This year's summer programs at the University of California, Davis, will give youths experience of chemistry labs and ecology field trips, fencing and foreign languages, rafting and robotics.

Project Seed -- Project Seed is a national program, organized by the American Chemical Society, to encourage economically disadvantaged high-school students to pursue careers in chemistry. At UC Davis, participants spend eight weeks working on original research projects in chemistry and related sciences, supervised by a faculty mentor. The participants are juniors and seniors who have taken at least one chemistry class at high school. At the end of the program, the participants write up their research and give presentations on their projects.

The students are involved in a number of field trips such as visiting Bodega Bay, touring the UC Davis medical school and local industries, and taking a white-water rafting trip. The program is supported by the ACS and locally by industrial sponsors including Genentech and Alza corporation. It is co-sponsored by the campus Early Academic Outreach Program.

When and where: June 17-Aug. 2; campus laboratories. The program is non-residential.

Media contacts: Susan Kauzlarich, Chemistry, (530) 752-4756, smkauzlarich@ucdavis.edu; Cindy Wunder, EAOP, (530) 752-9420, clwunder@ucdavis.edu; Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu.

Young Scholars Program -- Forty high-school students will attend lectures on current issues in biology including forensics, biological warfare, ecology and the history and philosophy of science. The students will also pursue six-week original research projects with faculty members. The participants, who will live on campus, are high-achieving juniors and seniors interested in research in the biological, agricultural and environmental sciences. Each participant will prepare a journal-quality article describing his or her research and present research findings in a research symposium on campus as well as at his or her high school.

When and where: June 23-Aug. 3, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students will attend lectures on campus; research will be done in campus laboratories and in the field. Weekend field trips to the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Pacific Coast and San Francisco Bay Area are planned.

Media contacts: Rick Pomeroy, Division of Education, (530) 752-0622, jrpomeroy@ucdavis.edu; Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu.

Upward Bound -- Students from nine high schools in Sacramento, San Joaquin and Solano counties will sample college life this summer.

Seventy-two youths ages 13-18 who are from low-income families or who could be in the first generation of their family to attend college will participate in the program. While staying in campus residence halls, students will attend classes ranging from math and biology to the Japanese language and Web design. The program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education and the Upward Bound program in UC Davis' Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services.

Teams will compete in an academic decathlon on the morning of Friday, June 28, and program participants will strut their stuff in a talent show on the evening of July 24.

When and where: June 23-Aug. 2. Classes are held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday in Wellman Hall with other activity sessions from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Media contacts: Ping Chan, Upward Bound, (530) 752-3089, jjchan@ucdavis.edu; Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu.

UC Davis National Youth Sports Program -- About 450 children, from mostly lower-income families in Yolo and Solano counties, will participate in 12 sports from fencing to rock climbing, get hands-on experience with math and science, and explore career opportunities.

The program, for 10- to 16-year-olds, will feature field trips to special facilities on campus, such as the California Raptor Center, and a component on drug and alcohol awareness. The program is sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the UC Davis Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services, and other local sponsors.

When and where: June 24-July 29. 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hickey Gym and its immediate area.

Media contacts: Lianne Boren, Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services, (530) 757-3321, lrrichelieu@ucdavis.edu; Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu.

Summer Residential Academy I and II -- A one-day rafting component is new this year to the Summer Residential Academy, a program that for more than 20 years has offered students a taste of college life before they head into grade nine.

Through workshops, lectures and group presentations, students are introduced to college life, college entrance exams, career options, library and online research, public speaking and study skills for continued success in high school. During the rafting trip on the American River, students in the program will learn leadership and team-building skills.

Participants -- drawn from Sacramento to Dixon and from Stockton to Esparto -- have been active in UC Davis' Early Academic Outreach Program, which provides academic enrichment and motivation to support educationally disadvantaged students preparing for admission to the University of California. About 60 students will participate in each of two sessions.

When and where: Session I is June 24-28; Session II, Aug. 5-9. Various locations on campus and the American River.

Media contacts: Cindy Wunder, EAOP, (530) 752-9420, clwunder@ucdavis.edu; Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu.

"Eco-Kids" at the Arboretum -- The UC Davis Arboretum and Student Ecological Farm have teamed up to offer three week-long day camps for children ages 8-11 who love the outdoors. During these "Eco-Kids" summer day camps, games, hiking, gardening, scientific investigations, crafts and performance art will be used to teach campers about local ecology and farm life. The three camps include the Hands-On Nature camp, including arboretum hikes, map-reading, wildlife observation and learning about the indigenous people of the area; Putah Players camp, focusing on music, art writing and theater; and Farm Days, with an emphasis on garden ecology, gardening, farm crafts and farm animals.

When and where: Hands-On Nature is June 24-28 and July 22-26. Putah Players runs July 1-5 (no camp July 4) and July 29-Aug. 2. Farm Days is July 8-12 and Aug. 5-9. Day camp hours are 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with optional afternoon programs available until 5:30 p.m.

Media contacts: Betsy Faber, arboretum outdoor education coordinator, (530) 752-4880, eifaber@ucdavis.edu; Margo Jameson, arboretum receptionist, (530) 752-4880; Patricia Bailey, News Service, (530) 752-9843, pjbailey@ucdavis.edu.

California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS) -- In this four-week residential program, talented students will learn advanced science and math from leading university researchers. Students enroll in one "cluster" of three courses, plus a course in scientific communications. The clusters are: Materials Sciences; Optical Science; Rockets and Robots; Earth, Air, Fire and Water; Computers in Physics and Robotics; Mathematics; Environmental Science, Cycles and Biotechnology; and Biomedical Sciences. Field trips to the Bodega Marine Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories, and local technology companies, among others, are included with courses.

The participants will live in UC Davis residence halls, and there is a full recreational program as well as the classroom activities. Students will have access to services such as computer labs and university libraries.

High-performing students in grades eight-12 with a demonstrated record of achievement in science or math are eligible for the program.

When and where: July 6-Aug. 3. Various locations on campus.

Media contacts: Jennifer Judkins, COSMOS, (530) 754-7325, jjudkins@ucdavis.edu; Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu.

Los Angeles Basin Initiative -- Los Angeles area students will explore the campus and more through the Los Angeles Basin Initiative at UC Davis. The program is part of a UC initiative begun in 1999 to help expand the pool of students from low-performing schools in the Los Angeles Basin who are competitively eligible for admission.

Three sessions will be offered including one for students entering grade nine and two others for high-school students. The session for high-school students will include a one-day rafting trip. Among the other activities will be academic advising, workshops on using the Internet to access college information, and field trips to the state Capitol and other educational attractions in the area.

When and where: Sessions I and III for high-school students, July 14-19 and Aug. 11-6, respectively; Session II for students entering grade nine, July 28-31. Various locations on campus, the American River and area attractions.

Media contacts: Cindy Wunder, EAOP, (530) 752-9420, clwunder@ucdavis.edu; Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu.