economic Thought (Prof. Tim Duy)
12:00 - 1:00:    Lunch
1:00 - 2:00:      Economics of the Black Death (Prof. Joe Stone)
2:00 – 3:00:      Question and Answer Session with UO International Students

WEDNESDAY August 15: Our Global World
10:00 - 11:00:   Economics in Movies (Prof. Larry Singell)
11:00 -12:00:       Economic Experiments – with Cash Prizes! (Prof. Bill Harbaugh)
12:00 - 1:00:       Lunch
1:00 - 2:00:    Environmental Economics – Valuing a Human Life (Prof. Trudy Cameron)
2:00 -3:00:        Campus Tour (Prof. Bruce Blonigen)

THURSDAY August 16: Varied Topics and Activities
10:00 - 11:00:   Learning How to Think Strategically (Prof. Chris Ellis)  
11:00 - 12:00:      Learning How to Think Cooperatively (Prof. Van Kolpin)  
12:00 - 1:00:      Lunch 
1:00 - 2:00:      UO Physics and Work with an Electron Microscope
2:00 - 3:00:   Saving and Investing (Prof. John Chalmers, Finance Department)

FRIDAY August 17: The Road Ahead 
10:00-11:00:      Tour of the UO Art Museum
11:00-12:00:    Human Neuroimaging with MRI's (UO Psychology)  
12:00 -1:00:      Lunch at Pegasus Pizza
1:00 - 2:00:    How to Prepare Yourself for College in High School
2:00 - 3:00   Graduation and Games 

UO Neuroscience Summer Camp