Summer Program
Olympic Park Institute
The summer component begins with a one-week residential experience at Olympic Park Institute (OPI), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational experiences in nature's classroom complete with a library, classrooms and indoor and outdoor labs. While at OPI, students will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience to student ancient forest, wilderness coasts, and alpine peaks. Programs are experimental, inquiry-based and aligned with state learning requirements.
Olympic Park Institute field based experiences will correlate with academic levels and focus on topical areas of study linked to other grant funded themes. At OPI, students will be exposed to and participate in university-level research projects focused on habitats common to the area. Research projects will expand upon science and math disciplines and Upward Bound students will work with area scientists, faculty, and college students to better understand and experience how math, science, reading and writing are relevant to careers that make up some of the primary industry clusters in the region.
Olympic Park Institute is located on the shore of Lake Crescent in Olympic National Park. There are professional educators on hand to guide the students in hands-on activities that illuminate the scientific process and create memorable and rewarding life experiences. Benefits include: increased engagement in science, enhanced comprehension of environmental issues, improved group dynamics, increased sense of citizenry, and renewed curiosity about the natural world and local communities.
To visit Olympic Park Institute on the web: http://www.yni.org/opi
Commuter Program
Four weeks will be spent taking high school level classes at Peninsula College. Students will take classes on the Peninsula College campus where they will have the opportunity to get to know teachers on a different level, learn differently, experience small class sizes, and receive hands-on experience. Class schedule and detailed information is to be announced.
College Tours
To ensure that Upward Bound participants understand their postsecondary options and have the tools they need to make informed decisions, Peninsula College will provide college visit experiences. The summer component will culminate with overnight visits to Washington's premier postsecondary institutions. Students will live in residence halls and attend activities and presentations on sprawling university campuses while being exposed to the attributes that enrich postsecondary institutions in the greater Puget Sound area. The Washington state colleges we will be visiting this year are Western Washington University, Bellingham; University of Washington, Seattle; Northwest Indian College, Lummi Reservation; and Evergreen State College, Olympia.