Below is the text of a letter from the University of Chicago regarding a summer opportunity sponsored by the UChicago Game Changer Chicago Design Lab.

” Youth will be exposed to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math-related challenges. Youth will also participate in workshops on web design, audio recording, photography, social media, and writing.”

Registration link is in the message below.

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Dear Parents, Principals and Teachers,

We are writing to invite your youth to participate in a summer program at the University of Chicago sponsored by the Game Changer Chicago Design Lab (Game Changer). At Game Changer we work with college and high school students to create “serious games” that deal with important topics facing young people. We are interested in learning how games that promote skills in technology, new media, and writing can also help youth make healthy choices about their lives and relationships, become civically engaged, and prepare for their future. We are particularly invested in using mentoring to build on youths’ strengths and helping them gain new skills and interests, with a particular focus on health and social and emotional wellness.

This summer, Game Changer will host a 6-week program for high school youth from July 8th to August 16th in conjunction with the city-wide Chicago Summer of Learning. The Source is a game that will be played by teams of ten both online and in person at the University of Chicago. Youth will be exposed to Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math-related challenges. Youth will also participate in workshops on web design, audio recording, photography, social media, and writing. Through the game, youth will come to the University of Chicago to work with college students, professors, and professionals from around the city. We hope that the skills learned and exposure to the university environment will be valuable to youth when they return to school in the fall. On August 16th, the City will sponsor a fair to display creative projects from the summer.

Registration is open at http://gamechanger.uchicago.edu/thesource and spots are filling quickly. Players will be expected to be on campus from 9 AM until 3 PM Tuesday-Thursday and can play from remote sites on Monday and Friday. In-person team activities will be held on the University of Chicago’s Hyde Park campus under adult supervision. We will provide lunch and CTA passes.

We believe that the interaction and engagement with serious games can be a powerful learning tool; we hope that you’ll consider this exciting opportunity. Please contact Sarah Orzalli at sorzalli@uchicago.edu with any questions.

Best,
Melissa Gilliam, MD, MPH – Professor – Dept. of Ob/Gyn and Pediatrics

Patrick Jagoda, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept. of English