Registration begins March 1. 

Academies for 7th – 10th graders

Creative Writing: Telling Extraordinary Stories

July 10 – 14, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person) 

July 17 – 21, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person) 

Students will create their own illustrative story, learn plot and story structure, build rich characters and explore the discipline of chunking – the art of incorporating daily writing. Students will also learn to edit by working collaboratively to peer critique each other’s work.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Matt Johnson

Crime and Punishment: Theories of Crime

July 17 – 21, 1 - 5 p.m. (in-person) 

Have you ever wondered why some people commit crimes and others don’t? Gain an understanding of the causes of crime (related to biology, sociology, psychology, and social factors), be able to discuss the origins of modern criminology and make connections between theories of crime causation and programs/policies.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Brian Schopf

Dynamic Nature Drawing

July 24 – 28, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person) 

Explore the world of outdoor drawing, from buildings to nature, on the beautiful Sacramento State campus. Students will create a personalized sketchbook around daily outdoor themes using various mediums to enhance their favorite sketches.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Sara Chacon Cardona

Gender Studies

June 26 – 30, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person) 

Have you ever wondered about the stereotype that boys wear blue and girls wear pink? Are you interested in learning more about how you perceive yourself and the world around you? In this course, students will explore topics in law, feminism, LGBTQ+, pop culture, and film while discovering how we have been taught to perform our gender identity within society.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Melissa Baldwin

Introduction to Python Programming

June 26 – 30, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person) 

Get a head start on a fascinating career in programming with a class in Python. Students will gain the skills to create desktop applications, websites, and web applications using Python and learn algorithmic thinking applications in other subjects such as science and math.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Gary Garot

Introduction to Video Game Development

June 20 – 23, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (online) 

Explore the fundamentals of game theory, game platform, and genres. Students will design their own game using Stencil (free to download). This course will provide students with a knowledge of digital graphic design, project planning and analytical work.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Cheng-Chi Lee

Performing Arts: Acting for Stage and Screen 

July 24 – 28, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person) 

Whether you are looking to become a professional actor or become more comfortable presenting in public, this course (taught by the Executive Director of the NorCal School of Arts) will give you the confidence and skills to make you a success in front of an audience!

Cost: $330

Instructor: Michele Hillien-Noufer

Web Design and WordPress: Designing Your Own Website

June 26 – 30, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person) 

Have you ever wanted to create and design your own webpage? Participants will learn how to develop visually impressive websites using WordPress and explore how to market websites with social media and search engine optimization (SEO).

Cost: $330

Instructor: Kirk McMorris

Writing Effective Arguments 

July 24 – 28, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (online) 

Through written and spoken practice, students learn to argue effectively using their voice. Students will learn to write clear and powerful arguments for school and beyond in various genres, including formal essays, letters, and poetry.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Sarah Hancock

Your Financial Journey: A Roadmap for Financial Success

July 24 – 28, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (online) 

This course introduces students to financial concepts, tools, and the best practices for saving money to achieve short and long-term goals.

Cost: $205

Instructor: Manuel Morfin

Academies for 9th – 12th graders 

Career Visions Academy

July 10 – 14, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  (in-person)

This course will help students to clarify their core values, interests and strengths, and develop a fluid plan for assessing majors and career paths as well as common myth-busting around the links between careers and majors.  Students will learn how to identify student internships or part-time entry level positions related to potential careers as well as how to network and connect to people in career fields of interest.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Jennie Chalios

Coding

July 24 – 28, 1 - 5 p.m. (in-person) 

Learn the basics of computer coding and how professions – from information technology to science and the arts – value coding and computer science skills. Gain a solid understanding of how programming languages are used to build applications.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Devin Cook

Cyber Security 

July 17 – 21, 1 - 5 p.m. (online) 

Explore the world of hackers, cyberattacks and online threats in a computer lab setting. Examine infamous security cases, gain hands-on lab experience and discover exciting careers in the field of cyber security.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Jun Dai

Data Science

June 20 – 23, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. (online) 

Learn how your data is tracked. Find insights hidden in every day information, from the apps on your smartphone to your online purchases. Cleanse data, apply algorithms written in the computer language called R and learn visualization methods.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Anna Baynes

Digital Forensics

July 17 – 21, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  (online) 

Want to find evidence left behind on a hard drive? Learn digital forensics principles and techniques through hands-on practices, and learn how to investigate a criminal or civil case that involves computers.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Xiaoyan Sun

Digital Journalism Storytelling

July 10 – 14, 1 – 5 p.m. (in-person)

Journalism isn’t just news articles these days; journalism is happening on every digital platform, usually in video or audio format. This course teaches you how to tell stories using digital platforms, like podcasting and video. With some core journalism skills, you’ll be able to tell fact-based stories that still capture attention.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Fernando Gallo

Engineering and Robotics

June 26 – 30, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  (in-person) 

Build and program your own robot to perform tasks. Learn about careers in engineering and artificial intelligence. Plus, design and build a popsicle stick bridge, then compete to see whose bridge can with stand the heaviest load.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Rustin Vogt

Entrepreneurship and Innovation 

July 17 – 21, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  (online) 

What does it mean to be an entrepreneur? Gain valuable insights into what it takes to turn a great idea into a reality through interactive classroom discussions, field trips, guest speakers and a “Shark Tank”-like pitch event.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Cameron Law

Exploring Careers in Design: Interior Design, Architecture and Construction

June 26 – 30, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  (in-person)

Curious about how buildings are designed and built? Discover how architecture, interior design and construction are interrelated. Learn about careers in all three fields and visit building construction sites.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Ginger Thompson

Fire and Emergency Services

July 10 – 14, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  (in-person)

Explore the rigors of fire station life, academy training and physical fitness requirements, while discovering career pathways in emergency and medical services. Students will complete this academy with an earned CPR certificate.

Cost: $ 330

Instructor: Jeff Cooke

Future Teachers

June 20 – 23, 12 – 5 p.m.  (online)

Explore careers in education with Sacramento State faculty and educators. Discover the various ways students learn, create and present classroom lesson plans, and see how you can change the world by becoming a teacher.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Chia Jung Chung

Introduction to 3D Printing and Design

July 17 – 21, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. (in-person)

Learn to use 3D printing to problem solve! In this new workshop, students will be given access to the Sacramento State maker space to build a solution to a design challenge.

After learning about 3-dimensional modeling and additive fabrication for rapid prototyping, you’ll be able to take your creation home and enjoy (and share) the fruits of your labor.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Preston Tobery

Introduction to Welding and Fabrication

June 20 – 23, 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.  (in-person)

Enter Sacramento State’s Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop for hands-on experience in engineering and fabrication. Learn the fundamentals of welding, how to use basic fabrication equipment such as sheet metal breaks, shears and drill presses, and create your own welding project.

Cost: $330

Instructor: Rustin Vogt

Questions?

Summer Youth Academies are a longstanding tradition at Sacramento State. Have questions? Get answers to frequently asked questions.