LatinSummer looking for host schools

From Matthew Webb (via LatinTeach listserv):

Ascanius: The Youth Classics Institute would like to invite your school or school district to apply to host LatinSummer 2011, 2012, or 2013. The Institute and its student program, LatinSummer, are dedicated to promoting the study of Latin and the classical world at the elementary school level. Over the past ten years, LatinSummer has been an inspiration to hundreds of elementary school students throughout the nation. One student from LatinSummer 2009 thinks that it “is a great program. You learn a lot, the kids are just like you, and it?s FUN!”

LatinSummer is the largest program of its type in the nation. Held in July or August of each year, students of the two-week program take part in exciting classes, on topics such as Classical Latin, Conversational Latin, Classical Mythology, Roman Culture and Daily Life, and Classical Greek. In each of these classes, participants broaden not only their cultural horizons, but also their knowledge of the foundations of the Western world, by learning about the Olympian gods and goddesses, Roman history and architecture, and much more. They also have the opportunity to learn, and even speak, the Latin and Greek languages. Further, participants take part in a daily activity period that encourages them to think creatively and critically about the ancient world. One parent at LatinSummer 2009 commented, “my kids got a lot out of the program, learned many new things, expanded on knowledge they already had, and wanted to keep coming. It was interesting and had the right amount of challenge.”

Latin has consistently been proven to increase English vocabulary skills and reading comprehension, especially among elementary school students. In one study, elementary school students who took Latin performed a full five months ahead of their peers in control groups. Latin has also been proven to increase students’ skills of logic and reason, to enhance their ability to think critically and creatively, and to improve their sense of self-confidence. Latin is a powerful tool that has also been used by elementary teachers and administrators to satisfy state and national standards, and to include students who have historically been excluded from the regular classroom. As Doug Bunch, founder of the LatinSummer program, notes, “our program is now a national model. By teaching students about the past we can help them understand the present. When students study Latin, they learn far more than a language and culture. They learn to appreciate humanity.”

The Institute invites all interested schools or school districts to apply to host its LatinSummer programs in 2011, 2012, or 2013. We enthusiastically encourage you to contact the Institute at (866) 33-9466 or email Doug Bunch (dbunch AT ascaniusyci DOT org). More information on the Institute and its programs, can be found online at http://www.ascaniusyci.org.

There is also a video available at Vimeo.