College for Kids

College for Kids is a personal enrichment program for children of all ages - from pre-school through high school. 

Through College for Kids, students can discover new talents, expand their knowledge and enjoy hands-on learning under the guidance of experienced educators. 

Programs are offered year-round at multiple locations in Madison County, with a concentration of courses scheduled in the summer. 

More than 20,000 young people have participated in hands-on learning in math, science, creative arts, technology and languages since the program began in 1989. 

Other enrichment opportunities for students include classes in digital photography, horsemanship, musical theatre, golf, eco-science, robotics, cooking, local history, engineering, basketball and music. Classes are taught by highly qualified instructors, including L&C faculty and educators from local school districts.

Register for Classes

Register by visiting the Enrollment Center on Lewis and Clark’s Godfrey campus or any of Lewis and Clark’s Community Education Centers or call/text the Enrollment Center at (618) 468-2222.

More classes are being added every day, so make sure to check this page often.

Week: June 3-7

So, You Want to Be a Magician?

Cause a dollar bill to instantly grow fivefold! Vanish a coin with the mere tap of your wand! Make balls penetrate solid objects. Learn these tricks and more in Abra-Kid-Abra’s new class, So You Want to Be A Magician? Students will sample different types of magic: impromptu magic they can perform anytime and be the life of the party! Story magic where they can use their creativity. Comedy magic, card magic, money magic, math magic. Amidst the fun of bringing home new tricks each class, students will develop their presentation skills and confidence. So, parents, you may be asked to pick quite a few cards these next few weeks—both in the final show that students put on for their families and in the weekly show when your budding performer comes home from class!

(CECK-174-01)
Ages 6-12
June 3-6
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

Camp Waterschool

Water, Water Everywhere! We use it every day, but have you ever stopped to think about where it comes from? How much do we have on the planet? In this camp, we will discover and explore water using our local rivers as inspiration. Through hands-on activities, arts and crafts, and outdoor adventures, campers will see our local rivers in a whole new way. The week will include a visit to a working lock and dam, stream walks and will culminate with a canoe trip led by experienced guides. By reflecting on their personal experiences with the river, campers will appreciate how they can make positive differences in their watershed and community. This 4-day camp will be held at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center.

(CECK-977-F1)
Ages 8-11
June 3-6
9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
$70
Instructor: Jen Mandeville, Erica Doerr, Jolena Pang

Minecraft with LEGO Bricks

Enjoy a week of building Minecraft characters with LEGO bricks, amateur LEGO robotic motorized builds, and playing the real Minecraft computer game. No experience is necessary. Two great things that go great together - Minecraft and LEGO bricks!

(CECK-213-01)
Ages 8-11
June 3-5
9 a.m. - noon
$100
Instructor: Bricks4Kidz

Crazy Music Composerz!

Join us as we immerse ourselves in the foundations of music! (beat, rhythm, pitch, melody, form, etc.). Your student will use their new knowledge to create their very own musical composition to perform for friends and family. Discover your inner composer, and let's get CRAZY!

(CECK-902-01)
Ages 7-11
June 3-6
9 a.m. - noon
$55
Instructor: Erica Kennington

Week: June 10-14

The Art of Journaling

Give your child a jump on journaling, which is part of many middle school English curricula! In this class, the instructor will describe journaling, discuss several types of journals, and explain why they might want to keep one. Each student will select a type of journaling in which they are interested. Individual instruction will be given to help each student select and create their journal. Students will use their own level of writing skills to journal their daily entries. Students will be provided art supplies to cover their journals and make them their own. By the end of the class, students will have selected a journal of their choice, personalized the cover and composed daily journal entries.

(CECK-164-01)
Ages 8-up
June 10-13
9 a.m. - noon
$40
Instructor: Deborah Herzog

Circus Camp

Young ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! The circus is coming to school! Abra-Kid-Abra will be conducting a new circus class with brand new skills like –Unicycling, Chinese Yo-Yo, Dice Stacking, Box Manipulation, and Lassos! You’ll also learn Plate Spinning, Clowning, Stilt Walking and much more! You will learn not only by classroom demonstration but also by writing and reading in your own circus notebook, so you’ll advance your MAP/ISAT communication arts skills as well. You will learn the value of persistence and practice and see the fruits of your work as your skills develop week to week. Class culminates with students putting on a circus for their families!

(CECK-137-01)
Ages 6-12
June 10-13
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

Camp Waterschool

Water, Water Everywhere! We use it every day, but have you ever stopped to think about where it comes from? How much do we have on the planet? In this camp, we will discover and explore water using our local rivers as inspiration. Through hands-on activities, arts and crafts, and outdoor adventures, campers will see our local rivers in a whole new way. The week will include a visit to a working lock and dam, stream walks, and will culminate with a canoe trip led by experienced guides. By reflecting on their personal experiences with the river, campers will appreciate how they can make positive differences in their watershed and community. This 4-day camp will be held at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center.

(CECK-977-F2)
Ages 11-14
June 10-13
9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
$70
Instructor: Jen Mandeville, Erica Doerr, Jolena Pang

Week: June 17-21 (no class on June 19)

Thinking Outside the Hat

Mind read the object someone is thinking of! Balance 7 nails on the head of 1! Change a $1 bill into 5! With tricks and more, you’ll be the life of the party! Get your own magic box and new tricks to put in it daily to show your friends! Participate in a family show! You’ll create stories to accompany your tricks and think out of the box. So, in addition to developing presentation skills and confidence, you’ll build creativity and thinking skills as well! Plus, you’ll learn comedy magic skits, balloon twisting, magic puzzles, and lots more!

(CECK-258-01)
Ages 6-12
June 17, 18, 20, 21
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

Self-Defense for Kids

Learn how to deal with bullies and predators. Kids will learn what behaviors to watch for and practice how to escape to safety. They will also learn important strategies to help avoid violent situations, plus tactics and techniques for handling violence when it is unavoidable. This class is for students with any level of knowledge or skill, beginner to advanced. Students will acquire in-depth knowledge of self-protection while increasing overall fitness through practical drills. Participants will receive an informational packet with descriptions of the techniques covered in class, plus at-home tips for parents. On the final day, the students will do a final review plus participate in an "escape and evasion" course and a confidence-boosting “board-breaking session.”

(CECK-178-01)
Ages 8-15
June 17, 18, 20, 21
9 a.m. - noon
$75
Instructor: Brendan Neal

Lewis and Clark Jr. Explorer Camp

Here is your chance to join the Lewis and Clark Expedition and become a full-fledged member of the Junior Explorers. Learn the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by training at Camp River Dubois, their first Winter Encampment. Applicants should be prepared to train as a member of the Expedition by bettering their frontier skills, learning to serve in the US Army in 1803-04, preparing their own meals, making a journal, mending their uniform, identifying various native plants and animals, and many more tasks. This week-long camp will be held at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site - inside the interpretive center and in the historic replica of Camp River Dubois.

(CECK-112-F1)
Ages 9-11
June 17-21
8:45 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
$65
Instructor: Brad Winn and Museum Staff

Week: June 24-28

Kids Comedy Camp

It's funny how much fun you can have when you're learning to be funny! Learn comedy by doing it at Kids Comedy Camp! You'll master the secrets of stand-up, sketch and improv comedy as well as theatrics. Take home a new gag to get laughs with each day! At week's end you'll display your newly enhanced focus, creativity, confidence, teamwork, performance skills and sense of humor in a show for family and friends.

(CECK-945-01)
Ages 6-12
June 24-27
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

Creative Gardener Camp

Discover the Monticello Sculpture Gardens at LC! In this class, students will explore LC’s many gardens and learn about plants and nature through creative, hands-on activities. Students will learn how to propagate, grow and take care of plants, explore the greenhouse, hike through the trails and prairies on campus, and learn about plant ID, insects and local pollinators. Students will also create art with plants, including dying bandanas with natural plant dyes, floral arranging, and botanical preservation. This class will be held primarily outdoors unless there is inclement weather, and students should come prepared with water, sunblock, hats, and sturdy shoes.

(CECK-119-01)
Ages 6-10
June 24-27
9 a.m. - noon
$30
Instructor: Katie Piper

Week: July 1-5

There are no classes this week.

Week: July 8-12

Magic: Pulling Rabbits out of Hats & Other Animal Tricks!

Vanish an elephant!  Change a real person into a rabbit!  Magically produce a 6’ high palm tree!  These are just a few of the fun tricks you’ll learn in Abra-Kid-Abra’s new magic camp!  You’ll get your own magic box and new tricks to perform each day!  Plus, you’ll learn comedy magic skits, balloon twisting, magic puzzles, and lots more!  Camp culminates with campers putting on a family show.  The goals are to develop presentation skills, build confidence, and have fun!  Tricks are new from previous camps.

(CECK-153-01)
Ages 6-12
July 8-11
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

"Say It with Hands" - Sign Language

Put your hands in the air for American Sign Language! Get ready to learn about the third most used language in the United States. Join us as we have a fun-filled week learning basic conversational signs through games and instruction. Get a “hands-on” experience as we bring some music to life through ASL. Parents and grandparents are welcome to come on the last day for a heartwarming and unforgettable performance.

(CECK-467-01)
Ages 7-10
July 8-11
9 a.m. - noon
$55
Instructor: Melissa Winchester

"Say It with Hands" - Sign Language

Put your hands in the air for American Sign Language! Get ready to learn about the third most used language in the United States. Join us as we have a fun-filled week learning basic conversational signs through games and instruction. Get a “hands-on” experience as we bring some music to life through ASL. Parents and grandparents are welcome to come on the last day for a heartwarming and unforgettable performance.

(CECK-467-02)
Ages 11-15
July 8-11
1 - 4 p.m.
$55
Instructor: Melissa Winchester

Week: July 15-19

Mind-Reading and Other Amazing Tricks

Mind read the word a spectator is thinking of! Vanish coins! Change a card while a spectator holds it in her hand! These are just a few of the magic tricks you’ll learn in Abra-Kid-Abra’s Mind Reading & Other Cool Tricks After School Class! Each of the tricks involves reading, spelling, or writing—so you’ll hone your literary skills while learning fun magic.

(CECK-186-01)
Ages 6-12
July 15-18
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

Week: July 22-26

Mario Brothers (LEGO® Bricks)

Join us for this building summer camp where campers will use LEGO® Bricks to build different characters from their favorite video games, Mario Bros. Characters such as Super Mario Bros, Bowser, and their friends come to life using our robots, mosaics, and 3D art, made of LEGO® Bricks. Each day will be a new adventure as the virtual and LEGO® worlds combine! All campers take home a custom-made mini-figure.

(CECK-210-01)
Ages 8-11
July 22-24
9 a.m. - noon
$100
Instructor: Bricks4Kids

Magical Mystery Camp

Magical Mystery Camp combines magic & theater into one awesome camp! Campers learn magic tricks daily, often treating parents to a nightly show! Kids weave their tricks into a mystery show, which they will create & perform on the last day for their families

(CECK-135-01)
Ages 6-12
July 22-25
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

Art Elements: Utilize Shapes, Space, and Color

Students will explore their art interests with shapes, space and color. We will begin by discussing the primary, secondary and complementary colors. A better knowledge of negative and positive space will be achieved. This learning experience places an emphasis on having fun while exploring creativity!

(CECK-223-01)
Ages 11-13
July 22-25
9 a.m. - noon
$55
Instructor: Lillianne Mathis

Week: July 29-Aug. 2

Arithme-tricks

Mind read someone’s birthday! Produce the 14 of Diamonds! Multiply coins! Learn these and many other magic tricks while honing your math skills. The tricks for this camp are math-based! You’ll learn magic with money, cards, paper, and special magic props you’ll take home. The students put on a show for their families on the last day. Animal balloons, clown skits, and team-building activities round out this fun half-day camp. The goals are to develop presentation skills and confidence, build math skills, and have fun!

(CECK-172-01)
Ages 6-12
July 29-August 1
9 a.m. - noon
$95
Instructor: Abra-Kid-Abra

Creative Gardener Camp

Discover the Monticello Sculpture Gardens at LC! In this class, students will explore LC’s many gardens and learn about plants and nature through creative, hands-on activities. Students will learn how to propagate, grow and take care of plants, explore the greenhouse, hike through the trails and prairies on campus, and learn about plant ID, insects and local pollinators. Students will also create art with plants, including dying bandanas with natural plant dyes, floral arranging, and botanical preservation. This class will be held primarily outdoors unless there is inclement weather, and students should come prepared with water, sunblock, hats, and sturdy shoes.

(CECK-119-02)
Ages 11-15
Jul 29-August 1
9 a.m. - noon
$30
Instructor: Katie Piper

Robotics 101 with LEGO® WeDo Education

Students will build LEGO® creations from WeDo® Education, turning them into robots programmed to do exactly what they tell them to do. Robotics 101 uses drag-and-drop icon-based programming and offers an introduction to the fun of building with LEGO® Bricks. Additionally, the students will face the challenge of computer programming some pretty awesome robots that will equip them to succeed in a technology-based marketplace. They will also have fun playing camp-style games and a few LEGO® building challenges. Get your student ready for a fun, action-packed week that combines real-life skills with real-kid fun! Each student will also take home a LEGO® mini figure.

(CECK-114-01)
Ages 7-13
Jul 29-August 1
9 a.m. - noon
$160
Instructor: Diane Fefferman