This course will discuss what makes up a good nutritious and providing an attainable way to achieve the nutrient goals. We will also discuss certain diet fads and barriers to good nutrition. We plan on including an interactive activity at the end, such as a true or false quiz.

Want to learn how to make friendship bracelets? In this class you will learn how to make two different styles of bracelets then have the opportunity to make your own!

Students will learn the basic principles of outdoor shelter building, understand the importance of shelters for safety and survival, watch virtual and live demonstrations of shelter building, and draw a simple shelter illustrating the principles presented in the lesson.

Ready to make people laugh? Join this fun and interactive class to learn the secrets of stand-up comedy! We'll explore joke-writing, comedic timing, and how to confidently deliver jokes that'll leave your audience rolling. No experience needed—just bring your sense of humor!

By the end of this lesson, students will understand key strategies for managing stress, time, and academic responsibilities in college. They will learn how to set priorities, maintain a healthy work-life balance, and use practical tools for organization and self-care.

Explore the fascinating field of codes, ciphers, and cryptography – combining history, linguistics, math, and mystery. Learn about all manner of codes, from ancient secret messages and WWII codes to Kryptos and modern encryption. In this course, you’ll learn how to encode and decode famous ciphers and how code-breaking advanced to the present day. Whether you're a puzzle lover, a tech enthusiast, or just curious about digital security, get ready to crack the code!

Level up your arts and crafts with paper quilling! We'll cover how to roll strips of paper and shape them into coils, teardrops, squares, scrolls, and more. After learning the basics, you'll be able to create your own artwork using paper quilling techniques and take it home with you!

This hands-on workshop introduces students to the art of bookbinding, blending creativity with craftsmanship. Through a step-by-step approach, students will learn a beginner-friendly binding technique, gaining an understanding of book structure and design. They will create their own handmade books using simple tools and materials, exploring how bookbinding can be applied in creative projects like sketchbooks, journals, or zines. By the end of the session, students will have a finished book to take home. No prior experience is required—just curiosity and a love for hands-on learning!

Ever wondered how bath bombs fizz and swirl with color? In this hands-on class, you’ll become a bath bomb scientist, mixing ingredients to create your own colorful and scented bath bombs! Learn the science behind the fizz and take home your creations!

Learn how to twist balloon dogs, turtles, and hearts in Balloon Art 101! This skill may seem unconventional and a little bit silly, but I promise you that it will serve you well. Everyone LOVES balloons and you will be the talk of any event or party.

No experience necessary and all materials will be provided to you.


Prerequisites
A willingness to learn!

Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to always be positive if someone or something frustrates you. However, rather than taking that experience as a negative one and making yourself feel badly, learn how to love yourself. The biggest amount of love you can ever get is from yourself, and without loving yourself, you cannot properly love others. Learn how to love yourself through making origami hearts and talking about moments where we struggled to love ourselves because of external factors.

From scales and chords to melodies and harmonies, come explore the building blocks of your favorite songs. Learn about free, online music creation platforms to start writing your own tunes. No music background necessary!

Have you ever been forced to read a Shakespearean play for School. Did you hate the focus on monologues and sappy romance. Well fear not, In this class dive into the world of Shakespearean Insults and learn how to make witty retorts like the Bard.

In this course, we will be teaching you how to play 4 traditional Korean instruments: janggu, buk, swe, and jing. Each instrument will be taught by the members of our club and students will be able to learn and play any instrument they wish! We will be teaching a rythym, from a song called Yeongnam, and students will play what they learned, together, towards the end of the session!

Ever wondered how the lights in your room turn on or how your phone charges? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the basics of circuits, explore Ohm’s Law, and build your very own working circuit using a breadboard! No experience needed—just curiosity and a willingness to tinker. Get ready to light up an LED, troubleshoot like an engineer, and take your first step into the world of electronics! 💡🔧✨


Prerequisites
none

In this class, you will be learning about how 0s and 1s can be used to create different logic gates such as the Not, And, and Or gates which when combined together help to make the processors of your computers. We will start with basic logic gates and how they work and by the end of the session, we will run a simulation to show how these gates work together to help the computer add and subtract.

This class will provide an overview of the exciting field of Sustainable Engineering! We will cover the variety of careers within the field and discuss the importance of environmental awareness in engineering, including Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. We will also be conducting an interactive activity and constructing Rube Goldberg Machines. Students will be split into teams to create their own machines with recycled materials and compete for prizes!

Join Cornell Assistive Technologies (CAT) to learn more about engineering processes and circuitry! We will be working together to form small circuits made from batteries and wires. Additionally, we will demonstrate how much circuitry can be applied to other engineering disciplines. In particular, CAT is focused on reverse engineering toys to make them more accessible to students with physical disabilities in the Ithaca community.

How does "Spring Water" get to your water bottle? We will be experimenting with filtration methods to learn the step to get to clean water.

How does "Spring Water" get to your water bottle? We will be experimenting with filtration methods to learn the step to get to clean water.

Step into the thrilling world of rare book collecting—where history, mystery, and hidden treasures collide! This hands-on, adventure-packed course will transform you into a real-life book detective, uncovering the secrets of valuable first editions, misprints worth thousands, and banned books that shaped history.

You’ll learn how to spot hidden gems in thrift stores, garage sales, and libraries, discover fascinating stories of stolen manuscripts and lost books, and even build your own dream rare book collection. Whether you’re a book lover, an aspiring collector, or just someone who loves a good treasure hunt, this course will show you how to turn ordinary books into extraordinary finds.

Get ready to crack codes, hunt for clues, and unlock the secrets of the rare book world—because your next great discovery could be waiting on a dusty shelf near you!

📚 No prior knowledge required—just curiosity and a love for adventure!

Do you love movies and fantasy? Would you like to know more about media and movie literacy? Well look no further! This class combines these topics while watching Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse!


Prerequisites
None

Enjoy a break for lunch with your friends! Please register for at least one lunch period on each day of the program.

You have seen machine-learning models flourishing everywhere from DeepMind's AlphaGo beating Lee Sedol to OpenAI's o-3 model, which admit it, we all have been using. But how do they really work? How does one reason about ML models, and how do you make one?

We will motivate the theoretical foundations of machine learning, and then see how they apply (and break) when we look at ML models in practice, like Deep Neural Networks, Diffusion, and Large Language Models.


Prerequisites
familiarity with algebra, functions, and set notation.

Understand how AI works (machine learning, training data, bias, neural networks).

Explore what AI is good at vs. bad at and where it struggles.

Discuss the future of AI—will it surpass human intelligence?

Engage in interactive activities that demonstrate AI’s strengths and weaknesses.

Are you “petri-fied” of catching a virus? Do you want to become “cultured” on staying healthy? In this class, we will cover many different topics related to viruses and illnesses present in the winter months, including:
- Overview of the immune system
- Examples of different kinds of microbes
- The process of virus transmission
- Common winter illnesses
- Ways to prevent sickness
- Benefits of a healthy immune system.

There will be fun activities to test your knowledge throughout!

The class will explain what autoimmune disorders are, what the immune system is and what parts are involved, examples of autoimmune disorders, and ways to improve living conditions with an autoimmune disorder.

Have you ever looked up at the sky (or a satellite image of clouds) and wondered about what they meant for the weather in the next hour or day? How do they even exist in the first place? And why is upstate New York so cloudy, especially in the winter? This course provides a broad introduction to clouds and will address questions like these. We’ll discuss how clouds form and grow and how to classify cloud types (featuring cloud photos taken at Cornell!). We’ll explore some particular and unique patterns clouds can exhibit, looking from the ground up and from far above via satellite imagery and animations. Some other topics include how cloud cover varies in different seasons and regions, their crucial role in regulating Earth’s climate, and challenges of modeling and forecasting clouds.

Severe thunderstorms are common and potentially dangerous weather occurrences over much of the US, including the Northeast. Such storms pose a variety of hazards, including flash floods, damaging winds, hail, and tornadoes. Students will learn about the basic science behind thunderstorms and the hazards they pose. The course will also introduce students to resources for monitoring potential storms and their hazards, including outlooks, watches, and warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Students will also learn where to find and how to interpret weather radar images, and what actions to take when severe weather strikes. Examples from previous severe thunderstorm and tornado events, including the Northeast, will be shown.

How is insulin made on a large scale to keep up with demands from pharmaceutical companies? Can plants be modified to create more nutritious foods for our world's growing population? These questions can be answered using synthetic biology! This field bridges the gap between engineering, biology, and innovation. Today Cornell’s project team iGEM will be introducing the topic of synthetic biology and genetic engineering. We will give an overview of synthetic biology and how genetic engineering plays a role in the field. Then we will explore these topics hands-on by going through various stations, like extracting DNA from strawberries!

Interested in learning more about the healthcare field? This class goes over a selection of different healthcare careers, including but not limited to medicine, veterinary medicine, and healthcare consulting. There is also an opportunity to chat with current pre-health students at Cornell.

With challenges such as increased urban populations, changing productivity of agricultural lands, and soil degradation, it is important to look at alternative, non-traditional agricultural practices. Hydroponics, the process of growing plants without soil in greenhouses or vertical “plant factories” is one such practice. In this course, you will learn the basics of growing plants hydroponically, think about ways to make hydroponic crop production more sustainable, and create a small and simple hydroponic system to grow leafy greens.

The recent Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for increased disease surveillance and public health outreach. In this class, we will discuss strategies for community engagement and outbreak containment, and work to understand how to take a pandemic from global emergency to a baseline of normalcy.

Have you ever been curious about emergency medicine outside of the
hospital emergency room? In this class, we will be exploring the field of emergency medicine from a first responder perspective, under four broad themes: (i) air: space and aviation; (ii) water: diving, hurricanes, and tsunamis; (iii) fire: wildfires and volcanic eruptions; and (iv) earth: earthquakes and landslides.


Prerequisites
None.

What do ice cream and marshmallows have in common? They're both foams! Join us to learn about the history, production, and science behind everyone's favorite frozen treat. With only a few simple ingredients, and a lot of clever chemistry, milk can be turned into ice cream! Everyone will get the chance to make their very own ice cream through a fun demonstration.

Have you ever wondered why guitar strings vibrate and make noise? Maybe why pendulums swing backwards and forwards? Through experiments and demonstrations, we’ll explore key concepts like frequency, amplitude, and resonance! Get ready to shake, swing, and vibrate your way through the physics of oscillations!

Can you create a functioning ecosystem in just one class period?

In this hands-on course, students will build miniature ecosystems using bottles, soil, river water, and organic materials. By selecting components and assembling their own enclosed environments, students will explore key ecological concepts such as nutrient cycling, biodiversity, and the balance between biotic and abiotic factors. Through observation and discussion, we will analyze how ecosystems function and what makes them sustainable using real world examples.

Your smile is one of the first things people notice, but are you taking care of it the right way? In this session, we’ll talk about simple habits that keep your teeth strong, your gums healthy, and your breath fresh. You’ll learn the best way to brush and floss, how your diet affects your teeth, and why things like sugar can cause more harm than you think. Taking care of your smile now means a healthier and brighter future!

We all know that bacteria and viruses tend to have bad reputations, but are they fully deserved? This class will offer a broad overview of basic bacterial and viral structure and function. We will consider their implications for humans and the environment, in addition to exploring their study in the lab.

Why do we crave junk food, and how do companies make these snacks irresistible? In this session, we will explore:
- the science of cravings
- how food companies hack your brain + a fun activity
- how to outsmart your cravings
Get ready to decode your favorite snacks and take control of your cravings!

What really goes into skincare products, and how do they affect the skin? In this class we will:
(1) explore the structure and function of skin
(2) break down common skincare ingredients and their biochemical functions
(3) analyze real product labels to identify key ingredients
(4) learn how to separate marketing myths from scientific facts.
Take this class to learn how to make informed skincare choices and see beyond the hype!

This engaging, hands-on lesson is designed for 7th-12th grade students and explores the fascinating process of how the heart functions. Over the course of 50 minutes, students will dive into the science behind heartbeats, learning about the heart's structure, the electrical signals that regulate its rhythm, and the importance of a healthy heart. Through a combination of visual aids, group activities, and demonstrations, students will:
Understand the roles of key heart components, learn how electrical signals trigger the heart to beat and how this process keeps the blood circulating, and investigate heart rate by measuring their pulse during different activities and discussing how exercise affects the heart. Students will leave the class with a deeper appreciation for the heart's intricate processes and the importance of maintaining cardiovascular health.

Did your parents ever tell you that you are made of stardust? Because that’s true!
In “We Are All Stardust: Origin of the Universe”, we will explore the origin and composition of our beautiful universe. As an introductory level astronomy class, no prior knowledge in astronomy is required. Accompanied with stunning visuals and animations, students will learn and apply knowledge on big bang, dark energy, and molecular astrophysics. We hope that at the end of this class students will leave not only with astronomical knowledge and a Fuertes Observatory sticker, but also with a curiosity about our universe, and themselves.

Pain is a response to stimulus, but how does it work? What reflexes are involved?How do we study it? How do we apply this knowledge to the medical field and beyond?

Ever wondered what to do if your dog eats chocolate? In any other emergency?

Learn about common veterinary emergencies and what to do to save your pets' life if the situation arises - we will cover practical concerns, physiology, and more.

This course takes you on a journey through some of the world's most stunning gardens, from the delicately elegant Suzhou Gardens to majestic imperial gardens in China, from serene Japanese Zen gardens to the grand European palace landscapes. Through rich imagery and engaging descriptions, we’ll explore the unique styles, structures, and cultural influences behind these breathtaking spaces. In the second half, we’ll dive deeper—why do gardens differ so much across regions? How do history, climate, and philosophy shape their designs? By the end, you'll not only appreciate global garden artistry but also understand the deeper stories they tell. Get ready to see gardens in a whole new way!

Learn about some of the different events that students in Science Olympiad compete in! Get a crash course on the basics for each event, then get hands on with interactive and collaborative exercises. This is not only an opportunity to learn about science through fun, but also a way to learn about getting involved in Science Olympiad.

Have you ever wondered how your taste buds work? Why do some foods taste sweet while others are salty? Come learn about it at our class! Bonus: we will have MIRACLE BERRIES for you all to try!

Ever wondered what it’s like to make real medical decisions under pressure? In this interactive challenge, you and the class will step into the shoes of healthcare professionals, racing against our clock to save a patient. You’ll be faced with real-world medical scenarios and have to choose the right answers to move forward. What questions should you ask first? Do you call an ambulance, drive, or take a cab? Which specialist? Every choice you make will impact your patient’s survival! Think fast, work as a team, learn, and have fun!

Are you a fan of true crime, forensic science, strange flora and fauna? Learn about all this and more as we cover venous creatures and poisonous plants, historical poisoning cases, and the science of the lethal compounds, spanning from ancient Rome to modern-day America. Alongside this, we’ll explore the rise of modern toxicology, the tools that forensic scientists and doctors use to identify toxins, and how studying poison’s effects helps scientists turn deadly weapons into life-saving medical treatments.

Have you ever wanted to unleash your inner mad scientist and make elephant toothpaste? Well, here’s your chance! In this course, we’ll cover some of the chemistry behind the famous Elephant Toothpaste experiment and also recreate it ourselves!

By better understanding yourself, you will become better at handling tough events in life! Learn about the way your mind works, including emotional regulation, cognitive biases, and strategies for improving your own mental health!

Have you ever just wanted to read someone’s mind, but they’re making it really hard for you to do so? Like if someone’s lying, how could you ever be able to tell? Or why someone did a certain thing, why did they do that? This lesson will help you answer these questions and more, as I am passionate about learning why people act the way they do.

Crafting Change: Pet Toys and Civic Responsibility introduces students to civic engagement and voting rights through hands-on service. Using fabric scraps, stuffing, and optional catnip, students create pet toys for local shelters while discussing how community involvement connects to good citizenship. The lesson begins with a discussion on the link between making pet toys and civic duty, followed by a demonstration and crafting session where students consider broader community needs. As they work, they explore key civic concepts like voting rights, responsibilities, and participation. Small groups then brainstorm other community service ideas, culminating in a mock vote to select a project, reinforcing the democratic process. The session concludes with reflections on civic duties and encourages further involvement, with extensions such as researching shelter needs or inviting a local official to speak. This approach makes civic education interactive, fostering both awareness and action.

Have you ever wondered why people make the decisions they do about the environment? Why do some prioritize economic growth while others fight to protect nature? In this class, we’ll explore the key concepts of environmental philosophy and see how they shape real-world dilemmas—from plastic bans to oil drilling and urban development.
By applying philosophical perspectives, we’ll uncover how these choices impact the world—and how they can guide us moving forward. What will YOU choose?


Prerequisites
N/A

What if yo-yos were so big that you could barely hold them in your hands; so big that you couldn't keep them attached to the string? Now take that and scrap the "what if," because Chinese yo-yo is exactly that! Also known as Diabolo, Chinese yo-yo is a type of performance art where you do tricks with a yo-yo separated from the string. If you're interested in learning how to do basic tricks with the Chinese yo-yo, come learn with the ProYos, Cornell's one and only Chinese yo-yo club!