PK-12 Student Programs

Book Club for Young Leaders
Students in grades 6-12 are invited to join us for our Young Leaders Book Club.  We will share a suggested reading schedule through email and meet on Zoom to discuss a section of the book twice a month.  This year we will read two books, one for each school semester. You can join us for either semester or both!  

1st Semester: Don’t Follow, Lead! Authentic Leadership Skills for Teens by Emma Davis

•                   October 10: Introduction, Chapters 1 & 2
•                   October 24: Chapters 3 & 4
•                   November 7: Chapters 5 & 6
•                   November 21: Chapters 7 & 8
•                   December 5: Chapters 9 & 10 and Conclusion

 

2nd Semester: The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

•                   March 6: Part I – Get in the Habit & Paradigms and Principles
•                   March 20 Part II  - The Personal Bank Account & Be Proactive
•                   April 3: Part II – Begin with the End in Mind & Put First Things First
•                   April 17: Part III – The Relationship Bank Account & Think Win-Win
•                   May 1: Part III – Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood & Synergize
•                   May 15: Part IV – Sharpen the Saw & Keep Hope Alive

 

How to participate:

1.        Complete the registration form found by clicking here.  

2.        Order your book or books through your favorite book seller.

3.        We will send you an invitation to join us on Zoom to discuss the book.  We will meet every other week on Zoom at 9:30 AM beginning on October 10, 2026.

Kaleidoscope Competitions allow students to view one question or theme through a variety of lenses. Students and Teams participating in the competition should do their best to interpret the prompt through the lens of the category in which they are competing in a way that showcases the strengths and abilities of each member of the team.

Each 9 weeks, beginning in October, students have the opportunity to engage with a prompt provided by the Karnes Center to create something unique.  Teachers or parents help students upload their entries and within just a couple of weeks, the Karnes Center Review Team will announce the winners of the various categories and grade-levels.

Grade levels include:

• Level 1: Prekindergarten – 1st Grades – Groups and Individuals
• Level 2: Grades 2-3 – Groups and Individuals
• Level 3: Grades 4-5 – Groups and Individuals
• Level 4: Grades 6-8 – Groups and Individuals
• Level 5: Grade 9-12 – Groups and Individuals
• Family Category: For families that want to create something together – family group category

PROMPTS:

1st 9 weeks: October 1 – December 1, 2026: “I noticed something I’ve never seen before.”

2nd 9 weeks: January 1 – March 1, 2027: “I have a question.”

3rd 9 weeks: March 5 – May 1, 2027: “Problem Solved”

How to use the prompts:

Pathway 1: Students should consider the prompt for the time frame in which they are competing and answer the question in their mind. Then they should select the category below that they believe will help them express that answer creatively, demonstrably, and meaningfully. For example – in October, the student “notices something” new about light refraction, they should select one of the categories below to create a product that helps explain or exhibit what they noticed.

Pathway 2: For students who want to begin from the category: the prompt should be answered ABOUT the category.  For example – In October, the student is participating in an art activity and “notices something” new about how to incorporate shapes into their artwork, they should create a product that helps them to explain that new incorporation of shapes into their work.

What to submit:
Students will create two artifacts for every category:

1)        High definition images or recordings of their product and

2)        A written description (this could be an audio recording) discussing their response to the prompt and describing how they developed the concept for their product based on their experience with the prompt. This description should include:

a.        Students should identify the specific craft, art form, or intellectual skill that they are using to express their answers. (For example, if the category is Crafting the student should identify the specific craft such as: basket weaving, tatting, collage, carving, etc. If the category is mathematical problem solving, the student should identify the mathematical discipline or theory, or concept they are utilizing such as: algebra, plane geometry, Fibonacci numbers, the golden mean, etc.).

b.        Students should describe their answer to the prompt.

c.        Students should include a discussion of how utilizing this particular craft helped them to express the answer to the prompt.

d.        Students should point out any areas of work they found

• • • Enjoyable
    • Frustrating
    • Fascinating
    • Dull

e.        Students should discuss how participating in the project has shaped their ability to communicate their experience of the prompt

Visual Arts

• Crafting
• Drawing
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture

Professional Arts

• Entrepreneurship
• Invention
• Logic
• Mathematical Problem Solving
• Service

Creative Arts

• Essay
• Music
• Poetry
• Stage Video Production

Judging

Judging panels will contain a variety of individuals associated with the University of Southern Mississippi, to include but not necessarily limited to members of the Karnes Center Staff, USM faculty, staff, or students who are knowledgeable and capable in each category.  Rubrics for each category are available on request.

Click Here for Kaleidoscope Submission and Parental Permission Forms.

Dates and Costs

• January 16 - February 13, 2027
• $290.00 + $10.00 Application Fee

This program is thoughtfully designed to provide your child with the most innovative content and engaging learning methods available in gifted education today.  With hands-on activities and the opportunity to engage with other children with similar interests and abilities, we are certain that your child will thrive each Saturday morning.

The five-week program compacts the curriculum in a way that provides accelerated and enriched learning experiences that meet the needs of advanced learners. These courses balance opportunities for engaging in projects that develop critical thinking skills and technology use with those that help students connect with artistic expression and design. All of our classes benefit from community and university mentors who will visit and spend time answering questions about future opportunities related to the class.

Eligibility:

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program

COURSES NOW AVAILABLE:

Students in grades PreK - 4 receive training in two courses each week.

Pre‑Kindergarten and Kindergarten (must be four by program start) 

Tinder Box: Do you collect artwork, or bugs, or toys, or something else that excites your mind and helps you learn?  This class will explore how collections help us grow and what it means to be a curator of things, thoughts, and adventures.

Friction Factor: Do you enjoy learning about scientific principle? Join us for a scientific exploration of how friction makes objects move, cling, slide, and jump!  

1st and 2nd Grades

Lighter Knots: What does it mean to be an “idea” person? The things you wonder about can become the spark of invention for you or someone else.  Every week this class will explore a new way to move through questioning and into ideation.

Flame Grilled: How does heat change the properties of our food?  Come experiment with us as we look at different types of reactions that you can make happen in your very own kitchen.

3rd and 4th Grades

BiARTgraphy: Have you ever looked though old pictures and wondered what it might have been like to live “way back when”?  This class will develop your artistic and creative abilities while learning about the historical events that shaped different generations.

Full Steam Ahead!: Race through time and space as the industrial revolution changes the landscape of America.  We will explore the truths and fictions behind characters like Paul Bunyan and Patrick Henry and tinker with some of the mechanical wonders that made their lives move at full speed.

Students in grades 5-12 will select the course they are most interested in.

5th – 8th Grades

Movie Reels: The span of history is your canvas in this class that invites you to explore a person, event, or phenomena that catches your eye.  You’ll create your own short film that teaches others about the thing that fascinates you most.

Brick, Fiber, and Coal: Just look at what kids have done!  In centuries past, children were employed in numerous labor fields, often under terrible conditions.  What changed all that?  Let’s learn about some amazingly talented kids that improved life for all of us.

9th – 12th Grades

Cross Fire: Build your skills in debate and analysis as we review three major fires that took place between 1871 and 1910 in one America’s largest cities. We will contrast those disasters with the major feats of architecture and engineering that followed in their wake. We will review the chemistry analysis, the social debates, and the impact on life in the city.

 

 

Dates and Costs:

• June 14-18, 2027
•  $290.00 + $10.00 application Fee

The Young Gifted Students Program is designed to give our youngest learners time to explore their own strengths and weaknesses while discovering the joy of accelerated curriculum. Vocabulary development and broad exploration of integrated topics make this a program your young child will talk about for a long time.

Eligibility

 Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program. Provisional eligibility may be obtained for this program. Please contact our director for details.

COURSES NOW AVAILABLE:

Pre‑K (must be four by program start) — Weather Recon: Have you ever noticed that changes in the weather are related to animal movements?  Or how bright light or clouds change how you feel? This class provides an introduction to weather phenomena and biology.  Let’s see how these two sciences work together.

Kindergarten–1st — Heat Lamp: How do different animals react to heat sources?  We will explore the difference between hot- and cold-blooded animals past and present in this exciting class.  Come look through the microscope and see why different animals need different habitats

2nd–3rd — Excavate! Let’s explore what’s underground!  From fossils to gems, this class will dig into the world of geology, gemology, and anthropology to see what we can learn just by digging around.

Dates and Costs

•  June 14-18, 2027
• $290.00+$10.00 application fee

Designed with our middle‑grade students in mind, Summer in the Middle offers a supportive, engaging week of learning tailored to the unique needs of students in grades 4–6. These years are full of rapid growth and wide differences in individual development, and this program provides the perfect balance of structure and flexibility to meet learners where they are. Through hands‑on activities, creative challenges, and opportunities to explore emerging interests, students gain confidence, deepen their curiosity, and enjoy meaningful learning with peers who think and learn like they do. For families who want their child to grow in the maturity and confidence that make residential learning successful—while still keeping the ease of a day program—Summer in the Middle offers an encouraging next step that stands entirely on its own.

Eligibility

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program.

Courses Now Available:

• Biomimicry: The world around us can tell us so much about how to use resources wisely.  Come discover what the plant and animal kingdoms can tell us about being good stewards of our natural resources.

• Contagion:  What happens when we get large numbers of people focused on one idea?  We will explore the ways that trends in social engagement and media interactions have changed the outcome of historical events.  From letter writing campaigns to social media platforms people have always used available tools to affect change.  What changes might you make?

Dates and Costs

•  June 21-25, 2027
• $1015.00 + $10.00 application fee

The Summer Gifted Studies Program is our flagship experience, offering an exciting week of learning that first inspired the creation of the Karnes Center nearly five decades ago. Designed for students in grades 4–8, this one‑week residential program invites learners to dive deeply into fascinating topics through an integrated unit of study led by experienced instructors. Throughout the week, students enjoy dynamic, content‑rich courses during the day and a full schedule of recreation and social activities in the afternoons and evenings. For many students, Summer Gifted Studies becomes a memorable introduction to residential learning: a chance to stretch their minds, build independence, and connect with peers who share their curiosity and love of discovery.

Eligibility

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program.

Students who score at or above the 90th percentile on an individual IQ test, or students who score at or above the 90th percentile on nationally normed tests of achievement appropriate for their grade level, are eligible for this program.

 Courses Now Available:

Aerospace Investigations — What is the difference between Aeronautics and Astronautics?  Come find out! From da Vinci, to Kitty Hawk to SpaceX, people have dreamed of flying high and exploring the great beyond.  We will conduct experiments in the four forces of flight and discover ways to minimize stress on different types of aircraft.

Forestry Exploration — The forest is full of opportunity – from conservation, to agribusiness, to natural resource law, and even urban forestry.  Whether you enjoy biology, chemistry, debate, landscaping, or animal sciences, this class will help you to see the future through the trees.

Flow — Fire and Ice both flow when volcanic activity is near.  We will compare the pyrotechnics of earth’s volcanoes with the cryovolcanoes found in space, research the properties of ash and magma, and look at the technology we are currently using to monitor volcanic activity worldwide.

Mind Meld — Your mind is not your brain.  This is why you can think metacognitively – your mind can actually watch what your brain is doing.  Let’s learn what neurologists have to say about the gifted brain and practice dozens of daily activities that keep our brains working at top function.

Dates and Costs

• June 22-26, 2026
• $1015.00 + $10.00 application fee

This residential program invites students to discover their own leadership potential and develop the skills needed to make meaningful change in their communities. Through individualized instruction, collaborative activities, and guided reflection, students learn to communicate effectively, work with diverse teams, and shape ideas into purposeful action. Three levels of courses allow participants to build on their strengths each year as they grow in confidence and capability.

Local community leaders join students for afternoon sessions, offering real‑world insight and mentorship as students refine their leadership platforms. The week culminates in the Leadership Banquet, where participants share their speeches, projects, or research on influential leaders with an audience that celebrates their growth. Many students return home inspired to put their plans into motion—raising funds, launching projects, and contributing to their communities in powerful ways. Recreation, meals, room and board are included.

Eligibility

The Leadership Studies Program is open to all students who have a desire to grow as leaders and who are dedicated to helping their community thrive. That dedication is shown through an entrance essay of 500 words that completes and expands upon this framework:

"My goal for participating in the Leadership Program is to learn _______, to develop myself by _________, and to change my community through ______________."

Courses Available for Summer 2026

Leadership I

Learn your strengths and weaknesses as a leader. Build basic skills such as public speaking, team leadership, and idea generation.

Leadership II (Leadership I is Prerequisite)

Delve further into teams with an understanding of situational and transitional leadership.  Help your team work together and practice when to instruct and when to let the be creative.

Dates and Costs

• Session 1 June 20-23, 2027
• Session 2 June 23-26, 2027
• Session 3 June 27-30, 2027
• Session 4 June 30 -July 3, 2027
• $900 per session or $3500.00 for all four sessions +$10.00 application fee

Eligibility:

• Academically Talented Program: ACT, SAT, or CLT scores
• Artistically Talented: Portfolio submission

These intensive, three‑day seminars bring highly able middle and high school students together with standout instructors for an accelerated, college‑style learning experience. Each session invites academically mature students to dive deeply into a single area of study at the rapid pace they’re ready for—exploring advanced concepts, engaging in hands‑on work, and collaborating with peers who think and learn like they do.

With flexible session options, students can choose one seminar or combine all three for an even richer experience. Throughout the program, participants enjoy unique opportunities to work closely with professors, visit campus spaces, and spend personalized time with the USM Honors College and Admissions teams as they learn about future academic pathways. Recreation, meals, room and board are included for residential students, and a commuter option is available for families who prefer to arrange their own lodging and meals.

Courses Now Available:

Session 1: 

Anatomy for Nursing —  Experience an inspiring three‑day nursing seminar where you will explore the heart of health care through hands‑on skill practice, engaging lessons and real conversations with professional nurses. Discover vital signs, body system, and career pathways, then put your knowledge to the test in a dynamic escape‑room challenge designed to spark curiosity and build confidence.

 Session 2: 

Sports Medicine Careers —  This three-day seminar introduces participants to a variety of  careers within the world of sports medicine. Participants will take a brief dive into anatomy and medical terminology then work through an injury case study that utilizes the expertise of multiple sports medicine professionals. Join us in this fast-paced, hands-on look at the teamwork and knowledge behind athletic care.

Session 3: 

Polymer Power: Building the Future with Polymer Composites  —  Explore polymer types, material properties and their real‑world applications through engaging lessons and hands‑on labs. The highlight of the program is a composite‑structure building competition, where teams design, create and test their polymer composite structures. Participants will also spend time with experts, learn about pathways in polymer science, and build teamwork, problem‑solving, and engineering skills. This track fosters creativity, innovation and a deeper understanding of material science and engineering.

Session 4:

Coming Soon!