In Neuroanatomy, students will learn the basic cell biology of a neuron and how neurons work together. Students will then apply that understanding to the anatomy and physiology of various systems in the brain in the context of fictitious neurological patients. Specifically, we will focus on the cerebral cortex, various subcortical structures, and the visual system.
This course is interactive, uses videos and images and, most importantly, includes hands-on activities such as building model systems using Play-doh or Model Magic, dissecting a sheep brain, and engaging in lab activities and demos in order to explore neuroanatomy from a variety of viewpoints.
The culminating event on Friday will be case-studies presentations where students adopt the roles of neurologists, psychiatrists, and/or neuroradiologists to give a Grand Rounds-style presentation to the class focused on a particular patient.
Click the tabs below to learn more about this program.
Our courses are interactive, use videos and images and, most importantly, include hands-on activities such as building model systems using Play-doh or Model Magic, dissecting a sheep brain, and engaging in lab activities and demos in order to explore the neuroanatomy of the visual system, somatosensory systems, and the motor systems. Campers will get to research various local labs prior to the Wednesday field trip, which will include touring a neuroimaging facility and a neuroscience lab, guest lectures by the researchers in those labs, and several Q&A sessions. The culminating assessment will be a partner test on Friday where campers get to diagnose fictitious patients coming to a neurology clinic as well as predict symptoms of a person based on pictures of their brain or spinal cord radiographic images.
On the last day of camp, parents will rotate to various stations staffed by the campers to experience some of the activities and labs for themselves, and then be taught neuroanatomy by the campers.
Enrichment Activities: In the afternoons and evenings give campers the opportunity for informal science learning, as well as leadership and problem-solving training through workshops, experiments, guest speakers, and recreational activities. Students will also attend a mid-program excursion to a local science venue.
Camps for rising 7th - 9th graders have three price options:
- Day Camper: Day Campers check in Sunday with dinner provided after check-in and then enjoy curriculum Monday-Friday from 9am to 5pm. Meals are not provided with Day Camp Tuition - campers can bring a sack lunch or can purchase our optional Lunch package for $40 (includes lunch in the dining hall Monday-Friday).
- Extended Day: Extended Day Campers check in Sunday with dinner provided after check-in and then enjoy curriculum and recreation Monday - Friday from 9am to 9pm, with lunch and dinner provided in the dining hall.
- Overnight: Overnight campers check in before dinner on Sunday and check out at 5pm on Friday. All meals and shared dorm accommodations are provided.
**An online version of this course is not currently available. If you would be interested in taking an online version of this course should it be offered, please use this link to express your interest.**
| Program | Grades | Location | Start Date | End Date | Price Options | Register |
|---|
Sample Schedule Neuroanatomy 7-9 |
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|---|---|
| 7:30 am | Overnight campers - wake up! |
| 8:00 am | Breakfast in the dining hall (overnight campers) |
| 9-9:15 am | Extended day camper check-in |
| 9:00 am | Camp meeting & warm up |
| 9:15 am | Lab Session |
| 12:00 pm | Lunch in the dining hall (included for overnight & extended day campers; day campers can purchase an optional lunch package or bring a lunch) |
| 1:15 pm | Recreation |
| 2:00 pm | Lab Session |
| 5:00 pm | Day camper check-out |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner in the dining hall (overnight & extended campers) |
| 6:30 pm | Team leadership & project planning class |
| 7:45 pm | Evening recreation & activities |
| 8-9:00 pm | Extended day camper check-out |
| 9:30 pm | Floor check (overnight campers get ready for bed) |
| 10:00 pm | Room check & lights out |
Education Unlimited believes in small-group, immersive learning with subject matter experts and experienced teachers. We strive to provide industry-leading instruction to all of our students and hold all staff to the highest possible standards. Staff assignments vary by program and location. Some of our recent staff members for this program include:
Rhonda McCoy, PhD - Camp Director
Dr. Rhonda McCoy is a Manager of Quality Control for a leading global biopharmaceutical company. Through analysis of quality from creation to post-expiration date, Dr. McCoy oversees a team that ensures medications sold around the world are both safe and effective. Dr. McCoy holds a PhD in Chemistry from Howard University in Washington DC. A member of the Education Unlimited team since 2005, Dr. McCoy has been passionate about the empowerment of middle and high school age girls throughout her career, evident in her work as Director of our Science and Engineering Camps for Girls. She has volunteered her time as the scholarship program chair for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and taught chemistry and physics in the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools of Charlotte, North Carolina.
In addition to her doctorate degree, Dr. McCoy has a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina A&T State University. Prior to her five years as a research assistant at Howard while pursuing her doctorate, she spent time as an analytical chemist with the global cosmetics brand, L’Oreal. In her free time, Rhonda enjoys travel, shopping, and time with her family.
Jennifer Brakeman, PhD - Instructor
Dr. Brakeman is a dedicated high school science teacher who holds a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Johns Hopkins University. For more than 20 years, she has been one of the most beloved teachers at the prestigious Head Royce school in Oakland, CA. During her tenure at the school, she has taught 9th-grade physics, 11th-grade Biology and AP Biology, 12th-grade Neurobiology and 12th-grade Molecular Genetics.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Brakeman has also coached the swim team, been an active member/advisor of the student Green Team and the school's Green Council, lead the school’s Boot Camp PE class, and has been the Science Department Chair since 2008. She feels incredibly fortunate to be able to teach the subjects she has a passion for, to students who love to learn, in a supportive and creative environment. Dr. Brakeman has been a member of the Education Unlimited team since 2015.
Erica Ho - Instructor
Erica is a PhD student in Clinical Psychology at Yale University, and her research focuses on the systems neuroscience of social behavior. After receiving her BA in psychology from Cornell University in 2013, Erica spent three years as a full-time research assistant and later research coordinator at the Child Mind Institute's Center for the Developing Brain in New York City.
There, she gained experience working with clinical pediatric populations in a neuroscience research setting. Outside of academics, Erica has eight years of experience volunteering as a summer camp counselor. She joined the Education Unlimited team as an instructor in the summer of 2017 combining a love of the brain with her enthusiasm for camp activities!
Lauren Patrick - Instructor
Lauren is currently a PhD student at Yale University in the Neuroscience area of Psychology. Prior to this she gained a strong foundation in neuroscience during her undergraduate degree at Washington University in St Louis. She has spent the past five years working in a variety of cognitive neuroscience labs at Washington University, Duke University, and Yale University. She has been the president of the Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology club at Washington University and has mentored undergraduate students at Yale. She’s also been an environmental science instructor for approximately 30 boy scouts who were attending a Merit Badge University on the Washington University campus.
She believes that serving as a role model for future scientists is one of the most rewarding pursuits and our Education Unlimited programs are the perfect opportunity to inspire young teens to actively pursue STEM coursework and research in high school and beyond. We’re excited to have Lauren return for her second summer with Education Unlimited.