Splash Fall 2025
Course Catalog

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!

Classic mystery where students will get a set of clues and have to solve the unknown. No Spoilers!

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!

Learn to play different types of Clash Royale decks including cycle, beatdown, and control! We’ll draft decks, scrim classmates, and run mini-tournaments to sharpen strategy, elixir tracking, and counterplay — all while having fun and roasting misplays together.


Prerequisites
Please have Clash Royale downloaded on your mobile device before coming to class.

Join the Homelessness Action Project at Cornell in discussing homelessness in Ithaca and beyond: current issues, actions, and potential long-term solutions. While we discuss, we will also be decorating gingerbread houses. Come if you want to learn about advocacy and social justice issues while unleashing your artistic side!

Step into the boots of a firefighter in this introductory class taught by volunteer firefighters from the Cayuga Heights Fire Department. Students will learn the basics of fire behavior, teamwork, and tactics before putting their skills to the test in a hands-on mock fireground scenario. Working in small “companies,” participants will practice simulated search and hose line advancement, gaining a realistic glimpse into the coordination and problem-solving that define the fire service.

This class introduces the logical foundations and strategic techniques of Sudoku, from basic elimination to moderately advanced methods such as X-Wing, Swordfish, and 3D Medusa. Taught by an internationally ranked Sudoku competitor, the session will emphasize structured reasoning, pattern recognition, and efficient problem-solving approaches suitable for all experience levels.

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!

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!

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!

Discover how Coco Chanel transformed simple symbols like pearls, camellias, and black-and-white into independency and female empowerment. In this 50-minute workshop, students will explore Chanel’s legacy and design their own bracelet—an authentic, wearable expression of personal style. Bring your friends and peers to build memorable and an authentic bracelet


Prerequisites
None! bring your friends!

Feeling stressed? Let’s turn tension into slimy fun! In this hands-on class, you’ll make colorful, stretchy slime while learning useful stress-relief tricks to calm your mind.

This course will teach you the basics of music production using the DAW Logic. Students in the course will collaborate to make a song by the time the class ends.

Join this class for a brief introduction in electronics including hands-on experience working with an Arduino board. We’ll be going over the basics of circuits, electrical components, and code, and using this knowledge to complete fun challenges. Although we will move quickly, students will be split into smaller groups for a more tailored experience, so all experience levels are welcome!

In this hands-on class, students in grades 7–10 will explore the exciting field of marine energy: the process of capturing power from waves, ocean currents, and thermal . Students will learn why marine energy is an important part of a sustainable future and how engineers design technologies to harness it. Through interactive lessons and a fun Do-It-Yourself challenge, participants will build a simple wave-powered device, seeing firsthand how classroom concepts translate into real-world engineering solutions. By the end of the class, students will gain a deeper understanding of renewable energy and be inspired to imagine innovative ways to power the planet using the ocean’s motion.

Learn more about assistive technology and why it's important. Students will be hands-on with tools to learn how to re-wire toys to be more accessible for kids with disabilities.

Clean water is something most of us take for granted. But how is it actually made safe to drink? In this hands-on class, you’ll step into the role of an environmental engineer and design your own mini water filter using sand, gravel, and charcoal. We’ll test how well different materials remove “pollutants” from muddy water and talk about how real-world engineers use similar designs to solve water quality challenges around the world. By the end of class, you’ll understand how filtration works and why clean water is one of the biggest global engineering challenges of our time.


Prerequisites
None

Using your engineering skills, can you make it to orbit in a single class section?

In this hands-on course, students will be introduced to the basics of aerospace engineering though the video game "Kerbal Space Program". Students will explore orbital mechanics, aerodynamics, and rocket design through the game's simple user interface. This class focuses on experimentation and no math is required, but mathematical topics can be explored through supplimental problems and discussion with the instructor.

Surreal settings often mirror the internal battles of the people in them, such as self image issues, depression, and a long lasting search for healing. This class will dive into how surreal worlds in animated cartoons externalize inner struggles, why they resonate so deeply with audiences, and what it says about the power of storytelling.

This course introduces students to biomimetic architectural design—the study of how nature’s forms, systems, and processes inspire building solutions.

Hi everyone! We are the HeARTbeat at Cornell, Cornell’s premier medical humanities journal. Our publication focuses on providing a creative outlet for any members of the community who want to express their experiences and perspectives on various discussions related to health. We look at health through a multitude of perspectives, such as a biological, anthropological, and historical lens. Transforming thoughts, memories, and emotions into powerful representations of health, The HeARTbeat at Cornell serves as a way to create a deeper connection to the ingenuity and interdisciplinary nuance that exists within science.

In our class, students will explore how art and writing help patients and doctors communicate. We will focus on the importance of the humanities in medicine, exploring different sectors of the integration of the humanities in medicine. The class will be highly interactive! You will learn how to draw anatomically correct organs, the role of visual communication in medicine, and how art therapy becomes a powerful tool in the healing process. By the end, students will have a greater view of the importance of the humanities in medicine.

We hope to see you all there!

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

From getting stronger to boosting your confidence, strength training has so many benefits! In this class, we will break down the science and strategy behind building strength safely and effectively, according to your personal goals. You will learn about the types of strength training and techniques that match your goals, fuel your body with the right nutrition, and how to feel more confident and prepared in the gym! Whether you've never stepped foot in a gym before or are passionate about lifting and want to learn more, this class will give you the knowledge and tools to build confidence and get stronger!

Want to beat your friends at card games? Learn how to maximize your chances and calculate basic probability with hands-on examples.

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.

Ever wonder how math can explain bird flocks, viral trends, or even procrastination?
The world may look messy and unpredictable, but behind it often lies elegant mathematical structure.

In this class, we’ll explore how math and computation can model communities and behavior, by touching on introductory topics in network science, game theory, and complex systems.

Along the way, you’ll see how surprisingly simple models can reveal deep insights about our world.

Have you ever wondered how math can be useful in the real world, if at all? Do you wonder if there is more to math than just equations and formulas? Are you simply curious about interesting math problems?

This course will answer those questions and more. Through interactive problem-solving and activities, students will be exposed to a wide range of topics in math in an easy-to-follow format. Students will learn how math can be used to solve complex, real-world problems and be exposed to some mind-bending paradoxes.

While the goal of this course is to give students a taste of what mathematics can be like beyond high school, no advanced math background is required. This course aims to provide students with a new perspective on math, so students of all backgrounds, from those who absolutely hate math, to those who are interested in majoring in mathematics, are encouraged to register.

The world of machine learning is really just one big optimization problem. Engineers and Scientists also face similar challenges when mixing chemicals, and business owners when weighing costs against revenue. At the core, all these are linear algebra problems built around finding relationships between variables by solving systems of equations. By the end of this class, through hands-on interactive exercises and games, students will feel confident formulating linear systems from real-world scenarios, solving them, and recognizing when a solution exists and when it doesn’t.


Prerequisites
No prerequisites needed

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’ll explore the birth, life, and spectacular deaths of stars to uncover the origin and composition of our beautiful universe. This introductory astronomy class requires no prior knowledge and features stunning visuals and animations. Students will learn about the big bang, dark energy, molecular astrophysics, and how collapsing stars create black holes, neutron stars, supernovae, and powerful gamma-ray bursts. By the end, you’ll leave not only with astronomical knowledge, and a deeper curiosity about the cosmos and yourself.

Curious about a career in healthcare but not sure where to start? Join members of Alpha Iota Gamma, Cornell’s pre-health fraternity, to explore different paths—from medicine and nursing to public health and biotech. You’ll create your own healthcare “mind map,” play a fun Kahoot, and chat with Cornell students about their journeys in health and medicine!

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!

How can microbes help us live on the Moon and Mars? Many microbes possess unique abilities that we can use to make food, medicine, energy, and recycle waste. Join us to explore how these tiny life forms could become our greatest allies in building a sustainable life beyond Earth!

Have you ever wondered if there’s life beyond Earth? Together, we’ll explore what life might look like on other planets—and why we haven’t found it yet! We’ll look at some of the toughest places on Earth, like deep oceans, hot deserts, and icy poles, to see how they can teach us about other worlds.

You’ll meet some of Earth’s most amazing survivors called extremophiles—tiny living things that can survive where almost nothing else can. By learning about them, you’ll discover how scientists search for life in space and how Earth helps guide that search.

By the end, you’ll see our planet as a map for finding life in the universe—and you might leave with big questions (and dreams!) about what could be living out there among the stars.


Prerequisites
None but it will be helpful to have a general understanding of basic sciences

Did you know that many plants around us can help soothe a sore throat, calm your nerves, or ease a stomachache? In Roots and Remedies, we’ll explore how herbs you might have in your backyard can act as natural medicines. Students will learn about the science behind common herbs like mint, lavender, and chamomile — how they work, where they come from, and what makes them special. Students will also be able to make their own medical remedies at the end!

Learn about different professions in the medical field! For those passionate about health and patient care but aren't sure if they want to go down the conventional path.

We'll explore how your brain hears, remembers, and sometimes can't let go of music. Through fun demos and discussion, we'll show how sensation and perception shape the way we experience sound.

Why do people keep going back to substances they know can hurt them? In this class, we’ll explore the science behind addiction in terms of how substances like nicotine, alcohol, and opioids change the brain. Students will learn how the brain’s reward system works; what makes teenagers especially vulnerable; and how tolerance, dependence, and withdrawal develop.

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 heard of String Theory?! Well, take a front row seat to a very beginner-friendly dive into how physicists try to combine gravity with quantum mechanics using tiny vibrating strings!

Ever wonder what’s actually going on in your body when you drink an energy drink? In this interactive session, we’ll uncover what happens to your brain, heart, and hormones after that caffeine boost hits, and the detrimental crash that can follow.

Like plants but can't keep them alive? Like art but can't seem to get past the blank page? There is hope for you!

Learn about the beauty of plants, inside and out, while learning a traditional artform that has been passed down through generations over 1,000+ years!

Cross stitch is embroidery made simple - just stitch an X on some cloth. Then another one. And keep going until the pattern is finished!

We will have pre-made patterns that are beginner friendly, each highlighting a unique plant anatomical structure. Students can keep their work and leave with new knowledge on plant science and traditional art.

In this course, we will deconstruct the circulatory system as the sophisticated, high-pressure logistics network that it is. We will explore the physiology of the heart's dual-pump mechanism, the distinct structure and function of arteries, capillaries, and veins, and the critical role of blood components in transport and defense.

Learn first aid skills with CUEMS - Cornell's emergency medical services! This class will run through basics of bleeding control, splinting, and other first aid necessities! Hope to see you there!

Why do neon signs glow bright? How do astronomers know what stars are made of? In this hands-on course, we’ll explore the science of light and color. Using gas tubes and spectroscopes, we will uncover how light reveals the hidden building blocks of the universe!

Have you ever thought you’ve seen a shape in a cloud, or fallen for a magic trick? If so, there’s a pretty high chance you’ve heard about or seen an optical illusion! This class will dive into details on the science behind optical illusions and how it relates to visual processing. In this course, you’ll learn how optical illusions work, how to draw them, and how to recognize their appearances in everyday life.


Prerequisites
None

Advice from two pre-med undergraduates at Cornell with different application approaches on useful extracurriculars to not only boost your resume but also feel more prepared for college. What do admissions look for? How to frame your application? How to decide what to focus on?

Like plants but can't keep them alive? Like art but can't seem to get past the blank page? There is hope for you!

Learn about the beauty of plants, inside and out, while learning a traditional artform that has been passed down through generations over 1,000+ years!

Cross stitch is embroidery made simple - just stitch an X on some cloth. Then another one. And keep going until the pattern is finished!

We will have pre-made patterns that are beginner friendly, each highlighting a unique plant anatomical structure. Students can keep their work and leave with new knowledge on plant science and traditional art.


Prerequisites
Stitching Plants 1 recommended, or prior cross stitch experience

Ever wondered what to do if someone suddenly collapses? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn how to recognize cardiac emergencies, perform high-quality CPR, and use an AED to restore a heartbeat. You’ll also learn about the Good Samaritan Law and how you can help safely and confidently in real-life situations. By the end of class, you’ll have the skills and confidence to save a life and even earn a small prize for completing the training!

Between Socrates's execution by Hemlock and Agatha Christie's use of Yew toxins in her novels, poisonous plants have always been a dangerous and alluring window into the botanical world - yet, few know their history or the science behind them. How is it that Deadly Nightshade and Tomatoes come from the same family? How can harmless fruits like apples quickly turn fatal? Come learn how these plants left a dangerous trail through the ages, what makes them deadly, and how to recognize both the plants and symptoms - just in case you come across them yourself.

Discover how building strength can build health! In this interactive session, students will explore how muscles do more than move our bodies — they protect joints, boost metabolism, and support mental health. Through activities and simple movement experiments, participants will learn how strength training can prevent injury, improve mood, and even help treat chronic conditions. Perfect for curious minds interested in fitness, sports, or the science of how our bodies heal and thrive.

We will focus on teaching Heart Health, everything that you need to know to keep your heart healthy, and why its so important to do this.

Have you ever wondered why we get outsmarted by the flu every winter? This course will cover the biology behind viruses and our response to these pathogens!

In this course, you will learn about the different common fallacies committed every day in social media, scientific literature, and marketing - including confirmation bias, the sunk cost fallacy, and more! Sign up for this class if you want to be able to tell who to believe or not!

Why are some people shy while others love being the center of attention? In this fun intro to personality psychology, we’ll explore what “personality” means, take a simple personality quiz, and learn about common personality types like introverts and extroverts. Students will reflect on their own traits and discover how personality makes each of us unique.

A lesson presented by the Cornell Chapter of Voices of Equity.


Students will explore how health outcomes are not only shaped by personal choices, but more so by the environments and communities that people live in.


By the end of the lesson, students will be able to define what health equity is, what social determinants of health are, and recognize how location, food access, and socioeconomic status all affect one's health outcomes.


This lesson will encourage students to recognize and bring awareness to the systems in their communities that affect local health outcomes.