Scripps College to Offer Media Arts and Studies Program During 2024 Kids on Campus Summer Program

Teens participating in Ohio University’s Kids on Campus summer program this year will be able to learn about videography, media production and social media through the Scripps College of Communication. For the first time, the Media Arts and Studies program is offering a series of sessions that will be offered to students in grades 7-12 during the final week of the five-week 2024 program.

Kids on Campus was established in 1996 to provide school districts with a place where students can come during the summer to continue the learning that took place during the school year. It has since expanded to include after-school programs during the school year.

“High school students have expressed interest in learning more about media and media production,” said Matthew Borror, assistant coordinator of the Kids on Campus program. “So we reached out to Scripps College to see if we could give our students the opportunity to get involved and be exposed to videography during the summer program and allow them to see what type of career could be for them propose.”

Andie Walla, associate professor of education and Scripps outreach coordinator, is one of two faculty members involved in programming and sees it as an opportunity to educate students about the field as a career option.

“Kids on Campus is important to our community so that local children can have the opportunity to be exposed to what a college campus is like. It’s a great way for them to feel comfortable with the environment and know what resources are available,” Walla said. “It also exposes them to departments and specializations that they may not know exist. Few students realize that it is possible to major in the creative arts as we offer at the School of Media Arts and Studies. By attending the day camp, we can get their wheels turning towards their own future plans.

Being a part of Kids on Campus and other community initiatives is something that makes perfect sense to Walla. She believes it is essential to the educational experience of Scripps College students to work in the region and use what they learn in the classroom to serve the community.

Walla teaches a course, Media Production for the Community, which pairs students with local nonprofit organizations with video needs. Students learn how to work for a client and create something useful to the organization. It also allows students to get out of the classroom and into the community. Every summer, Walla takes students to produce content as part of a multi-camera crew for the Nelsonville Music Festival. Students operate the cameras, direct and take turns providing technical direction.

“Viktoria Marinova, assistant professor of education and coordinator of the social media certificate program, and I will split the group of high school students in two. We will each have an undergraduate student who will help us,” Walla said. “Students in his group will focus on aspects of social media. They will learn about safe social practices as well as potential jobs related to social media. My group will learn how to capture better videos with devices like cell phones and tablets. They will change after lunch. Students will have the opportunity to create something combining the things they learned in each section by the end of the week.

The Kids on Campus program began on Monday June 17 and will end on July 19.