For two weeks this summer, Ohio University Southern is giving kids a chance to do something educational.

The Academy of Excellence, for students in fifth grade and up, has combined with the Primary Scholars Program, which is for grades 1 through 4. The classes begin Monday and go for two weeks.

“From what I can figure, we have benn hosting this program for 26 years,” said Janet Wagner, a professional advisor at OUS and coordinator for the summer youth program. “It’s really something for kids to do in the summer and keep their brain power going.”

The classes are taught in a small classroom setting by college instructors.

“We have everything from art classes to science classes to art classes,” Wagner said.

One of the new classes, life in early America, teaches about when the forefathers were starting the nation. Summer crafts and games teaches kids how to make sun catchers, kites and other projects. Meet your neighbor is a class of “fun facts” about the people of Ohio, Kentucky and West Virginia.

“They will learn why Kentucky is called the bluegrass state and why tomato juice is really the state beverage of Ohio,” Wagner said. “Its just really interesting things about our region.”

Classes still available include:

for first and second grades: life in early America and meet your neighbor; for third and fourth grades,

meet your neighbor and sign language; for fifth and sixth grades, cartoon art, curtain rising, young writer’s workshop, summer crafts and games and sports FUNdamentals and for seventh and eighth grades, creative fashions, sports FUNdamentals, cartoon art, curtain rising, young writer’s workshop and weird science.

To register, go to www.southern.ohiou.edu and click on the Academy of Excellence link. A registration form is also available at the Student Center Office on the OUS campus.

The cost for the summer program is $110 for the first child and $85 for each additional child in the family.

For more information about registration or other questions, contact Wagner at (740) 533-4544 or by e-mail at wagnerj@ohio.edu.