junior program summer site : conversations : first session



	Sophie from Massachusetts (7/4) Sophie is entering the 5th grade, and is back for another summer at Explo. Sophie is taking Objection Overruled and Hot Off the Press, as well as the Cake Decorating workshop. According to Sophie, if Explo were an ice cream sundae, it would be made of all her favorite things. So what did you do today? Well, I just finished up an activity period. Our activity was learning how to do an assembly skit, like when they announce the activities here. So we got to get up on the stage and make the skits and act them out. Then I also had two courses today. I had "Objection Overruled" which is a mock trial and court one, and I had "Hot Off the Press," which is a journalism one, where we were learning how to do interviews. So what went into learning how to conduct interviews? Well, Barack Obama came in and we interviewed him. We didn't know he was going to come in. I think it was a staff member in a mask. It was funny because his lips didn't really move when he talked and he was wearing a suit and sneakers. And what did you do in Objection Overruled? So basically we're doing a mock trial of Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is on trial for murder in the 1st degree, murder in the 2nd degree, theft, and breaking and entering. Today, two witnesses came in: one for the prosecution and one for the defense. I'm on the defense. Glenda came in on the defense side, and we were able to take notes in these binders. It's a really fun class. What makes Explo courses different from classes at school? Well, classes at Explo are a lot more fun and you have more chances to do stuff. You're more free to try things. The teachers are really good, too. I've learned a lot already, even in the first week. So what made you want to come to Explo? Well, last year was really fun and I felt so comfortable last year, so this year I wanted to get to try more new things. And also, I just had so much fun last year that I wanted to do it again. Awesome! So, if a friend of yours was thinking about coming to Explo but wasn't sure, what would you tell them? I would say that it was fun and you get lots of different choices for classes and workshops. There's lots of music and there are different activities that you can try. Also it's really easy to get to know people here because everyone is so friendly and if maybe you're too shy to walk up to someone, they still might walk up to you and say “Hey, do you want to play Two-Square?” or “Do you want to get snack with me?” Everyone is nice. What are you most excited about for this summer? Umm . . . Well, I'm really excited for Carnival Night. Last year, there was a dunk tank and there was also cotton candy and pretzels and popcorn. There were a lot of fun games and music and everything. That sounds like a good time. Tell me about the workshops you're in. I'm in Cake Decorating and Theater Special Effects. What have you done in those workshops so far? Well, in Theater Special Effects we were creating characters and our theme for the whole session is pirates, so we get to act like pirates for all of the workshop! In Cake Decorating, they didn't want us to ruin a cake when we first got there, so we experimented with different frostings on graham crackers and we got to eat them. Sticking with the dessert theme, if Explo were an ice cream sundae, what would be in it, what would it be made of, and why? Hmm . . . if Explo were an ice cream sundae it would probably be all my favorite stuff. It would probably be lots of chocolate sauce, and it would have piles of chocolate ice cream, and then there would be lots of whipped cream and 3 cherries, because Explo is awesome! more conversations > first session \| second session