Better than summer school.  Better than long car trips, sunburns, and mosquitoes.  Mizzou summer academies give you the chance to learn about music, engineering, journalism, the world of business, your creative side and more.  Come hang out with the Tigers next summer, fill your brain and have a blast.  The MU Office of Access Initiatives hosts year-round academically-focused pre-college programs for 6th grade through 12th grade students.  This program emphasizes the college readiness and college-going culture around the state.  Visit http://precollege.missouri.edu or see your school counselor.

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and go through an interview process. Camp Quality USA is an organization that helps kids with cancer from across the country to enjoy being a kid for a week.  All four Camp Quality USA camps are in Missouri.  Camp Quality USA is powered by the efforts of volunteers to ensure its success.  The camp tends to be really short on male volunteers, but will accept all who are willing to help.   Camps are held in Stewartsville, St. Clair, Neosho, and Excelsion Springs.  Dates will be posted at a later time.  Visit www.campqualityusa.org and see your school counselor about volunteering.

Summer 2014 dates will be announced this winter.  MHS nominates one or more freshmen for Leadership in Practice, a 3-day seminar sponsored by the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. Last year MHS sent four freshmen to this event at the Missouri Military Academy in Mexico, MO. The purpose of the seminar is to provide young Missourians the opportunity to learn the characteristics of good leadership and apply them through realistic activities and simulations.  Students will learn skills and apply knowledge in team-building challenges.  Contact Mrs. James if you are interested in attending. 

MHS nominates one sophomore and one alternate each year to attend HOBY in June.  The HOBY mission is to inspire and develop our global community of youth and volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service and innovation.  HOBY programs continue to evolve and teach high school students social reponsibility, how they can make a difference and what it means to be a global citizen. Visit www.hoby.org to learn more.  The MHS nominee is sponsored by the Maryville Pride Lion's Club.  Contact Mrs. James if you are interested in attending.

MHS nominates one sophomore and one alternate each year to attend MLS in June at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, MO.  Summer 2014 dates are unknown at this time.  Missouri Leadership Seminar is an unforgettable weekend experience that immerses a select group of high school sophomores in an environment that brings out the leader inside.  Activities at MLS include team building, volunteerism, panels professional speakers, group discussions, and "Dinner with a Pro." Visit www.moleadership.com to learn more.  The MHS nominee is sponsored by the Maryville Optimist Club.  Contact Mrs. James if you are interested in attending. 

The Maryville Rotary Club sponsors two MHS students to attend RYLA at William Woods Univsersity in Fulton, MO.  The students must be an incoming or outgoing high school sophomore. Summer 2014 dates will be added this winter.  RYLA includes an introduction to Rotary's "Service Above Self" philosophy and youth programs, a personality self-assessment, team activities (including a team-challenge ropes course) and instruction in service leadership.  Participants leave the experience with a renewed or enlarged sense of purpose, new friends, and the confidence to return to his or her high school and community with personal goals and an awareness of the importance and impact of service leadership.  Contact Mrs. James if you are interested in attending. 

MHS nominates one student in grades 9 through 11 to attend Missouri Business Week at the University of Missouri - Columbia.  Combine the summer fun you crave with real world business experience. Plus, take a test run of college life, meet new friends, enhance your leadership skills,  and get the chance to win a scholarship. All in just one week!  Missouri Business Week will help you capitalize on the skills you already have and discover new ones. You’ll figure out what your next steps may be while making friends and living an unforgettable summer experience.  Visit www.missouribusinessweek.com to learn more.  Contact Mrs. James if you are interested in attending.

MHS nominates one or more students grades 9 through 11 to attend The Lion's Pride Project at Lindenwood University in St Charles, Missouri.  Summer 2014 dates will be added when the information becomes available.  The Maryville Host Lion's Club has previously sponsored the MHS attendee.  The purpose of the program is to assist rising high school students who possess an affinity for helping others and who demonstrate exceptional leadreship skills to develop a deeper understanding of their roles in social changes and to connect them to specific opportunities to act in service to others.  Students must complete an application form and responses to essay questions related to service, and secure a letter of recommendation by an individual familiar with the student's committment to service.  Contact Mrs. James if you are interested in attending.

MHS nominates one or more junior girls to attend MGS at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.  Delegates are chosen by an application process through the local American Legion Auxilliary unit.  MGS was first established in 1940 as one of 11 Girls State programs in the nation.  Currently, 760 high school delegates attend statewide.  The purpose is to promote pride in America and to create a mythical state that the citizens will govern at the city, county, and state level.  There will be spearkers who serve as leaders in our Missouri government as well as hold important offices in our communities. Delegates are eligible to receive college credit and scholarships for successfully completing MGS.  Contact Mrs. Houtchens if you are interested in attending.

MHS nominates one or more junior boys to attend MBS at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.  Delegates are chosen by an application process through the local American Legion unit.  MBS provides experience in the operation and fundamentals of government.  Using our democratic system as a basis, MBS equips the citizens to construct their own state, utilizing the core values that hold true in our everyday lives.  By reinforcing basic American ideals, we help to shape the future of our society.  Delegates are eligible to receive college credit and scholarships for successfully completing MBS.  Contact Mrs. Houtchens if you are interested in attending.

MHS is eligible to send one sophomore to MSA at the University of Missouri - Columbia each summer for this three week experience.  MSA attendees must rank among the top students in their class and receive top scores on the PLAN test and PSAT tests.  The MHS candidate takes an IQ test and participates in a competitive application process.  The dates for summer 2014 are TBA.  MSA has been conducted by the State of Missouri since 1985.  Contact Mrs. James for information. 

NYLF offers intensive summer programs in Medicine, Law & CSI, and National Security at exciting U.S. cities.  Since 1992, NYLF has empowered ambitious high school and university students with the confidence to make life choices that will prepare them for bright academic futures and successful professional careers.  An MHS student has attended each of the last four years, based on personal interest.  Visit www.nylf.org for more information and contact Mrs. James if you wish to be nominated.  Qualifying students may receive college credit through George Mason University.  Nominees who require financial assistance may access the Forum's online, interactive Sponsorships and Student Fundraising Guide.  This guide is designed to help studnets raise funds in order to earn their way to the Forum.  NYLF has also established a scholarship fund to assist nominees based on financial need, scholastic merit, and leadership achievements.

Wonderland Camp is a camp in Rocky Mount, Missouri on the Lake of the Ozarks, which serves children and adults with mental and physical disabilities. Not only will you make a difference in the lives of the campers, the change you will see in yourself is even bigger. The staff at Wonderland Camp is responsible for not only the well being of the campers but also to ensure a great camp experience for both campers and staff.  If hired, staff will need to work as many weeks as your schedule allows. You must be at least 16 years old to apply.  Please visit their website at www.wonderlandcamp.org for more information, including a list of job descriptions and a staff application. 

The University of Missouri School of Medicine offers an exciting and informative summer experience for high school students interested in a career in medicine.  MU's High School Mini Medical School is a one-week program that gives students a preview of life as an MU medical student.  Mini Med School is intended for students who will begin their senior year in the fall of 2013.  This program has a competitive selection process. The fee for the High School Mini Medical School is $525. Some scholarships will be available in cases of financial need. Interested high school juniors can find more application information at http://medicine.missouri.edu/admissions/minimed.html.