Admin Toolbar

Spark 2013

This is quasi-static content. Click here to edit the text; click outside the box to save changes.

Spark 2013 Information

Times and Dates: Spark 2013 will happen March 16, 2013 from 9am to 7 pm.

Morning Check-In will be from 8:00am to 10:00am in the DuPont Gymnasium in Building W31. This is the same location that morning check-in was held at for Splash 2012. When you arrive at MIT for Spark, you should first come to check-in to pay, turn in your forms, and receive your schedule.

If you're arriving later in the day (after 10:30am), you should check in at Lobby 10.

Once again, because it's important: You MUST check in before you do anything else when you arrive (in DuPont or in Lobby 10, depending on what time you arrive). Please plan to arrive for check-in at least 60 minutes before your first class, especially if you're arriving in the morning when lines tend to be long.

If you do not check in by 10:00am (or one hour before your first class, whichever comes later), your spot in your classes will be released and other students may switch into your classes.

The medical and liability form can be found here. We must receive a completed medical and liability form from you before giving you your schedule; this means both pages must be signed by a parent/guardian.

Class Locations: Spark is on the MIT campus. In particular, almost all of our classrooms are in buildings that are connected to the Infinite Corridor. You can see a map here. All of these buildings are connected, and students will rarely have to go outside or cross a street.

Financial Logistics: Spark costs $30 for the entire day, regardless of the number of classes you take. As always, generous financial aid is available; apply on the student registration page. You may pay for Spark online during the class changes period of registration (after lottery results are released) or by cash or check on the day of the program.

A limited number of t-shirts and meal tickets will be sold in Lobby 10 during the program until they run out. T-shirts will go on sale at 12:30 pm for $10 each. Lunch tickets will be on sale all morning for $5. Please note that Spark lunch tickets are only for students; students who wish to eat with their parents will need to make other arrangements.

Class Changes: You can make changes to your schedule by going to room 4-163 at any time during Spark. If you want to add or change any classes, you MUST check in first in DuPont or Lobby 10.

Transportation: We have limited parking available, so we recommend that if you're choosing between driving and public transit, you choose public transit. The Kendall/MIT stop on the MBTA Red Line is the closest, and there will be plenty of signage directing you to Spark from the subway stop.

If you will need a place to park, you'll be able to park in Albany garage or the Stata garage for free starting at 7:00am.

Meeting Your Parents: If your parents (or anyone else) is picking you up at the end of the day, you should set a meeting place and time before you separate. We recommend Lobby 7 (77 Mass Ave).

Walk-in Activities: Spark is again offering walk-in activities this year. If you find yourself with nothing to do between classes or want a break from the ordinary lectures, come over to the third floor of W20 (the Student Center), and do something fun. Offerings this year include: Origami Extravaganza, Quidditch, LED Creativity Lab, and Juggling. You don’t need to register for activities; just drop by whenever you have some free time.

Find out more about walk-in activities here.

Offerings for Parents: We will be running a program specifically for parents in the Stata Center, building 32.

Last year's information on local attractions for parents is here, and more information for parents is available online here.

Hitchhiker's Guide to Spark: An online version of the 2012 Hitchhiker's Guide to Spark, which will also be passed out during check-in, is available here. There's more info in there too!

Special Arrangements: If your child has any physical handicaps, please inform us ahead of time so we can make suitable arrangements (a volunteer to lead him around, or a large-print map for visual impairments). If your child has any other special needs, please inform us. While we will work with your child to the best of our ability, our teachers are college students and are not trained in how to handle children with special needs. Along with all other concerns, email us at esp-spark@mit.edu.

Where to Stay: Many students come from far away to come to Spark. It you need somewhere to stay overnight, you can start by looking at these hotels. We do not offer space in MIT dorms for Spark students.



Last modified by benkraft on March 15, 2013 at 04:02 p.m.

Edit this page