School is out and I’m counting the days until I get back to Nerd Camp!

It’s an amazing three week experience, June 8-28, when I’ll get to be in a variety of very cool classes for three hours each morning and four hours each afternoon.  I’ll be learning about the latest developments in science and technology with kids from all over Texas who are just like me – a kid who loves to learn. 

Last year my biology teacher at J.J.PearceHigh School, Mrs.(Susie) Mueller, told our class about the Texas Governor’s School and encouraged us to apply for this math, science and technology camp at the University of North Texas. When she described all the “fun” things that we would be doing, there was silence in the room until one kid said, “that sounds like a camp for nerds.”   I proudly got up from my seat to get an application and announced to everyone that it sounded great to me.  I’ve been calling it “Nerd Camp” ever since. 

The best thing about Nerd Camp is the people: Everyone attending the camp is just as opinionated as I am, and the teachers are awesome.

Each class is taught by a college professor and a high school advanced placement teacher whose goal is to make us think and ask questions, so discussions are always lively. And since we don’t have the pressure of grades, we get to have fun – the nerdy kind!  

We have other kinds of fun, too. We build cardboard cities and then demolish them with water balloons. We make films and have debates. Last year, we went on a field trip to Texas Instruments, the Dallas Museum of Art and a Texas Rangers game. We stay up late and act silly.

But the bottom line of Nerd Camp is that every day is a new opportunity to learn. And that’s the best fun of all.