Our First Week at Bard!

What does it feels like to be a middle school student taking challenging math courses? Ask BEAM students as they have the answers to most of your questions whether mathematical or not. 

For the most part, BEAM students have been describing their first week of Math classes as both challenging and fun. As their regular schedule starts at 7:45 AM with a walk to the dining hall, our young adolescents are always reminded of the busy schedule ahead of them.

However, to remain focused in their classes and maximize their performance in some of their favorite activities, our students are learning healthy habits such as correct meal portions, staying hydrated, and good communication skills. 

Life at Bard can be described as anything but ordinary. Through daily interactions with their peers, our students are learning how to respect each other's ideas beyond classrooms.

No matter the situation that these thinkers are placed in, their eagerness to ask questions and help each other surpass their current mental and physical state. Their hard work and dedication has indeed marked a successful ending of their first week at Bard College.

Welcome BEAM Bard 2018!

As always, this time of the year is highly anticipated by not only prospective students but also by instructors. As the BEAM staff made their way to Bryant Park on this July 7th, excitement seized every face. We could not wait to meet or be reunited with the young intellects who have decided to explore their curiosity for Math by attending BEAM 2018. 

BEAM students getting to know staff and each other.

While parents signed forms and students found their road buddies, the BEAM students embarked on the new journey to Bard College. Upon their safe arrival at their new home, the faces that once seemed too nervous to separate from families members now experienced a form of joy that stemmed from the new friendships made on the road. 

BEAM students on swing outside Student Center.

Before the grand tour of the school's campus and their classrooms, students were first brought to the new home now known as Keen. As bags were being rolled in dorms and students met their remaining staff, this experience became more realistic to most. After the kids had settled in, they were given a tour of their beautiful campus and they enjoyed the community's swing.

After that, we headed to what seems to be one of our most liked places on campus--- the dining room. After a few countless bowls of vegetables, fruits, and desserts, we headed back to the dorms for the preparation of next day's evening activities. 

As the sun settled down and eyes became wearier, BEAM students headed to bed with the intentions of resting for their full first day.

Here are all 40 of our students upon arrival to campus! We're sure this is going to be an amazing summer. 

What's happened in the first week at Bard?

First things first. Where exactly is Bard? Located about about a 2 hour drive north of New York City, our site for BEAM 7 rests right along the Hudson River nestled among the trees. While at Bard, BEAM7 operates most heavily in three buildings: Keene, our home base and dormitory for students and staff; Kline, the cafeteria where we eat all three meals each day; and Hegeman, where most activities and classes take place!

 

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Activities!

Pictured above: Counselor Kaylynn (middle) and instructor Javier (left of Kaylynn) play Set, a matching game which requires players to recognize patterns in a set of cards, with students Jack, Storm, and Seb. 

At BEAM, students get to choose between a variety of activities offered by counselors and faculty, ranging from high-energy sports and games to more relaxing crafts. So far this week, counselors have run:

• Soccer, Ultimate Frisbee, Capture the Flag, Basketball
• Mandala Coloring, Hexaflexagon Making, Paper Airplanes
• THE Egg Drop Contest
• Cloud Watching, Exploring Bard's Campus, Settles of Catan

And this is just throughout the first week! Over the next two weeks, the counselors and staff will have many more activities to come...

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But what about the math?

A number of students work diligently on problem sets in their Math Team Strategies class, which reviews techniques for quick in easy problem solving in the face of seemingly difficult questions. Mathematicians can be a lazy bunch, so learning the techniques to making challenging problems easier is an important skill set!

So what math are the kids actually doing? This week, we have the following options:

• Number Theory
• Combinatorics
• Turing Machines
• Graph Theory
• Math Team Strategies
• Solving Big Problems

The best thing about our courses--besides the amazing instructors who design and teach them--students choose what interests them! Each student is in one of the first four options (called the core topics courses) and one of the last two options (called the problem solving courses). Stay tuned for more updates on what's happening at Bard for BEAM 7 2017!

Welcome to Bard!

We started the day with families and staff meeting at Bryant Park. Everyone was super excited to meet the students, and they all made a great first impression! Everyone took the documentary crew in stride and we began to see many friendships forming. Especially when students and staff went out for lunches.

The students then boarded the bus and were off to Bard! Upon arrival, they were given tours, got to know the campus, and soon got right to problem solving and game playing. 

An entry from a student: 

“At first I was very nervous to arrive to BEAM, but as soon as I got to see a few familiar faces and began to have great conversations with my peers, I was really excited to start classes.”

— Camila Perez

We can't wait to see how these students grow over the next few weeks, and to share some of this amazing experience with all of you!