Upper School Intersession 2025

What do self-driving cars, Alexa, iPhone's face recognition technology, and ChatGPT have in common? They are driven by modern advances in artificial intelligence. Whether you’re interested in law, healthcare, art, or economics, AI is poised to transform every discipline and industry in the future. AI is already all around us today, and by the end of the program, students will understand the underlying concepts and motivations behind technology such as computer vision, natural language processing, and neural networks.
 
In this course, we will explore the foundations of machine learning and explore different applications of machine learning models. In the first half of the course, students learn AI’s core technologies including applications, foundational concepts, and programming tools through live lectures and coding labs. Students will not only learn about different types of machine learning models but also apply those models to real data sets. In the second half of the course, students will complete an instructor-led group project applying AI to the discipline of their choice (e.g., music, healthcare, astrophysics, finance, etc.), utilizing the programming skills they developed in the first half.

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Course Structure

Machine Learning Talks
Learn about machine learning algorithms and techniques in a uniquely interactive, engaging format, before you apply that knowledge in live coding labs.

Hands-On Python Coding
Develop valuable skills in Python, machine learning, and artificial intelligence in our hands-on coding labs, using cutting-edge research to solve real-world problems like breast cancer diagnosis, building self-driving cars, and more.

Project-Based Learning
In our AI for Social Good project, students will be able to apply their newly acquired talents in a collaborative, challenging environment, applying AI to a domain they’re passionate about (e.g., music, healthcare, astrophysics, finance, etc.). Students can use these projects in their résumés and college applications.

Students will be able to distinguish between what it means for an animal to be threatened, endangered, or extinct. They will meet species that are currently endangered as well as animals that have successfully come back from the brink of extinction

Do you want to learn how to train your teachers, your mom, and your dog? This seminar is all about learning how to understand and modify behavior. Animal behavior has fascinated humans throughout history. David and Lisa Jackson have trained everything from tigers to killer whales — and even their own parents — for over 35 years. Let them share their knowledge with you so you can create better relationships, happier pets, and less-annoying friends. This hands-on interactive experience will give you insight into how understanding behavior modification can positively change the world around you.

Students will be provided a one-hour orientation tour, and then will help with Farm Chores, Animal Socialization, and general AAH Smile Farm projects including some maintenance of the AAH Smile Farm. Student Volunteers should register in advance on the AAH website: https://www.animalassistedhappiness.org/youth-individual. Animal Assisted Happiness Smile Farm is located at Baylands Park, 999 E Caribbean Drive, Closed toed shoes are required while volunteering. It is recommended that volunteers where long pants and long sleeves; dress in layers for the weather.

This visit will count toward the volunteer orientation and qualify volunteers to help with future AAH Smile Farm visits serving youth with needs and Vocational Education programs.

Some of the most amazing animals in the world are found right here in our own backyard. Meet animals found throughout in the USA from sea to shining sea. Learn about their significance to Native Americans and the impact they still have on all of us.

Hands-on sessions covering the skeletal structure, digestive system, respiratory system, and other physiological aspects of rabbits. We will also discuss the natural habitats of rabbits, their role in ecosystems, and the importance of biodiversity.

Hands-on sessions covering the skeletal structure, digestive system, respiratory system, and other physiological aspects of rabbits. We will also discuss the natural habitats of rabbits, their role in ecosystems, and the importance of biodiversity.

Do you want to learn how to train your teachers, your mom, and your dog? This seminar is all about learning how to understand and modify behavior. Animal behavior has fascinated humans throughout history. David and Lisa Jackson have trained everything from tigers to killer whales — and even their own parents — for over 35 years. Let them share their knowledge with you so you can create better relationships, happier pets, and less-annoying friends. This hands-on interactive experience will give you insight into how understanding behavior modification can positively change the world around you.

The climate crisis does not affect all people equally. In this session, we will cover how climate emergencies and extremes magnify pre-existing vulnerabilities, increasing migration and expanding health disparities. We will define three types of climate migrants who are arriving in the United States and evaluate the health risks that they face before, during, and after their migrations.

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.

Structural inequities and racism create significan health impacts on migrants in the United States, including asylum seekers, short-term authorized workers like farmworkers, and unauthorized residents. In this session, we will evaluate some of the social structures that have produced and maintain modern social inequities as well as health disparities. Students will learn to assess the structural processes that are at play for migrant populations, how these processes affect their health, and efforts in the US to reduce these health barriers.

Do you want to learn how to train your teachers, your mom, and your dog? This seminar is all about learning how to understand and modify behavior. Animal behavior has fascinated humans throughout history. David and Lisa Jackson have trained everything from tigers to killer whales — and even their own parents — for over 35 years. Let them share their knowledge with you so you can create better relationships, happier pets, and less-annoying friends. This hands-on interactive experience will give you insight into how understanding behavior modification can positively change the world around you.

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.

Understanding animal behavior is a fascinating challenge. Wild animals migrate vast distances, maintain complex social relationships, and solve novel problems in their environment. These behaviors aren't just scientifically interesting - they might have important consequences for environmental conservation. If we want to save endangered species and preserve the world's biodiversity, we need to understand things like: how do primates change their behavior in response to deforestation? How does noise pollution affect the social relationships of whales? How are bird migrations adjusting to climate change, and how can we mitigate the effects?

This presentation starts by looking at the science of animal behavior and its relevance to conservation. We then discuss one scientist's work on primate behavior in a threatened region of Amazon rainforest, and its implications for rainforest regeneration.

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.

Understanding animal behavior is a fascinating challenge. Wild animals migrate vast distances, maintain complex social relationships, and solve novel problems in their environment. These behaviors aren't just scientifically interesting - they might have important consequences for environmental conservation. If we want to save endangered species and preserve the world's biodiversity, we need to understand things like: how do primates change their behavior in response to deforestation? How does noise pollution affect the social relationships of whales? How are bird migrations adjusting to climate change, and how can we mitigate the effects?

This presentation starts by looking at the science of animal behavior and its relevance to conservation. We then discuss one scientist's work on primate behavior in a threatened region of Amazon rainforest, and its implications for rainforest regeneration.

From camouflage to prehensile tails, adaptations are essential for animals and humans to survive. The physical and behavioral characteristics of these amazing animal ambassadors are highlighted in this engaging program.