Dordt's Discovery Days a Delight

Dordt College’s campus was recently filled with junior high students from across the country who came to join in the annual Dordt Discovery Days for a week filled with learning and activity.

In its 16th year, Discovery Days had a record number of 237 students attend from 17 states this year, said event organizer Dianne De Wit. Discover Days took place at the end of June.

Many students sat ready as the online registration site ticked down the seconds to the midnight registration opening. Within the first 10 minutes, 110 had people signed-up.

The event gave participants a chance to make new friends and get their first taste of dorm-room living and eating in the college cafeteria.

"You would probably think food at college is boring and plain, but this college has over 20 kinds of drinks including juice, coffee, and hot chocolate. Dordt also has two lines for faster serving and more varieties," wrote one student on a blog.

Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt College in a non-denominationally sponsored agency of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, meaning the college is on a list of ministries and institutions recommended for support by the CRCNA.

For Discovery Days, students picked two classes from nearly 40 options. Classes ranged from Junk Jams to Japanese Printmaking, Design on a Dime to Gamemaker.com, CSI Sioux Center to Eyewitness News, and Geek Squad to Write Your Own Adventure. A complete list of this year’s classes can be found at: Discovery courses.

Bonding with other students was an especially significant aspect of the event.

"Every night, a small group of around 10 students will meet with their counselor and talk about their day. They will ask you questions and go over the morning devotions. The groups are all girls or all guys. These groups are a great way to meet new friends and end your day," wrote one participant on a blog.

In addition to their classes, students took part in group activities such as daily devotions, swimming, cup-stacking competitions, and a scavenger hunt through Sioux Center.

"A highlight of the week for me was the final presentations on Friday evening," said Barb Mellema, a co-counselor for Dordt Discovery Days. Friday evening's event was the finale to the week, where each class displayed or performed their final projects showcasing what they had learned.

"It's interesting to see the unique gifts of each student. For example, those in the stained-glass class all follow a sample design, but each final project is as individual as they (the students) are.

"Or in the Photoshop class, students took pictures of many of the same things, but their perspectives were all so different," said Mellema.

To read what the students had to say about their week, check out the blog from the Dordt Discovery Days online media class at Discovery blogs.