Students will learn about the missions, careers, and educational opportunities available in the U.S. Coast Guard. Plans include getting underway on USCGC SAILFISH, visiting CG Air Station Elizabeth City, touring other local CG units, learning some navigation, and participating in maritime operations. If you are interested in military service, the service academies, law enforcement, navigation, or aviation, this Mini-mester is for you!
All Things French
Let’s explore the French-speaking world! In this Mini-mester, you’ll embark on a brief journey through some of the most notable cultural aspects of the Francophone world. You’ll learn a bit of French, try your hand at French cooking, become familiar with world renowned French art and literature, and discover how French and U.S. history intertwined during the American Revolution. We’ll conclude our Mini-mester with a French film that offers a view of "Frenchness" as seen by the French themselves though objectivity is not guaranteed.
Be a Part of the Art
“Be Part of the Art” will walk students through the process of painting a ‘Wall Mural’ from beginning to end. They will kick off their experience in Virginia Beach at The Garage VB, in The ViBE Creative District, learning about the history of murals and taking a mural tour. Students will then be guided as they collaborate to develop, design, and sketch the mural. They will learn how to prep supplies and mount their design onto the wall with a projector - using various art mediumsbefore working together to paint their mural on a wall in Royster. The Workshop will end with the unveiling of a beautiful, meaningful, collective creation!
Breaking Barriers
In 2020, Kim Ng was named the General Manager of the Miami Marlins – the first woman to hold that position. Even though women comprise nearly 50% of all NCAA college athletes, the organization Women Leaders in Sports, in conjunction with The Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University, offer that women hold only 26% of Athletic Director positions across all three athletic divisions and only 15% at the Division I level. Yet, opportunities abound. Barriers can be broken – just ask Caitlin Clark.
Come explore your love of sports while also learning about how women began their careers in sports management, sports communication, and coaching. Discover all that athletics has to offer for women and break down the barriers to careers in the sports industry, just as Kim Ng and Sarah Thomas, the first female collegiate and professional football official, did.
This Mini-mester is for those who are interested in exploring their love of sports and learning how women began their careers in sports management, sports psychology, athletic performance, communication, coaching, strength training, etc.
Budding Naturalist
Are you a budding naturalist? Do you want to understand the impact of human interaction with our natural community? Come explore nature from multiple perspectives as we partner with Virginia Wesleyan University and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Find the hidden beauty of microscopic anatomy using a real scanning electron microscope, collect samples of arthropods from different habitats, learn about the local wildlife in our waters, catch crabs, and perform water quality tests. If nature is your thing, this is the Mini-mester for you!
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Forensic Detectives
Have you ever been pulled into a book, movie, or show that has you on the edge of your seat waiting for evidence results to find out “who done it”? Do you love understanding why and how behind evidence collection and analysis? If the answer to either or both of these questions is “yes”, then Forensic Detectives is the Mini-mester for you! In this five-day experience, you will techniques and practices of forensic science. Along with learning the evidence collection and analysis practices, you will learn the connection between science, law, and our judicial system. Your experience as a Forensic Detective will be enhanced with field trips to The Suffolk Courts and Suffolk CSI and Police Headquarters where we will visit with judges, officers, and crime scene investigators. Don’t miss out on the adventure!
Get Creative
In this Mini-mester, you'll have a chance to harness your own creativity and to be inspired by the creativity of others. Expect to engage in creative writing workshops, to do improv, to harness your creativity in the kitchen, and to take on a photography challenge, among other things. Prepare to take trips to local spots where you can learn about the work of professional artists, possibly including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, the Hermitage Museum and Gardens, and/or the Chrysler Glass Studio.
Getting Graphic – Dive into the World of Comics and Graphic Novels
Award-winning graphic novelist Scott McCloud once claimed "there was something lurking in comics...something that had never been done. Some kind of hidden power!" In this Mini-mester course, you will have an opportunity to tap into this power, diving headfirst into the world of comics and graphic novels. We will head to the local comic shops to hear from experts in the field and delve into their collections of contemporary and vintage comics. Together, we will read and analyze some of today's most popular comics and graphic novels and compare these new stories and characters to some of the all-time classics. Ultimately, you will create an original work telling your own unique story. And don’t worry, you do NOT have to be a good artist to participate in this Mini-mester! We will explore a variety of tools to help you design artistic comic panels that will bring your story to life. You only need to come prepared with a genuine interest in comics and graphic novels.
Jewelry Making
Earrings! Bracelets! Necklaces! Learn to make them all and take your creations home to wear. In this hands-on basic jewelry Mini-mester course you will learn about the history of jewelry and how to make jewelry. Students get to create their own designs and learn proper techniques for making bracelets, necklaces, and earrings using beads. We’ll cover bead making with a trip to the Chrysler Museum and have a guest artist demonstrate making beads. Various types of wires and tools will be used to make basic jewelry designs. This is an ideal class for beginning jewelers.
LIVESTRONG
Are you interested in learning more about cancer and how to help those affected by it? The LIVESTRONG Mini-mester aims to open up the conversation about cancer and how it affects so many of our loved ones. Participants will engage in discussions about cancer and nutrition, volunteer at the Sentara Brock Cancer Center, spend a day at the YMCA to work out and meet counselors at the LIVESTRONG at the Y program, learn how to support non-profit organizations like LIVESTRONG through fundraising efforts, team-build with a day at the Adventure Park, and make delicious cancer-fighting foods. Come and LIVESTRONG with us!
Making Clothes > Buying Clothes
Have you ever had a vision for a particular item of clothing, but you just can’t find it in the stores? What about a piece in your wardrobe that you love, but doesn’t quite fit right? Sewing your own clothes is an addicting and satisfying hobby that allows you to literally tailor your clothes to express your identity. In this course you will learn the basics of operating a sewing machine, reading a pattern, and choosing fabrics for specific projects. We will go on a field trip to a local fabric store to find the supplies we need, and at the conclusion of the course you will have sewn yourself a sweatshirt or a t-shirt using your newly acquired skills.
Not Your Grandmother’s Needlepoint
Creative, relaxing, addictive! Needlepoint, one of the oldest forms of crafting, is new again, and the designs are fresh, fun, and (sometimes) funny! Instead of scenes of cats or flowers, needlepoint canvases include patterns from famous designers (think: Patagonia or Gucci), sights from your favorite vacation spots, or backgrounds to stitch a monogram. Want to make an ornament, a cuff, or a clutch? You will learn how to in NYGN's Mini-mester. You will also master a variety of simple stitch techniques, take a trip to Richmond to select a canvas, hear from an artist who paints needlepoint canvases (an actual career!), and learn how to "finish" a canvas. This class isn't just a week-long experience; it is the beginning of a passion! Watch out: You won't want to stop!
Oyster Odyssey: Exploring Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems
Do you enjoy a good oyster? Did you know that a single adult oyster can filter 50 gallons of water (the same amount as a 10-minute shower) in a day? Are you interested in learning about what goes on underneath the surface of the bay and rivers that surround us in southeastern Virginia? Does underwater farming, or aquaculture, sound like something from the future - or maybe an innovative way to create sustainable food sources and replenish our delicate marine ecosystems? If so, join us as we explore the wild and wonderful world of aquaculture. We will learn from experts in the field of aquaculture, visit underwater farms off our coasts, and dip our toes into the waterways that are home to over 130 oyster farms in Virginia.
Refurbish and Reuse
Participants in this workshop will learn basic skills in refurbishing, refinishing, painting, distressing, and decorating wooden furniture. Students will get over the fear of ‘DIY’ and find strength in what they can accomplish themselves! They’ll work with chalkboard paint, use paints and stains to create their own useful artwork and signs, design stenciled inspirational board décor, and create new, usable, pieces by refurbishing old furniture and creating new pieces with refurbished wood.
Renaissance Person
The definition of a ‘Renaissance Person’ is not just someone from Europe between the 1300s-1500s…it also means a person with many talents and skills that have knowledge in a variety of areas. This course’s aim is to create the 2025 version of a Renaissance person, by participating in a variety of activities and exploring many interests. Some of these activities include playing musical instruments, competing in athletic events, creating art, gaming, cooking, and more!
Sea Scouting
Over the course of four days, students will be introduced to the world of weather and surf-forecasting. Students will build their tools for assessing coastal conditions to plan a variety of on-water activities! THEN WE PUT OUR TOOLS TO THE TEST FOR REAL.
Students will be asked to aid in planning a day of paddle boarding, surfing, and other coastal activities throughout the week and their input on pre-outing checklist items will be measured against real-time conditions.
Semi-Autodidactic Crochet
Semi-autodidactic: adj. – partially self-taught
Crochet: noun – a craft in which yarn looped with a hook is used to create fabric or textile art
How does it feel to be an autodidact – a person who learns a new skill without formal instruction? To explore this question, we will throw ourselves into the world of crochet without much formal instruction. No one – not even the teachers – will be an expert before we begin. We will have some help along the way, but our real mission is to figure out as much as we can on our own as self-directed learners. As we learn the basics of the craft, we will also look at various ways that crochet skills can be applied. . . If you’re curious, look up amigurumi, hyperbolic crochet, and the Crochet Coral Reef Project.
Take it to the Mat
Discover the dynamic world of mat-based activities in "Take It to the Mat"! This engaging course introduces students to a variety of disciplines, including wrestling, self-defense, judo, Taekwondo, Karate, yoga, gymnastics/tumbling, and Pilates. Through hands-on practice and exploration, students will develop strength, flexibility, and confidence while learning foundational techniques across these diverse activities. Beyond physical movement, the course emphasizes the importance of a holistic approach to well-being, with discussions on proper nutrition and healthy living woven throughout. Whether you're looking to build physical skills, enhance your fitness, or embrace a healthier lifestyle, "Take It to the Mat" provides the tools and knowledge to thrive.
The Things They Left Behind
Come take an adventure to discover the historical significance of artifacts left behind by earlier settlers. Dive into the stories behind the artifacts at local historical sites and uncover their lasting significance. As we delve into the past, we will also look to the future and consider what we would “leave behind” as our legacy.
Tour De Virginia
We would like to invite you on an exploration of the bicycle through the lens of the history of this invention, the physics of this human powered machine, the rules of road cycling, hands-on bike maintenance, how-to change a tire, and finally, challenge our minds and bodies by cycling a variety of trails and courses in Southeastern Virginia. We plan to ride nearly 70 miles during the Minimester. The rides will consist of a 16-mile spin on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail and an epic 51.7-mile adventure on one of the nation’s best biking routes, The Virginia Capital Trail. Because of the activities in this course, participants are required to have appropriate equipment such as a geared road bike or mountain bike with road/slick tires, so leave the beach cruisers at home. If you are interested in learning lifelong skills, willing to push beyond your limits on two wheels, and develop a passion for cycling, please join us and our love of ALL THINGS CYCLING!
Tides of War: The Pacific Theater in WWII
When most Americans think about the Second World War, images come to mind of the European Theater. From media portrayals in movies and TV series to documentaries and even books, the vast majority of attention and focus goes to events on the European front. However, the event that ultimately propelled the United States into the war occurred on a Sunday morning in December. As Oahu slowly stirred, the naval forces of the Empire of Japan launched a surprise attack on the American Pacific Fleet. The attack on Pearl Harbor woke the American people from their isolationist slumber and propelled the Allies to ultimate victory four years later. In our course we will examine critical events of the often-overlooked Pacific Theater of the Second World War. We will examine strategic objectives and decisions that led to the Island-Hopping Campaign that progressively pushed back the Imperial Japanese forces and ultimately led to the unconditional surrender of the Empire of Japan on the 2nd of September, 1945. We will hear from guest lecturers, go on trips, watch movies, and read accounts of what transpired during some of the harshest and most contested battles of the Second World War. Students will have the opportunity to conduct a “table top” exercise to plan out one of the major battles from both the Allied and Japanese perspectives and then learn about what really happened. Students will examine some of the major themes of the conflict and reflect on how things may have turned out differently.
Training and Preparing for High End Performance
Interested in understanding fitness at a higher level? Then you will enjoy this Mini-mester. The course focus includes training preparation, training, and recovery. Students will learn more about nutrition as well as understanding a framework for evaluating the efficacy of their training.
Off Campus trips might include a visit to the Human Performance Laboratory at one of the Naval Bases, a visit to a local university to tour their testing equipment, and a visit to local gyms to highlight different ways to optimize training and make it fun.
Woodworking
This is a basic woodworking course for the novice and the more advanced woodworker. This course will study project planning and design, wood and wood products, safe operation of hand and power tools and joinery techniques. Upon completion of this course we will donate our projects to a family in need.
