Interested in taking a summer class called "Crazy Chemistry?" Or how about the class "Choc-A-Lot," where chocolate is studied and made from scratch? Prefer the great outdoors? Then try "Mountain Bike Mania" to earn credit while exploring the hills of Reno on a bike. But these classes are not to the typical college student. In fact you have to be 14 and younger and attending Kids University to even enlist.

Kids University is a summer day camp at the University of Nevada, Reno open to students in grades 2-8 from all over the state and the country. The program offers seven weeklong sessions from June 18-Aug 3. The day camp runs from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and features academic classes in the morning and recreational activities in the afternoon.

"We offer 13 classes a week for the kids to take," said Terri Jones, Kids U camp manager. "Art, speech classes, math, and science are just a few of the choices."

Jones said Washoe County teachers and University of Nevada, Reno seniors teach all classes offered by the program. Reno area high school students volunteer as junior counselors for the camp and assist by walking campers to and from class.

After academic classes in the morning, the campers have a choice in the afternoon between organized sports, swimming at the Lombardi pool, arts and crafts and other outdoor activities.

"It's a great community program," Jones said. " It pulls everybody together, because we have local teachers teaching, students from UNR helping, and many of the kids are children of professors on campus."

In 2006 there were 2,050 kids registered for the seven weeks and about 250-300 kids per week registered. Campers can stay for just one week or can participate in all seven weeks.

Registration fills up fast and parents are strongly encouraged to promptly register their kids on the assigned dates. A $25 nonrefundable/nontransferable deposit is required for each weeklong session at time of registration. Individual fees for each week range from $160-$175/full-day and $95-$110/half-day.

Registration is available by several methods on a first-come, first-served basis:

• Walk-in-only registration will be accepted at the University's Continuing Education Building, 1041 N. Virginia St., first floor, beginning Monday, April 16.

Registrations will also be accepted Monday-Friday, April 16-July 30, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. each day, by:

• Phone with credit card payment, (775) 784-4062 or 1-(800) 233-8928
• In person on campus at the Continuing Education Building, 1041 N. Virginia St., Rm. 202
• By mail with check or credit card payment using the registration form included in the KIDS U brochure.
• No faxed registrations will be accepted.

Limited scholarships may be available to children who attend an at-risk school, or whose parent/guardian is a full-time student or receives state or federal aid.

For more information about KIDS University programs or registration procedures, call (775) 784-4046 or 1-(800) 233-8928.