In addition to the regular academic program for UC Davis students, summer finds the campus bustling with a variety of special youth camps and programs that offer unusual opportunities in the laboratory, classroom, gymnasium and, yes, even the horse corrals.

Engineering Summer Residency Program -- This one-week residential program will give about 50 high-school seniors and juniors from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds a taste of engineering. They will fly model planes, take apart and rebuild engines, build a bridge and participate in other engineering activities. There also will be a field trip to the Valero Energy Corp. refinery at Benicia to visit engineers at work. The students will get to mix with university students, faculty and staff, and learn about topics such as the university admissions process, financial aid and dorm life.

When and where: June 18-23. Various locations on campus.

Media contacts: Juan Valdivia, College of Engineering, (530) 752-3390, jjvaldivia@ucdavis.edu; Robin Matthews, College of Engineering, (530) 752-3390, rlmatthews@ucdavis.edu; Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu.

Arboretum Explorers -- Children ages 8-11 years will participate in a variety of activities at the UC Davis Arboretum through the Arboretum Explorers summer day camp. In the Hands-On Nature program, experienced naturalists will lead discovery hikes and teach map-reading, orienteering, map-making, wildlife monitoring, California Indian plant skills, and environmental games and crafts. Participants in the Putah Players program will explore music, drama, art and performance poetry while learning about the natural world. In addition, there will be an evening cookout, nature walk and star party for the entire family once each session.

When and where: July 9 through Aug. 17, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The UC Davis Arboretum.

Media contacts: Sara Kalmanovitz, Arboretum, (530) 754-5686, sjkalmanovitz@ucdavis.edu; 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 in grades 8-12 will learn advanced science and math from leading university researchers. Students enroll in one "cluster" of two courses, plus a course in scientific communications. The clusters are: materials science, optical science, earth and atmosphere, life on Earth, computers in physics and robotics, and mathematics. Field trips to the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories, and technology companies, among others, are included with the courses. Participants will live in UC Davis residence halls, and there will be a full recreational program as well as the classroom activities. Students also will have access to services such as computer labs and university libraries.

When and where: July 8 through Aug. 4. Various locations on campus.

Media contacts: Kurt Kreith, COSMOS, (530) 754-7325, kkreith@math.ucdavis.edu; Abigail Thompson, COSMOS, (530) 754-7325, thompson@math.ucdavis.edu; Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu.

Upward Bound -- Students from 10 high schools in Sacramento, San Joaquin, Solano and Yolo counties will sample college life this summer. Seventy youths ages 13-18 who are from low-income families or who could be the first generation in their family to attend college will participate in the program. While staying in campus residence halls, students will attend classes ranging from chemistry and physics to journalism and ethnic studies. They also will prepare for college entrance exams. In addition, the students will take field trips to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland and attend a Monarchs basketball game. Six teams will compete in a mock college bowl. 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.

When and where: June 24 through Aug. 3. 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. The mock college bowl will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 29, in Room 194 of the Chemistry Building.

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

Junior Academic Science Research Achievement Program (JASRAP) -- Academically strong ninth- and 10th-grade students from low-income backgrounds and segments of the population that are underrepresented in higher education will spend five weeks engaged in hands-on scientific research. The 26 participants live on campus and work with faculty and staff mentors and their research teams. They also attend workshops on study skills and cultural awareness, tour campus facilities and take field trips to scientific labs, field stations, museums and biotechnology firms. The program is intended to stimulate and enhance an interest in attending college and pursuing careers as scientists, scholars, teachers and society leaders.

When and where: July 9 through Aug. 9. JASRAP students are on campus Monday through Thursday; lab hours are usually 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The program concludes Thursday, Aug. 9, at 6:30 p.m. at Freeborn Hall with a graduation ceremony at which each youth gives a short presentation of her or his summer project to an audience of researchers, parents and peers.

Media contacts: Tina Bakly, JASRAP/CAPSRAP, (530) 762-6627, tabakly@ucdavis.edu; Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu.

Collegiate Academic Preparatory Summer Research Achievement Program (CAPSRAP) -- About 20 JASRAP graduates (see above) who are still in high school will return to campus to study and work in paid positions for a minimum of 160 hours under the supervision of UC Davis faculty or staff members. Often, participants resume work with their JASRAP mentors. The program is intended to encourage interest in higher education in the agricultural, environmental and consumer sciences.

When and where: Through Aug. 31. Participants' hours vary; call for more information.

Media contacts: Tina Bakly, JASRAP/CAPSRAP, (530) 752-6627, tabakly@ucdavis.edu; Andy Fell, News Service, (530) 752-4533, ahfell@ucdavis.edu.

Special Transitional Enrichment Program (STEP) -- This four-week summer program is designed to help some incoming freshmen prepare for success at UC Davis. The new students live on campus and receive an extensive preparation for the start of fall quarter, ranging from advice on courses and study skills to intensive academic refresher classes. Participants are mostly students from the campus' Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), which provides support services for historically disadvantaged students from all ethnic groups. Eligibility for EOP is based on family income level, parent education and other socioeconomic factors.

When and where: Aug. 18 through Sept. 15. Various campus locations.

Media contacts: Virginia Martucci, Learning Skills Center, (530) 752-2016, vmartucci@lsc.ucdavis.edu; Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu.

Young Scholars Program -- About 40 high-school students will attend lectures on current issues in biological research and pursue original research projects with faculty members in this residential program. The participants will be high-achieving juniors interested in research in the biological, agricultural and environmental sciences. Each participant will be required to prepare a journal-quality article describing his or her research and present research findings in a research symposium at his or her high school.

When and where: June 24 through Aug. 4, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Students will attend morning lectures June 25 through July 7 in Room 100 of Hunt Hall; research will be done in campus laboratories and in the field.

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

UC Davis National Youth Sports Program -- Five hundred children from lower-income families in Yolo and Solano counties will participate in 14 sports, get hands-on experience with math and science, and explore career opportunities. The program, for 10- to 16-year-olds, also will feature math instruction and a component on drug, alcohol and tobacco awareness. The program is sponsored by the National Collegiate Athletic Association and UC Davis' Early Academic Outreach Program and Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Services.

When and where: June 21 through July 30. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Hickey Gym and its immediate area including Russell Intramural Field.

Media contacts: Lianne Boren, Educational Talent Search, (530) 757-3321, lrrichelieu@ucdavis.edu; Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu.

Horseback Riding -- As many as 240 youth will learn horsemanship and riding skills during 10 weeklong camp sessions. Participants may choose to ride English or Western. Beginning campers (July 9-13, July 16-20, July 30-Aug. 3 and Aug. 20-24) may participate in a trail ride or games day on Thursday and Friday. Intermediate campers (July 2-6, July 23-27 and Aug. 6-10) will perform a precision drill on Friday. The program, to include other activities such as art projects and vaulting on barrels, is organized by Memorial Union and Campus Recreation Programs.

When and where: July 2 through Aug. 24, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Equestrian Center.

Media contacts: Lori Kaeslin, Memorial Union and Campus Recreation Programs, (530) 752-2372, lakaeslin@ucdavis.edu; Julia Ann Easley, News Service, (530) 752-8248, jaeasley@ucdavis.edu.