MUNCIE, Ind. -- More than 11,000 people are scheduled to participate in 79 summer conferences and workshops at Ball State University, reports David C. Stout, director of conferences and special events.

Four events are new to Ball State and join a roster of successful and popular events returning to campus.

Returning after a long hiatus is the Indiana DeMolay Conclave. Last in Muncie in the mid 1980s, Indiana DeMolay is the premier Masonic youth organization dedicated to teaching young men to be better persons and leaders. This summer's visit is the first in a five-year contract soon to be signed with Ball State. DeMolay will be on campus July 8-11.

Other new events include the Indiana State Youth Conference (May 28-30), Explorer Leadership Conference (June 11-13) and Universal Spiritualist Association (July 30-Aug. 2).

Sports related camps include men's basketball, baseball, softball, swimming and diving and volleyball. In addition, academic workshops are offered in music, journalism, physics and astronomy, art and Chinese and Japanese. The Honors College summer program lets talented high school juniors earn college credit during their stay July 11-23. The popular Elderhostel program for senior citizens is scheduled July 18-24.

Tennis events include the Junior Wightman Cup Tennis Tournament (June 18-21) and the Midwest Open Junior Championship (July 23-31). Two high school band camps (Anderson and Edgewood) are on campus during early August, preparing for the State Fair band contest and the upcoming football season. Cheerleaders can choose from five different workshops.

July also features a series of journalism workshops that combine to equal the largest journalism workshop in the nation.

Student leaders from around the state can participate in the Student Leadership Institute and Student Leadership Camps throughout the summer. Sponsored by the Indiana High School Principals Association, this is the sixth year for the series of programs on the Muncie campus.

The entire Ball State summer conference schedule plus registration information is available at www.bsu.edu/conferences/summer on the World Wide Web.

In addition to providing revenue from otherwise unused facilities, summer workshops provide employment for housing and dining service personnel who otherwise would be idle. Additionally, workshops bringing high school students to campus can favorably influence the student's choice of Ball State for a college career.

Other benefits include revenue to local merchants as students and their parents purchase food and gasoline and in some cases stay in local hotels and motels during a student's participation in a campus conference.

Additional information is also available from the Conferences and Special Events office, (765) 285-1396 or by e-mail at dstout@bsu.edu.