July 6-17, 2026 (Monday – Friday) 12:30 – 5:15 p.m.
Open to students who will complete 5th or 6th grade in spring 2026. These classes offer a creative, one-of-a-kind educational experience with limited enrollment.
Students will participate in two classes!
Parent Zoom: Welcome to Summer Laureate!
We will hold an informational Zoom in the Spring (more details to be announced). Parents can meet the staff, learn more details about the program, and ask questions. Zoom link will be emailed to families who have completed the registration process (application + $25 registration fee). We are looking forward to meeting with you soon!
SLUFY 2026 Daily Schedule
- 12:30 p.m. student drop off
- 12:45 – 2:15 Homebase Class
- 2:15 – 2:30 Snack in Homebase Class
- 2:30 – 3:20 Student Choice Activities
- 3:30-5:00 Discovery Class
- 5:15 p.m. Student dismissal and pick up
Course Descriptions
Charlotte Cook
Experience that thrill of drones in this highly entertaining and challenging class! You will embark on drone-themed STEM missions by working in teams, failing forward to succeed, and exploring solutions to problems. Curriculum topics include drone piloting, real-world drone applications, science and math applications, coding and more! Join us and be a Drone Legend!
Whitney Avra
Voices, Beats, and Beliefs: America in the 2000s invites you on an exciting journey through a decade of big changes, powerful ideas, and creative expression. Students will explore how life in the United States shifted after September 11 and how Americans responded to challenges like hurricanes, wars, economic struggles, and environmental concerns. Along the way, they’ll discover how music, art, and social media helped people express who they were and what they believed. From the rise of hip-hop and street art to important leaders such as Barack Obama, students will see how voices from many different backgrounds shaped the nation. Through stories, images, music, and discussion, this fun and interactive unit helps students understand what it felt like to grow up in the 2000s, and how those experiences still influence our world today.
Heather Fulmer
Ready to put your brain and your grit to the test? In this hands-on, project-based STEM adventure, you will tackle real survival challenges inspired by the Natural State. You’ll explore Arkansas environments like forests and rivers (and even prep for severe weather) as you design shelters, build water filters, plan simple food systems, and learn navigation skills.
Every session is a new mission: work with a team, think like an engineer, and test your ideas like a scientist. If you like building, experimenting, solving problems, and getting creative under pressure, this course is for you!
Morgan Gill
Have you ever wanted to argue a case like a real lawyer, question witnesses, and help a jury decide what’s fair? In this class, you’ll step into the courtroom and bring classic fairy tales to life…with a twist. You’ll investigate what happened, decide whether a character simply made a bad choice or actually committed a “crime,” and then put the case on trial in a full mock-court experience.
You’ll build your courtroom toolbox, then choose a role that fits you—attorney, witness, judge, bailiff, reporter, or juror. Working in teams, you’ll think like a detective. The big finale? A live mock trial where you present your case to a jury and see if your argument wins the verdict!
Cory Cox Laribe
Move over, Hamilton! It’s time to bring history to life like never before. In this course, you won’t just learn about history—you’ll remix it. Pick a famous inventor, hero, or legend and imagine the secrets they never told. Did George Washington have a secret hobby? Was Marie Curie actually a spy?
Using creativity, research, and collaboration, students will write an original skit or screenplay, design imaginative costumes and backdrops, and even compose a custom musical score with AI songwriting tools. Our journey blends storytelling, performance, technology, and the arts to create a dynamic live production that’s as meaningful for students as it is entertaining for a family audience. Get ready to think deeply, create boldly, and transform learning into a show-stopping experience!
Lesli Heard
Do you already know how the chess pieces move and love a good challenge? Then this class is for you!
In Strategic Minds, you’ll sharpen your skills and learn awesome new chess strategies that will help you think ahead like a pro. We’ll play fun twists on classic chess—new rules, new goals, and new ways to outsmart your opponent!
But that’s not all! Get ready for:
🧩 Breakout-style puzzles
🕵️ Secret codes to crack
🧠 Logic games that stretch your brain
♟️ Hands-on challenges with friends
If you enjoy solving problems, thinking creatively, and playing chess in exciting new ways, you’ll have a blast in this class!