Summer Academy

Summer 2027 Sessions

Change Makers

Have you ever wanted to persuade your friends to consider a different point of view? Do you want to be a leader in bringing about justice in your local community? Have you imagined that the world can be different—and better—from the way it is now?

If so, come join us in exploring strategies for being a leader and a change maker! We will meet with guest speakers, go on field trips, engage in case studies, and have discussions—all to help you become a change maker in your community.

Whatever occupation you imagine for your future will be enhanced by the skills of being a change maker. We will help you develop the art of persuasion, strategies for making lasting change in your community, and a vision of what you think a “better world” would look like.

Civil War: A Nation Divided

This institute is for anyone with an interest in museum curatorship or archive work, a passion for history, or who simply wants to learn more about the Civil War.

The Civil War is the is one of the most dramatic periods in American history.  When eleven Southern states secede from the Union, a bloody and devastating war ensues, pitting brother against brother, and father against son. When the fighting ended, the Union was restored, and the great evil of slavery had been abolished, but at great cost.

In this institute, you will look at the Civil War through the lens of military, political, and social history. We will explore the roles played by political leaders, soldiers, slaves, and women through texts and videos. Hands-on activities will include a museum field trip, simulations of war through gaming, and a musket demonstration.

Designing a Personal Brand  

From sketch to concept, this course will explore contemporary brand development, from the design of logos, patterns, and color palettes, with each student creating a unique expression of their personal self and brand. No prior art skills needed. Non artists/creators encouraged to join. 

Drawing at Hanover College 

This workshop is an introduction to pictorial composition and representation using basic drawing media in black and white. With a primary emphasis on the elements of line, value, proportion, and perspective. There will be opportunities to draw outside (when the weather permits) and enjoy the beautiful campus. This workshop will be an introduction to Drawing 1, which serves as a foundational course for the Art and Design Department at Hanover College. Each day will focus on a different element, and the week will conclude with a display of workshop studies and critique. 

Environmental Science Institute

Spend a week exploring the ecology of Southeastern Indiana with Biology professors Darrin Rubino (Botanist) and Brian Gall (Zoologist). Carved by the ice ages, with rolling hills, forested bluffs, dramatic ravines, and the Ohio River Valley, Southeastern Indiana is one of the state’s most biologically diverse and geologically interesting areas. 

You will assess the environmental quality of our local creeks and streams, investigate climate and disturbance using tree ring analysis, collect 400-million-year-old fossils, learn to identify local animals and plants, and have a great experience doing so in our state-of-the-art laboratories and outside on our hiking trails. 

Future Therapist Academy: Exploring Physical and Occupational Therapy Careers

Ready to move, learn, and discover your future? Dive into the exciting realms of physical and occupational therapy, where movement meets occupation. This camp offers high school students an engaging platform to explore the art and science behind healing and independence.

Through interactive workshops, real-world simulations, and activities led by licensed physical and occupational therapists, you’ll learn how these careers help people heal, move, and live their best lives. Whether you’re stretching your mind in the lab, exploring therapist tools in action, or discovering how the human body adapts and recovers, you’ll leave camp inspired – and one step closer to your future in healthcare!

Health Science Institute

Get a jump on your passion for making a meaningful difference in a career field in high demand — not only in Indiana, but across the nation.

During the Health Science institute, you’ll work directly with professors in labs and learn about being a pre-health student at Hanover. In the process, you’ll gain preparation for career paths like nursing, medicine, occupational therapy, and physical therapy.

You’ll experience working with health professionals, like pharmacists and physician assistants, who will share real-life patient stories and teach hands-on skills in delivering patient care.

You’ll leave with an exceptional idea of which health professions would best fit you, what college paths will get you there, and what factors impact the health and well-being of people in your community.   The Health Science Summer Academy is delivered in partnership with the East Indiana Area Health Education Center.

Hidden in Plain Sight: What Superhero Movies Are Really Saying 

Superhero movies are more than capes, powers, battles, and origin stories — they are cultural texts that reveal what we value, fear, admire, and question. This academy introduces students to rhetorical criticism through the evolution of DC and Marvel films, helping them uncover how superhero stories make arguments about justice, identity, power, responsibility, and social change. Students will watch, discuss, and critically analyze superhero films, while also extending their learning out of the classroom with a field trip opportunity. 

Making Movies: From Script to Screen

Students will learn how films and television shows are produced beginning with the pitch through the script writing process to filming and post production. We will create an original film and/or television show while shooting both in the studio and on location. Students will receive a digital copy of their projects to take home.

Psychology of Popular Culture

Discover the power of popular culture, especially film, music, and television. We will consider why popular art really matters to people and how it may psychologically impact our daily lives.

We will consider topics like the emotional power of music and whether watching movies and TV influences human behavior. Students will have opportunities to explore aspects of popular culture that have been personally important to them.

So You Want to be a Teacher

You know what it’s like to be a student, but have you ever wondered what it would be like to be a teacher? This institute gives you the chance to find out!

Put yourself to the test by drawing up lesson designs and managing a classroom, learn about different types of schools, and engage children in learning environments. Most exciting, you will have the opportunity to prepare lessons from start to finish and get hands-on experience teaching local children!

Experience various aspects of a teacher preparation program and enhance your understanding of the process of becoming a teacher.

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