We encourage you to send your kids to Droplet, Splash, or Cascade! Our programs are designed to inspire a passion for learning in high school students, and our students have an overwhelmingly positive experience. All of our programs are free and take place on the University of Chicago campus!

Our programs

• Droplet is a one-day afternoon event on a Saturday in the fall.
• Splash is an all-day event with free breakfast, free lunch, and lots of different classes available!
• Cascade is a 5-week winter program which generally meets on Tuesday evenings starts beginning of April.
• Cascade Spring 2025 has been cancelled because of insufficient student registration.
• For more information, we recommend visiting our General Program Information page and our Student Index page.

How to register

Advance registration online is recommended as classes sometimes fill up, but it is not required. In the case of extra capacity, students can choose to register on-site on the day-of. When registering online, each student should create an account on this website to register and choose classes using the Create Account link found in the navigation tab to the left. Each program's registration is typically open for about a month before the program starts. Information about the schedule and current class offerings (Cascade 2025) can be found through the Class catalog link in the navigation tab.

While your child is in class

To promote a learning environment where the students feel in charge and comfortable participating freely in discussions, we ask that parents refrain from following their children into classes. In cases of need such as learning disabilities, we can make exceptions—please ask! If you'll be around for the day, consider having a look at the museums on campus and nearby:

• The Smart Museum of Art
• Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures (ISAC) Museum
• The Museum of Science and Industry
• DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center
• Many more options are listed on the Wikitravel site.

Safety

To ensure student safety, all teachers and volunteers involved in Splash! must pass a background check and complete comprehensive child-safety and mandated reporter training. For more information about safety, please visit the University of Chicago's Minors on Campus website.