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Apply to Be a Happy Camper this Summer
February 25
Students entering their senior year at an Oregon public or private high school in fall 2010 may now apply to attend this summer’s... More
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Happy Camp
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Happy Camp is a summer honors symposium for bright, ambitious, curious teens who use the humanities to consider the pursuit of happiness and how it shapes our culture.
Apply to Be a Happy Camper this Summer
Students entering their senior year at an Oregon public or private high school in fall 2010 may now apply to attend this summer’s Happy Camp, August 6-8, 2010, on the University of Portland campus. At Happy Camp, you’ll join fellow students from around the state to explore diverse philosophical, economic, historical, and scientific approaches to the pursuit of happiness.
In order to apply, you must be recommended by your school principal. If you’re interested, please talk to your principal and direct him or her to this website for more information. Once your principal agrees to recommend you for the program, you can register online here by April 15, 2010.
For more information, visit the program page or contact program coordinator Sarah Van Winkle at (503) 241-0543, ext. 112, or via email.
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Happy Camp: Oregon Humanities Honors Symposium
How do you define happiness? How do our definitions of happiness shape our culture? Get together with fellow teens from around the state to tackle these and other fundamental and eternal human questions about happiness.
What is Happy Camp?
Happy Camp is Oregon Humanities’ Honors Symposium, a three-day overnight camp for bright, curious teens. Led by outstanding teachers from around the state, one hundred teens explore diverse philosophical, economic, historical, and scientific approaches to the pursuit of happiness.
Where is it held?
Happy Camp takes place on the beautiful campus of the University of Portland. Happy Campers stay in chaperoned dorms and attend daily workshops, lectures, films, and discussions led by high school teachers and university faculty.
What’s expected of participating students?
Participants are sent a packet of readings related to the theme of happiness as well as several activities to complete before arriving at camp.
What will I do at Happy Camp?
• Consider what great thinkers have to say about happiness, from Plato and Benjamin Franklin, to Ursula K. Le Guin and contemporary filmmakers.
• Learn from other Happy Campers, teachers, and college faculty.
• Explore happiness as it relates to philosophy, biology, ecology, spirituality, economics, politics, the arts, and relationships.
• Ask questions and discuss what you are learning.
• Have a great time with other Happy Campers!
What does it cost?
It’s free for all participants.
Am I eligible? If so, how do I register?
Students entering their senior year at an Oregon public or private high school in fall 2010 are eligible to participate. In order to attend Happy Camp, you have to be recommended by your school principal. If you’re interested, please talk to your principal. If he or she needs information about Happy Camp, please direct him or her to this website or print out a copy of the brochure below and pass it along. Once your principal agrees to recommend you for the program, you can register online here before April 15, 2010.
For more information, contact program coordinator Sarah Van Winkle.
For interested teachers:
Happy Camp instructors participate in planning sessions and lead seminar and breakout sessions during the camp. Former participants have appreciated the opportunity to work with new colleagues in a creative, interdisciplinary setting. Instructors stay in dorms on campus but do not have chaperone responsibilities and are compensated for their participation. If you’re interested in being a Happy Camp instructor, please talk with your principal or contact director of programs Jennifer Allen by March 15, 2010.
History of Happy Camp
Happy Camp (formerly Summer Honors Symposium) was launched in 2006 in partnership with Portland-area public and private schools to provide bright Portland-area teens with the opportunity to explore, along with a group of ambitious and curious peers, rich humanities topics. This program was, and remains, a cooperative effort of the public school districts of Beaverton, Sherwood, Riverdale, Tigard-Tualatin, and Hillsboro; and the private schools Oregon Episcopal School, Valley Catholic, Jesuit High School, St. Mary’s, and Catlin Gabel School, as well as other high schools around the state of Oregon. Since 2008, camp participants have focused solely on exploring the diverse historical, spiritual, philosophical, and economic approaches to happiness. All activities are led by teachers selected by Oregon Humanities and participating schools for their interest, experience, and enthusiasm, as well as University of Portland faculty. In 2009, Happy Camp was expanded to include rising seniors from schools across Oregon.
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