The Young Doctors Program is a 5-week summer science enrichment program for rising 7th and 8th grade students in the Hampton Roads, VA area. The program is intended for students interested in mathematics, physics, engineering, and other science-related fields. Since 2000, the Young Doctors Program has provided a semi-formal learning environment that focuses on accomplishing four goals:
- Exposing students to a wide range of science disciplines and careers - speakers from previous years include aerospace and mechanical engineers, veterinarians, physical therapists, atmospheric scientists, physicists, and doctors of medicine and dentistry. These speakers teach the students their craft, while inspiring and reassuring the students that there is a solid minority and female presence across all fields of science.
- Developing research skills - students use internet resources to learn more about assigned science topics. The information they acquire from the research is then applied to their hands-on projects and used in their presentations.
- Improving problem-solving skills - students must use their problem-solving abilities to find solutions to complex problems presented to them. Such problems include an egg-drop project, in which students are given a set of basic materials and asked to protect an egg during a 3-story drop. After testing their projects, students will be challenged to analyze their project's performance and think of ways to improve upon their designs.
- Improving communication skills - students will hone their presentation skills by making several group presentations based on their internet research and results from their project testing. There is also a final presentation for parents and peers. Communication skills are further improved by having students work on projects in groups of 3-4 members.
More information about the program, including dates and costs, can be found here.
Interested in having your child attend the Young Doctors Program? Submit an online application.