Hands-on discovery shapes Kids in College

For more than 35 years, Kids in College at Lenoir-Rhyne University has quietly introduced generations of young learners to hands-on discovery and the possibilities of life on a college campus. With registration now open for summer 2026, the weeklong program continues to offer an immersive STEM experience for local students.

“One of the goals of Kids in College is to bring elementary and middle school students onto a college campus early, so they can start to understand what that experience looks like,” said Christopher Gordon, Ed.D., assistant professor of education and program coordinator. “They get used to moving between classes, learning from different teachers. It helps make college feel real and attainable.”

Scheduled for June 15-19 this year, the program brings together students from across the region, including public, private and homeschool settings, for five days of STEM-focused learning. Guided by experienced educators — many of whom are university or program alumni— students spend the week building, experimenting and collaborating.

“The classes are very hands-on and designed to stretch students beyond their comfort zones,” Gordon said. “They’re building, experimenting and figuring things out as they go, whether that’s programming robots, using small cars to create drawings or constructing three-dimensional designs.”

This summer, the program will also include a new element. Graduate students participating in Lenoir-Rhyne’s Noyce Scholarship program will join Kids in College as part of their summer institute and professional development.

Funded by a grant from the National Science Foundation, the Noyce Scholarship supports students pursuing a Master of Arts in teaching with a focus on STEM education. The program is designed to prepare highly qualified teachers and help address ongoing shortages in STEM fields. Gordon, who helped develop the grant proposal, sees the connection as a natural fit.

“Having the Noyce Scholars involved this summer is a great opportunity for them to gain direct experience working with students,” Gordon said. “It’s one thing to talk about teaching strategies in a classroom. It’s another to put them into practice in a setting like this.”

The program also reflects a broader cycle of learning within the university and the surrounding community. Many instructors are local educators, including Lenoir-Rhyne alumni, and some were once Kids in College participants themselves. Current Lenoir-Rhyne students also support the program as assistants and volunteers.

“When you think back on your own education, the things you remember most are the experiences, the projects, the field trips, the moments where you were actively engaged,” Gordon said. “That’s what we’re trying to create here.”

For students like Sami Barber ’27, a secondary education major, that environment offers valuable insight into the realities of teaching. Now preparing for her second summer with Kids in College, Barber assists in classrooms and supports the program’s social media presence.

“Being part of Kids in College has given me a chance to see different teaching styles in action and get a feel for working with different age groups,” Barber said. “You learn quickly there’s no one right way to teach.”

As students navigate challenges, build new skills and form friendships, the impact of the program becomes clear for both the children and the future educators working alongside them.

“Watching the students learn something new and have those first experiences, especially with the younger ones, you can really see the spark in their eyes,” Barber said. “Seeing that excitement and the friendships they build with each other is incredibly rewarding.”

Registration for Kids in College summer 2026 is now open. Registration for the 2026 program, running June 15–19, is available at https://www.lr.edu/public-events/kids-in-college.