Summer "College for Kids" program gives children hands-on experience in higher education

MILWAUKEE -- Kids as young as five and six years old are taking classes on UW-Milwaukee's campus; it's part of the "College for Kids" program. 

Dancing around the world is just one of the many lessons these preteens are learning at the College for Kids program.

"You get to meet new people and you learn all the dances that people do in different countries," said Lily Lund, 9-year-old camper.

Lily Lund has been moving her feet in just one of the dozens of courses taught during the summer camp.

"You get to learn the things college kids do but in a more fun way," said Lund.

The camp is set up like college courses, meaning students can pick and choose which skill they learn -- taking the classes for one week, two weeks or three weeks long.

"It just really provides the parents with the opportunity to have options, some parents might be trying out the program for the first time and it works well with parents' schedules," said College for Kids Assistant Director, Patricia Goeman.

The camp goal is to enrich the children during the summer and get them excited about higher education.

"There's a lot of opportunity where we can fill in the gaps in anything that she may need help on or just for fun," said Bill Lund, Lily's father.

The camp's courses are taught by Milwaukee-area teachers and professors all across the UWM campus.

"Just kind of building that relationship early on and having that expertise provides an extra benefit for our students," said Goeman.

The courses range from creative art, social sciences, languages, math, science and computers.