Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced two new summer programs for kids and teens interested in learning more about epidemiology, which is the study of health-related states or events, including diseases and the control of diseases.

The CDC Junior Disease Detective Camp will take place for three days in June. Seventh and eighth graders who attend the camp at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, GA, will gain an understanding of epidemiologic terms and have the opportunity to learn about different public health fields.

Participants will get to engage in hands-on activities and experiments and hear short presentations from experts. Topics will include infectious diseases, lifestyle choices, and how the environment affects our health.

The other educational pilot program to be launched by the CDC this coming summer is the Epi Intense Camp. This will be a chance for high school juniors and seniors to learn about epidemiology through seminars and group work. By the end of the three-day program, students will be able to:

• Describe five major epidemiological study designs, including their strengths and weaknesses
• Create, administer, and analyze an epidemiological survey-based study
• Use EpiInfo software to input and analyze survey data
• Design and propose public health strategies based on epidemiological data

Based on the popularity of other CDC student programs, children who would like to participate in the camps must submit an application, which are currently available online here for the Junior Disease Detective Camp and here for the Epi Intense Camp. Applicants will be selected based on their answers to the application essay questions. Twelve spots are available for the Epi Intense program and 18 for the junior camp.

Students who do not live in the Atlanta area are also encouraged to apply, especially if they have friends or family they can stay with for the duration of the program.

For more information, visit the CDC's website.