The small class sizes—about 15 students on average—and one-on-one interaction between teachers and students are just a few incentives for parents to sign their children up for College for Kids. The program allows students entering sixth through ninth grades to see what it's like to be in college. They pick their own classes, from acting to creative engineering to science and art classes, speech and debate, tennis, volleyball and many more.

"Our program is all day. It's not just in the morning," said Carol Best, principal of College for Kids and a retired teacher from Rogers Middle School. "Some parents like to know their children are actively engaged and enriched instead of sitting in front of the television all day."

The program was started when parents of children in Saratoga Union School District's Gifted and Talented Education program asked WVC staff to create a summer enrichment program for their children. Best said College for Kids is facing rivalry from the Moreland School District, De Anza College, the city of Saratoga and many other recreation departments in the area, which all offer similar programs.

"It's a combination of things," Best said. "We feel the word is not getting out [about the program]."

But Best said for the three-week College for Kids program, they've kept their prices reasonable, yet competitive. Students can still enroll in the second session of the program, which runs through July 30. The program, including three elective classes, lasts from 8:30 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Monday through Friday. There's also the option of an additional after-school session from 2 to 4 p.m., when black-and-white photography classes and recreational swimming are offered.

On June 23, during the first week of classes in session one, it was easy to see why the students enjoy the program. Acting teacher Ann Canann led her students through theatrical warm-up exercises, miming and impromptu performances. Canann directed the students subtly, pointing out what they were doing well and what they could improve upon.

Beata Borras, of Saratoga, a freshman at Westmont High School, used her imagination to act out what it would be like to take a shower, without props, words or really doing it. Despite her efforts, she received some advice from her instructor after her solo performance.

"I did not feel the water," Canann stressed. "It wasn't wet."

In Donna Perry's class, called Sherlock Holmes Mysteries, her students were playing a board game about solving a mystery using various clues. Perry is a teacher in the Oak Grove School District and said she loves teaching this age group of young sleuths because they are "eager, forgiving and innocent." Her class focuses on using critical-thinking skills, teamwork and deductive reasoning—life skills the students can take with them long after her class concludes.

"I really liked to be a detective and solve mysteries when I was a kid," said eighth-grader Stephen Leung.

Stephen said he's addicted to mystery cartoons, the Boxcar Children books, Agatha Christie and Hardy Boys novels.

Carol and Al Adams, a wife-and-husband team, co-teach a class called Games for the Mind, in which students play board games such as Cranium, Pictionary, Taboo, Outburst, Scattergories, Guesstures and Scrabble.

There's a mix of academic and nonacademic classes, so the students can excel in math and science or delve into psychology, public speaking, cooking or karate.

For more information about the program or to register, call 408.741.2096 or 408.867.2200.