Campamento: ¡Alto Secreto!

Day 1: Aliens
Day 2: Robots & Artificial Intelligence
Day 3: Time Travel
Day 4: Cryptography

In this 4-day camp we will explore, discuss, and debate the topics of Aliens, Robots & Artificial Intelligence, Time Travel, and Cryptography. 

Day 1: Aliens (50-minute session)

During this 50-minute session, we will:

* review essential vocabulary pertinent to the topic of aliens
* discuss and debate scientific theories and possible evidence for and against the existence of extraterrestrial life
* analyze and discuss scientific attempts to estimate the number of possible alien civilizations
* contemplate and debate the pros and cons of attempting alien contact 
* analyze and discuss an article in which the late theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking warns about contacting aliens
* read/discuss the short story “Galactic Zap” by award-winning children’s author David Lubar

At the end of this class families will receive a PDF offering exciting ways to take their exploration of aliens even further!


Day 2: Robots & Artificial Intelligence (50-minute session)

During this 50-minute session we will: 

* review essential vocabulary pertinent to the topic of robotics & AI
* consider the defining characteristics of a robot
* analyze and debate the utility of a real-world example of an AI-powered robot
* see evidence that the advancement of robotics and AI is happening faster than many of us realize
* enjoy a sneak peek of Tom Angleberger’s Fuzzy, an award-winning middle-grade novel featuring a fascinating AI-powered protagonist 

At the end of this class families will receive a PDF offering exciting ways to take their exploration of robots & AI even further!

Day 3: Time Travel (50-minute session)

During this 50-minute session, we will: 

* review essential vocabulary pertinent to the topic of time travel
* review the history of measuring and keeping time
* contemplate and debate the pros and cons of theoretical time travel
* analyze and discuss an article describing a real-world time travel experiment conducted by the late theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking 
* enjoy a sneak peek of Leila Sales’ Once Was a Time, an award-winning middle-grade time travel-themed novel offering an emotional mix of sci-fi and historical fiction

At the end of this class families will receive a PDF offering exciting ways to take their exploration of time travel even further!


Day 4: Cryptography (50-minute session)

During this 50-minute session, we will: 

* cover essential vocabulary pertinent to the topic of cryptography
* analyze classic examples of encryption tools and techniques
* discuss and debate real-world uses for, and inherent weaknesses of, various forms of cryptography
* investigate the burgeoning field of quantum cryptography
* enjoy a sneak peek of Deborah Hopkinson’s How I Became a Spy, an award-winning middle-grade historical fiction novel set in WWII London 

At the end of this class families will receive a PDF offering exciting ways to take their exploration of cryptography even further!