This was the 20th year of the program, which was started by a group of parents interested in enrichment classes for their children during the summer months, said Sharon Hildebrand, outreach program manager of UW-Extension. Teachers for the Institute come from Eau Claire and surrounding areas such as Chippewa Falls, Bloomer and Altoona. A few classes have changed over the years, Hildebrand said.
Organizers try to keep up with trends and watch for innovative ideas from area teachers.
Students learned about the medieval period through a form of popular entertainment, she said. A class also was taught to show students how to use the Internet effectively, she said. Parents were invited and showed how it can be used as a positive tool. This class gave students an introduction to chemistry. It familiarized them with the physical and chemical components of everyday materials, Hildebrand said.