Three weeks. Five courses. Countless opportunities.
At DECATS, we believe education and entertainment go hand-in-hand. Our qualitatively differentiated program focuses on leadership and responsibility education for gifted children, providing challenging and enriching coursework, nurturing the whole learner and fostering the leaders of tomorrow. Originally conceived and architected on Dr. Joseph Renzulli’s conceptions and models of giftedness, DECATS is a safe learning environment for students who demonstrate high intellectual ability, a strong commitment to learning and exceptional creativity.
All Scholars participate in
Manners to Morals during first period, an intense exploration of the joys and responsibilities of being a gifted leader. There is a different curriculum for each year that Scholars participate, determined by grade level.
Perspectives takes place during second period and provides a forum for reflection, support and direction for gifted Scholars. Topics include the privileges and responsibilities of being gifted, with special emphasis on leadership, followership, peer relationships and faith development. We also explore stereotypes of the gifted, dispelling myths and celebrating uniqueness. The primary goal of this four-year curriculum is to instill in Scholars a sense of service to others in a spirit of gratitude, learning that “better at” does not mean “better than.” Scholars are encouraged to think critically and be reflective regarding their own experiences.
Explore themes discussed in Perspectives
We gather course requests as part of an easy, online process, where you have plenty of advance time to review our offerings for the summer and map out those you wish to request. Final schedules are provided at the very start of the program, not in advance.
For more more about the course request process, check out our FAQ section.
DECATS 2020 Courses*
A Game of Kings
Want to join the Knights of the Square Table or maybe the Bishop Brigade? Do you want to Rook & Roll? Don’t be intimidated by the challenge of chess! Whether you’re a novice or an accomplished chess player, come sharpen your critical thinking skills, learn to outwit your opponents and experience the thrill of victory. Come on in and take a seat. “A Game of Kings” is beginning—and it’s your move!
A Thousand Flowers
Experience the traditional Italian polymer clay art of millefiori, which translates to “a thousand flowers.” The beauty of this technique is revealed through long, colorful coils wrapped strategically with polymer clay to construct elaborate designs. Create beads, jewelry and sculptures of butterflies, caterpillars and other beautiful insects using magnificent millefiori!
A-maze-ing
Marble mazes may appear simplistic, but look again! Slope, angles and other mathematical concepts are what keep things rolling. Collaborate with a team to design, test, and tweak your very own marble runs. With a little patience and a lot of planning, you’ll be amazed at what you can create.
ABC Design
Step into the role of a couture fashion designer, as you sketch and build apparel out of (A)nything (B)ut (C)lothes. Using paper, tape, and other everyday items, watch your inspiration take form and your creation take the stage in a modern fashion show of your wearable art.
Ancient Empires
Gaining an empire in the ancient world required strategy, command over armies, and often extreme measures. But keeping an empire together was a much more delicate matter. Rewind time by looking back at history’s greatest civilizations. From Egypt to Greece to Rome, there’s no denying that these ancient empires each have their rightful place as history’s greatest civilizations. Which empire had the greatest contribution on society today? How could their story have ended differently? Get ready to flash back in time as we experience the mummification process, build and race chariots, and gather lessons that can influence the future!
Angry Birds: Next Level
Ready . . . Aim . . . FIRE! We don’t need devices to play with THESE Angry Birds. In this course, we will build different kinds of catapults, assemble different kinds of “birds” for ammunition and construct various levels to knock down. Don’t let an evil piggy steal your spot. Slingshot your way into fun in Angry Birds: Next Level!
Animania
You are a scientist deep in the Amazon hoping to learn more about an animal you’ve been researching when suddenly you discover a new species! Believe it or not, this continues to happen every year, as the world is full of areas left to explore and animals left to discover. In Animania, you’ll journey into the unknown to examine some of the wildest creatures ever seen. Take the most interesting aspects of each and build a model of your own unique species. What does it eat? Where will it live? And, most importantly, what else might be out there?
Back to the Future
Take time-trusted tales and propel them into 2020! Take the themes and plot lines that make familiar tales eternally popular and see what happens when modern day elements are added into the mix in a play that you create, write and produce. Is the setting your school? Is the heroine the homecoming queen? See what happens when two worlds collide on stage!
Behind the Scenes
Are you curious about the design and technical aspects of a show? Behind the scenes of a production, the stage crew is hard at work designing, crafting, and creating the scenery, props and costuming needed for a production. Experience the thrill of theater from backstage, as you put together the pieces that will help our “Give My Regards to Broadway” show take shape. We can’t do it without you!
Bits and Pieces
Bit by bit, piece by piece, one tiny square at a time—put it all together and create one-of-a-kind mosaics! Using jewels, tiles, and stones, we’ll experiment with placement and design to create beautiful works of art. Our work will stand the test of time as we preserve our artwork through the process of grouting and sealing.
Blood & Guts
Our planet is a marvelous place where creatures of all shapes and sizes coexist. Don your protective equipment and join us as we get a closer look at Earth’s creatures, both inside and out. Our journey will involve hands-on exploration and dissection of aquatic and terrestrial specimens as we examine their internal and external anatomy and learn more about the human body in the process. Allergy Warning! This course includes dissection and is best for Scholars with strong stomachs. This course involves potential exposure to uncooked seafood, latex and specimen preservatives.
Brainteasers
Stretch your brain and prepare to attack problems in unconventional ways! This course is full of puzzles, riddles and challenging problems. It requires someone who wants to be challenged to think “outside the box!” Open your mind to logic and strategy as you participate in eye-opening activities, such as life-size Sudoku and human knots!
Breaking News
Find out what it takes to write for and create a newspaper as you develop the confidence to seek out interviews from your peers and mentors. Put your research, interviewing, photography and writing skills to work for the entire community to enjoy as we create a weekly campus newspaper and blog.
Brick by Brick
Design, build, test, and improve one brick at a time! Use LEGOs and consumables, such as cardboard, to complete design challenges in which you’ll create wind-powered vehicles, toys that can spin on their axis, intricate pyramids, and more. Can your results be replicated by another group? What’s the next step to build upon your design? The greatest creations start with a single brick!
Bring it On
“Move your body to the beat! Move your body to the beat! Figure-eight, figure-eight, repeat!” Experience the power of dance. From the novice to the advanced dance enthusiast, get moving with the latest dance grooves, create original choreography, line dance and battle in crews. Take it to the next level using the sounds of pop, hip hop and country music. Get ready to dance, dance, dance!
Challenge Accepted
When faced with a dilemma that has no obvious solution, there’s only one thing to do: use science to solve it! Can you work with your team to create a waterslide that can safely transport objects of varying weights? Can you adjust the specifications of your rollercoaster to keep things moving? Your team will compete in a variety of STEM (Science-Technology-Engineering-Math) tasks designed to stretch your thinking as you devise creative solutions to accomplish the task at hand. The challenge awaits: do you accept?
Cool Beats
Combine percussion skills with summer fun in the only course that lets you create a captivating show with only drums and pool noodles! Recreate your favorite music and produce new rhythms to put on a one-of-a-kind act. Come drum up some fun in Cool Beats!
CSI: DECATS
Get ready to delve into the world of forensics. A crime has been committed, and we’ve been called upon to collect the evidence. Analyze fingerprints, hair samples, fibers and imprints to piece the picture together. Grab your magnifying glass and critical thinking cap and let’s solve the mystery!
DECATS Choir
Lend your voice to the DECATS Choir and help us find that perfect pitch! All voices and levels of experience are welcome, as we recreate top hits and perfect ensemble versions of songs we know and love. Take center stage and prepare for the vocal performance of a lifetime!
DECATS Digest
Join DECATS Digest by becoming a reporter or photographer for our newspaper. We will publish an entire edition during our three weeks together. Find out what it takes to write for and create a newspaper as you develop the confidence to seek out interviews with your peers and Mentors. Put your research, interviewing, photography and writing skills to work for the entire community to enjoy. Don’t miss this opportunity to spread the news!
DECATS DIY
Why buy what you can make yourself? Get ready to construct and create! Get a little messy and have a whole lot of fun as we make our own bouncy balls, silly putty, soap, sidewalk chalk and more. If you are ready to take projects into your own hands, this is the course for you!
DECATS Olympics
The Olympics have arrived in Houston! After we divide into countries, create flags and logos, and participate in Opening Ceremonies, it’s time for the games to begin. We’ll participate in a variety of sports and challenges modeled after those seen in the Olympics, such as kayaking with scooters and build-your-own badminton. Go for the gold in DECATS Olympics!
Denim Designs
What’s the best kind of fabric? Denim! Jeans are stylish, trendy, useful and versatile. But instead of wearing them, let’s deconstruct them and design something new! Be ready to look at this fashion material in a new way as we construct bean bag games, personalize coasters and apply intricate weaving patterns using this timeless textile.
Extreme Journeys
Are you interested in perilous adventures? Does the idea of discovering new continents or soaring into space excite you? Come explore humankind’s most exciting achievements! Build a model airplane in the spirit of the Wright Brothers and role play a quest to the top of Mt. Everest. Map out and design future daring adventures of your own, too, as we use Google Earth to explore distant destinations. From Ponce de León to Neil Armstrong, we’ll span the best that exploration has to offer.
Game Mechanics
Experience the physical science concepts of mass, velocity, acceleration, friction and Newtonian forces as we study motion and what affects it. Use those scientific concepts and your imagination to design and create arcade games from basic cardboard boxes. Can you build a Whack-a-Mole? Are you ready to watch your friends compete in a skee-ball game you created? No quarters will be needed for this arcade, just your creativity and design skills!
Game On
Are you quick to solve puzzles during Wheel of Fortune? Do you wish you could buzz in with answers during Jeopardy? You are no longer just a contestant at home. Use your creativity to create your very own game show. Become a producer as you create the concept, craft the rules and bring the game show to life.
Get Growing
Calling all ecologists and conservationists! Learn how to care for the earth by putting your green thumbs to work! Grow plants and herbs that can be used for everything from beautifying a space at our campus to adding flavor to our favorite drinks. Learn how to cultivate and care for plants, as well as the significant ways they have been used to promote healing for generations. Allergy Warning: This course involves direct exposure to live plants and potential exposure to insects.
Give My Regards to Broadway
The curtain is going up…on three weeks filled with dancing, singing, acting and all the excitement and magic of musical theater! Do you dream of standing in the spotlight, of seeing yourself on stage? Can you hear the applause of the audience as they celebrate you? Imagine sharing your dreams with other Scholars just like you who love theater! Get ready for lots of fast-paced and exciting rehearsals in preparation for our Closing Celebration when the auditorium will be packed with family and friends. You’ll take the stage in a musical production where everyone performs, because everyone is cast in the show. It’s one of the Closing Celebration’s highlights each year, and you make it possible! So, turn on those smiles and let’s light up the stage!
Global Games
Get ready to travel the world without leaving the gym, as we play popular games from countries near and far. Australia, Chili, Ghana, Greece, Pakistan, and South Korea are just a few of the far-away places we will visit through our games! How do the favorites from these countries stack up against some of our familiar favorites? Go global and get moving!
Goat Your G.O.A.T.?
Which athlete or historical figure do you believe is the G.O.A.T. (Greatest of All Time)? Select your G.O.A.T. and research his/her stats and endeavors to create a live highlight reel of accomplishments. Build a case to convince your fellow Scholars that your nominee deserves a coveted spot it in our DECATS Hall of Fame, which we’ll construct together and showcase during the Grand Closing Celebration.
Gotta Catch ‘Em All
Pokémon cards can be found in the hands of people all over the country. While many enjoy the game, few have stopped to think about the math at work behind it! We will learn how to apply math probability techniques to tip the odds in our favor. Come build the strongest hand (and mind) and defeat your opponents! What are you waiting for? We “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!”
Hello, Hogwarts
All aboard the Hogwarts Express! From the moment you arrive, you will cease to be a Muggle and take on the role of a Scholar at the Hogwarts School in the wizarding world of Harry Potter! Try your hand at making your own house crest and magic wand. Learn spells and herbal potions and how to care for a magical creature. You can wear your Hogwarts robes or choose to dress in the Muggle manner. The sorting hat has spoken! You belong in this course!
History Awakens
Discover the facts and become the act to experience as we take the stage and bring history to life! Those who have walked through famous moments in history will be our inspiration. What was it like to be Neil Armstrong, taking those first steps on the moon? Can you imagine filling the shoes of Doris Miller, the brave and courageous cook who fought valiantly to defend Pearl Harbor while under attack? It’s time to resurrect their stories! After investigating some of history’s most jaw-dropping incidents, we will script and design details into scenes that will recreate history to make it unforgettable for you and the audience. Wait no more, let your acting skills revitalize the moments from the past that helped shape our country.
Hybrid Games
Football, baseball, soccer? Been there, done that! But what if we combined them into a whole new experience? Hybrid Games considers the rules of different games and sports to create activities that are new and exciting! Come learn how to combine two games into one to create challenging “hybrids” such as Crab Soccer, Flicker Ball and more. Let’s put a fresh twist on familiar games to develop some hybrid games of our own!
Hyper History
What do you get when you combine History with PE? A “moving” exploration of the past! In this course, we will literally jump into some of history’s most interesting topics and learn more about them through the games we play. Four Corners will meet history in a game called Founding Fathers. We’ll uncover the details of the American Revolution through a variation of Capture the Flag. Let the games begin!
I Survived …
The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. The sinking of the Titanic. The Battle of Gettysburg. Imagine you were there and lived to tell the tale! Get ready to travel back in time and explore some epic moments in history through cause and effect. Discover the details surrounding the event and use iPads and video editing applications to bring them to life as you craft your own harrowing tale of survival.
If You Build it
Can you design a chair that will improve learning? What about an airplane seat that will allow for a more comfortable flight or a bookshelf that’s functional, yet fun? Use upcycled materials to design and construct full-size furniture that meets all your needs. Be ready to measure, cut and craft your designs to bring them to scale. From small ideas we’ll produce some grand furniture!
In It to Win It
Explore your creativity and unleash your competitive spirit as you create your very own game, centered around challenges and obstacles you create. You might find inspiration from popular game shows like Minute to Win it or Ellen’s Game of Games. Test out the competitions you and your team design and see what makes it into our “In it to Win it” Finale!
Into the Fold
Rabbit ear, reverse, squash. What in the world is going on? Paper folding of course! Learn variations of folds and rolls that can help you create origami animals, pinwheels, and other works of art—no tape or glue required. Fall into the fold with us this summer!
Into the Unknown
What would happen if you were stranded in the wilderness? Would you be able to thrive on your own? Let’s get outside and learn what it takes to conquer the great outdoors. We’ll learn about trail safety and food sources (including bugs!) and apply our newly-acquired knowledge to different survival scenarios. You’ll learn to be prepared for anything as we venture into the unknown.
It Actually is Rocket Science
Rockets flying, gravity defying; this is a course you will not be denying! Blast off into learning the physics of building your own rocket and then launch it to see just how far it can go! This may not be NASA, but there is no doubt that we will master different ways to overpower the gravitational force. Exploration awaits!
It’s a Trap!
If you’ve ever watched an episode of Tom & Jerry or The Road Runner, you know the power of a well-placed trap! From the traps animals use to secure their prey to those used in the popular game Mouse Trap, we’ll explore the science at work. Use pulleys, angles and levers to construct traps of your own design.
It’s All in the Cards
It’s time to shuffle the deck and suit up! Put your strategies to the test as you face your opponent in this card frenzy course! Get ready to try your hand at a variety of card games—both the familiar and the unexpected. Take a crack at Jacks or use tricks to gain the upper hand in “Oh No!” By the end of the course, you’ll have your own game designed that you can teach your peers. Fun is surely in the cards this summer!
Jurassic Journey
Attention all future paleontologists! Keep your eyes peeled and stay alert on this journey through the Jurassic era. Come along with us as we explore the world as it once was, including all of the unique creatures that once inhabited it. Excavate, identify and catalogue dinosaur bones, and then create replicas of these unique creatures using your findings!
Kitchen Chemistry
Grab your lab coat and goggles and gear up for some Kitchen Chemistry! We’ll conduct science experiments with food and other ingredients found in your home and use scientific principles such as mass, density, and phases of matter to create chemical reactions and tasty treats! It’s time to venture out of the lab and bring science into the kitchen!
LEGO Robotics
Enter the world of robotics engineering! Using LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3 kits, your team will build and program robots to use multiple sensors and successfully accomplish challenges. Want to make your robot follow a shape drawn out in tape on the floor? Maybe have it throw a ball? Or perhaps your robot will be voice activated? Come to LEGO Robotics and learn how to do all of that and more!
Live! At DECATS
3, 2, 1, Action! Come gain experience with broadcast journalism as we create our own news show, covering the exciting events that take place each week at DECATS. Script out your broadcast, record and edit your segment using iPads, and transport your fellow scholars straight to the action using green screen technology. Whether you shine in front of the camera or enjoy the fast-paced decision making that takes place behind the scenes, there’s a place for you when we go live!
Making the Band
Unleash your inner rock star! In this course, you’ll experience a range of music styles, from Afro-Cuban to Hip-Hop, Blues to Bollywood, learning how to make the basic beats of each style. Once you find out what gets you moving and grooving, you’ll form a band with like-minded musicians and create the next chart-topper using your own rhythms and lyrics. Let’s ROCK!
Marvel vs. DC Showdown
When it comes to the world of comic books, which side are you on? Explore the Marvel and DC Universes to decide which reigns supreme. Design and build a story for a character of your own design that even Stan Lee would be proud of creating.
Masterpiece
Scholars, get ready to create your own museum! Which artist will you choose to emulate? Learn about and be inspired by famous artists, such as Van Gogh, Monet, Pollock and Matisse. We will draw with scissors like Matisse, action paint like Pollock and much more. Join us and unleash your inner artist this summer!
Masterpiece Makeover
What do you get when you combine hot glue, recyclables and paint? A masterpiece! That’s right! In this course of revamping the classics, we’ll used recycled materials to re-imagine famous works of art! Can you envision Van Gogh’s “Starry Night” redone in bottle caps? Or da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” made out of candy wrappers? Let’s turn that trash into treasure this summer in Masterpiece Makeover!
Masters of Design
Everyone wants a space they can call their own. Join us and become the designer of your own unique space. We will learn skills like color coordination, designing and placement of functional furniture and develop an eye for aesthetics that will help us complete each week’s design challenge. There’s “room” for all of your creative ideas!
Mathemagic
Come perform mystifying, mathematical feats that might seem impossible at first glance. Create curves using only straight lines and multiply using pebbles and holes in the ground. Do you believe you can cut a hole in an 8½ by 11 piece of paper large enough to walk through? Discover how to dazzle others with Mathemagic!
May the Face Be With You
How do movie producers and artists make injuries look so real or age an actor or actress before our eyes? Master the skills to transform your face with the magic of stage make-up. Watch yourself grow old, morph into an animal and create realistic special effects injuries. Color, shading and contouring are key to becoming an expert make-up artist.
Mind Over Matter
Picture a locked box in the center of the room. You and your team must figure out the code to the box to receive the reward, but first you must determine the answer to a series of difficult clues. When faced with the ultimate challenge, will your team be able to combine their talents and knowledge to beat the clock? Use your abductive, inductive and deductive reasoning skills to find and decipher a series of clues that will lead you and your team to victory in this ultimate race against time.
Mission to Mars
Begin your exciting journey to the Red Planet! Come explore how past and present missions to Mars are paving the way for future explorations. Research amazing facts about the Martian atmosphere, terrain and harsh environment and use your knowledge to create your own space mission. Design and build a Mars Rover and let it take you where you need to go. What will you explore on your Mission to Mars?
Mix it Up
See where your creativity will take you in this art course that’s all about exploration! Use mixed-media to create artwork that takes shape and dimension to the next level. Learn about the elements and principles of art through hands-on projects, such as watercolor and collage “soulfies” and oil and chalk pastel portraits. Experimentation and self-expression are at the core of each project. You’ll discover there are no limits when you learn to mix it up!
On the Spot
A dolphin princess? Kung Fu basketball? There is nothing too wacky or zany for an improv course where everything is made up on the spot! Come share in the excitement of what happens when characters, dialogue and plot are made up on the spot. Enhance and improve your acting skills as you experience the energy and anticipation that comes with improvisation.
Once Upon a Crime
What if the witch that captured Hansel and Gretel was arrested instead of killed? What if the Big Bad Wolf was sued by the pigs and had to pay to rebuild their homes? You’ll script out and participate in the mock courtroom trials of these and other fairytale villains. Were they found guilty of their crimes? Or were they able to successfully defend themselves and keep their freedom? Get your creative ideas ready!
Passing the Torch
Welcome to the Olympic committee! Be prepared to gasp at the gaffes and marvel at the facilities, as we explore the pitfalls and successes of previous Olympic host cities. After we learn from the mistakes of the past, you’ll get a chance to plead your case to bring the Olympics to a city of your choosing. Everything from the design of the stadiums and mascots, to the gold medal moments will be yours to plan and create. The future of the Games starts with you!
Portrait Mode
Grab your paintbrushes and your artist’s lens and get ready to switch over to portrait mode! Immerse yourself into works created by history’s most established artists. What makes the Mona Lisa so captivating? What helps Degas’s Dancers leap to life? Explore history’s greatest works of art or find your muse in present day personalities to paint portraits that illustrate, inspire, and intrigue.
Project Runway Recycled
Reduce, reuse, restyle! Transform ordinary materials into extraordinary styles as you use every day consumables to create runway-worthy, no-sew designs you can actually wear. Work collaboratively with members of your group to design the top look in each week’s fashion challenge. See you on the catwalk!
Rock Band
Are you ready to rock? We need you to complete the band! After we explore various instruments, we’ll collaborate and create our own music to help the crowd rock out! Whether you are just starting out as a performer or consider yourself a master musician, there’s a place for you in the rock band.
Rube Goldberg Made Me Do It
Why do a simple task when you can build a machine to do it for you? Like the Rube Goldberg machines that are fascinating to watch, we will start with the basics and end with zany and artistic engineering experiments. Chain reactions will abound as we discover and employ the laws of science. If you love designing, creating, building and tinkering with items, this course will have a domino effect on your future as an inventor!
See it in 3D
Enter the world of three-dimensional art! Through molding, constructing, and sculpting, we will create one of a kind pieces of artwork. To create our sculptures, we’ll use conventional materials like clay, but we’ll also mix it up with some different things we find along the way, such as sand and tape. Sculptures aren’t bound to rules: creations of all shapes sizes, textures, and forms are welcome!
Shark Tank
The tycoons of the business world are always looking for the next budding entrepreneur, so let’s see what you’ve got. With the right idea and planning, you could be on the next season of Shark Tank, where you’ll see if your idea has what it takes to earn the backing of investors! Come explore real world problems, brainstorm profitable solutions, create prototypes, budget finances and perfect your sales pitch. After DECATS, you’ll have a solid plan to start a small business. Does your idea have what it takes to survive The Shark Tank?
Short Circuit
Electronic circuits run the world! From the doorbell to the computer, they are at the center of any modern electronic device. Let’s discover this exciting world by learning the basic principles and laws of electronics and by building electronic circuits. Work with real components like resistors, diodes, transistors, LEDs and speakers. Build a working burglar alarm, audio generator, wake-up alarm and other devices. Use special software to plan and test your devices.
Skits & Spoofs
Laughter will ring out as we create spoofs of our favorite TV shows, produce music video parodies, perform hilarious skits, and much more! Create, share and laugh your way through performances. Come showcase your talents with a humorous twist!
Slime Time
Get ready for a summer of sticky goodness and slimy satisfaction! In this course, if we’re making a mess, then we know that we’re on the right track. We’ll make several different kinds of slime and use the scientific process to document our findings as we work to create slime of the perfect consistency. It’s always the right time for Slime Time!
Sportsplex
The clock is ticking. All morning long you have been looking forward to going outside to play your favorite sport at recess. Just as that time of day nears, you hear the dreaded news, “Outside activities are cancelled due to rain (or the dreaded ozone alert!)”. That’s no obstacle for the Scholars in Sportsplex! We will learn to adapt some favorite games to be played indoors. No more rainy days ruining the fun!
Star Wars Zoology
May the force be with you as you study the behaviors, habitats, and anatomies of creatures from “a galaxy far, far away.” From the lush forest moon of Endor to the sands of Tatooine, we will examine and classify Ewoks, Wookies, Jawas, and so much more! Make sure to grab your data log and prepare for a voyage comparable to Darwin’s expedition to the Galapagos Islands!
Sticky, Icky, Ooey, Gooey
Create unique works of art by using some of the stickiest, messiest mediums imaginable. Be prepared to get your hands dirty as we explore glue-based paint, salt mixtures, and other unconventional methods. One thing is certain- the messier the process, the more beautiful the art!
Strokes of Genius
Love the look of your lettering! Learn how to turn ordinary handwriting into a work of art by using a variety of techniques such as brush lettering and calligraphy. Put your new skills to use in writings that are all your own as we make our own quill pens, inks, and fonts. Produce beautiful writing in both content and design!
Survivor
Put your survival skills to the test and head out into the wild! We’ll study animal adaptations to figure out how they manage to survive in some of the harshest environments and see what works for us. Use what you learn to build a shelter that can withstand whatever Mother Nature has in store. Work with your team to employ survival skills and techniques that allow you to outlast the elements.
Sync & Dance
Set the groove and let’s move! Hit play and record your best dance moves set to old school bops or new school trends. Maybe you’ll create the next dance sensation that captivates the crowd during morning assembly!
The Butler Did it!
Who doesn’t like a mystery? Just think of the intrigue, the suspense and the surprise ending (or endings)! Prepare to write a play fit for mystery theater with all the suspense you can muster! Play the part of the villain or the detective—you decide! When it’s show time, will the audience correctly identify the culprit or fall for the red herring?
The Creature Chronicles
Goblins and elves and fawns, oh my! Middle Earth and Narnia await you! Channel your creativity to add new creatures to one of these imaginary lands. Each creature you create will come to life through the art of peg doll design. Using stop-motion animation, we will chronicle the adventures of your creation for all to enjoy. Let your imagination run wild as you play the part of creative genius, author and director.
Through a Different Lens
Experience the world of digital photography through a different lens! By encountering a different theme each day, learn and practice different styles of photography, ranging from landscape to bird’s eye and worm’s eye view. Experience what it’s like to edit your photographs to enhance the beauty that you have captured in your photos. Show off your amazing still shots to others in the DECATS Gallery.
Time Warp Trials
History needs your help! Key events in humanity’s past have gone strangely out-of-whack and need your gentle nudge to put them right. Help Galileo with his telescope, assist George Washington as he crosses the icy Delaware River, and team up with Sally Ride as she secures the necessary gear to survive in space. Put your creative thinking and problem-solving skills to the test—there’s no time like the present!
Uncommon Threads
You won’t believe what we can thread together when we combine the ordinary and the uncommon! From kumihomo, an ancient braiding technique used by the Samurai, to the more modern-day style of macramé, we’ll create drawstring pouches that tuck away your playing cards and sleeves to personalize your water bottles.
Under Siege
Hear ye! Hear ye! You have been given the task to build a medieval castle to protect the Baron of Wales! The vision has been set forth, so come and learn how to bring his architectural dream to reality. While there are many challenges and requirements for this castle, most importantly, it must be strong enough to withstand an attack. Let’s see which designer has the creativity and ingenuity to use recyclable materials to build a castle that’s fortified and functional enough to please the Baron.
Video Games: History in the Making
When Atari released the very first video game, Pong, in 1972, no one could have predicted that video games would evolve into a billion-dollar industry. Let’s take a look at how it all happened as we walk through the history of video games. We’ll start by playing video games of the past and taking a look at what captivated the masses. Finally, we’ll get our creative juices flowing as we design mock games of the future.
Watercolor World
Art and science come together to create brilliant works of art! There’s much more to watercolor than meets the eye. Learn several tips and techniques unique to this medium, including how to paint secret images that won’t be revealed until you’re ready. Experiment with intensity and wash to create a frame-worthy masterpiece!
Webmasters
Is the World Wide Web ready for your webpage? Have an interest in being a web designer? If so, this course is for you! You will learn how to program and become a webmaster. Come and take this webpage journey from beginning to end, going from a blank page to a web page!
What Would You Do?
Welcome to “What Would You Do?”- a game show centered around science! Step into the world of psychology as you work together in teams to design and carry out experiments in human behavior. Let’s see what we can learn about our peers when they are faced with moments of choice and decision. What age group is more likely to help a friend in need? Will everyone come sit in a silent circle during recess if they see several of their fellow Scholars doing so? Record your experiments to show to the studio audience. Can they predict what might happen next? Or will the test subject surprise us all?
Where in the World
See the wonders of the world without ever leaving DECATS! Use your geography skills to find clues and solve riddles that will help you track down the elusive spy, Carmen Sandiego. Put your knowledge of landmarks, cartography and trivia to the test as you explore the Amazon Rainforest, the pyramids, and other exotic destinations in search of her next hideaway. Explore the arts, culture, and music of each stop on the journey. Together, we can track her down!
Whodunnit
Venture into the world of mock trial as we transform our course room into a courtroom. From the witnesses to the attorneys, everyone will play an important role, as we create the crime story, develop the characters and act out an all-new courtroom drama. The verdict hangs in the balance!
Zentangle Untangled
Come test, experiment, and invent a new way to draw! Learn to craft step-by-step, line-by-line patterns that turn into brilliant illusions with the zentangle method. Prepare to see patterns everywhere and translate them into zentangles on surfaces ranging from paper and clothing to small furniture all your own!
Zoom
Do you enjoy drawing but wish you could improve your artistic talents? Wish you could draw fabulous pictures but find yourself having to trace them to get the look you want? Learn how to draw smaller objects on a larger scale with a technique that will allow you to unleash your inner artist. Embrace a simple technique that will allow you to enlarge any picture to the size you want and still have it look like the original. Join us and amaze your family and friends.