MUNCIE, Ind. - Although most students have left campus for the summer, more than 10,000 youth and adults are heading to Ball State University for a variety of camps and conferences. According to David C. Stout, director of conferences and special events, 78 events are scheduled, with an anticipated attendance of 10,260 persons.

The summer conference season starts on Memorial Day weekend when the NWBA/PVA Wheelchair Basketball Camp arrives on campus. Summer events continue through Aug. 4.

Sports related camps include men's baseball, swimming and diving and volleyball. Tennis events include the Junior Wightman Cup Tennis Tournament (June 16-19) and the Midwest Open Junior Championship (July 21-29).

In addition, academic workshops are offered in music, journalism, physics and astronomy, architecture, art, and Chinese and Japanese languages. The DeMolay Conclave is on campus again July 13-16.

Anderson and Edgewood high school bands will practice on campus during late July and early August, preparing for the State Fair band contest and the upcoming football season. Cheerleaders may choose from five workshops throughout the summer.

Student leaders from around the state participate in the Student Leadership Institute and Student Leadership Camps sponsored by the Indiana High School Principals Association?s Division of Student Activities. This is the sixth year the series has been held on the Muncie campus.

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 that bring high school students to campus can influence a 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 while participating in a campus conference.

For more information on summer conferences, visit www.bsu.edu/conferences/summeron the World Wide Web. Information can also be obtained via e-mail at bsuconfs@bsu.eduor by phoning (765) 285-1396.

By Tony Barker, Communications Manager

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information about this story, contact David C. Stout at dstout@bsu.eduor (765) 285-1396.)