ACE Camp Questions

DZ_LAMP · Post by **DZ_LAMP** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 7:44 pm

I was thinking about attending the ACE quiz bowl camp and i was wondering if i could get some input on which majors and minors were better.

fancynancy · Post by **fancynancy** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 9:01 pm

I went to the SEMO camp last year, and it was great. You definitely should come.

Any of the majors are good--take what you need or are interested in taking. I was the only one from my school who went, but if you have more people going, split up into different majors!

I took Social Studies I (U.S. History) and the Physics and Art History minor. I really enjoyed my major, and the minors were fun too. I chose my major based on the fact that I am (1) a relatively solid social studies person who (2) had not taken U.S. history since about the sixth grade and (3) I like history a lot. I found the class fun and full of good information and I was even able to get a couple of awards in there by the end of the week.

Whatever you decide to take, make sure you come! Remember, you don't have to decide which until you get there--you've got plenty of time. Don't worry about it too much.

Okay, need to get back to studying for calculus (my class exam's tomorrow...ughhhh)... hope to see you there!

brownboy79 · Post by **brownboy79** » Wed Apr 26, 2006 10:22 pm

ACE is amazing. I have gone for the past two years, and it really gives you a lot of experience, regardless of which subject you choose. The past two years I was in Science, but it may be helpful to try choosing a major in your weaker category, for example, this year I will probably take Ancient Lit. I don't know how specialized your team is, but for all-arounders it is a good idea to take your weakest category.

Golden Tiger 86 · Post by **Golden Tiger 86** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 12:34 am

Social Studies with either Mr. Barry or Mr. Rummage (I assume they still teach those classes) would be helpful. Although I've heard nothing but good things about Lit with Mr. Garrick. Not so sure about science with Ms. Boehme, but I've never heard anybody complain about her. As for minors...well, I loved art with Mr. Huff and math with Mr. Knupp. And I think Mrs. Daily, my old coach, teaches mythology (although I'm not 100% sure).

DZ_LAMP · Post by **DZ_LAMP** » Thu Apr 27, 2006 10:36 am

I thought about taking the science major. I was wondering whether i could jump to Science II without Science I and also what the rotation of the sciences were.

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Tue May 02, 2006 2:05 pm

Check our website about majors/minors. We are offering more minors than ever.

http://www.acequizbowlcamp.com

DH TTHS · Post by **DH TTHS** » Tue May 02, 2006 5:42 pm

This isn't about majors or minors, but which dorms are we staying in at SEMO this year. The awesome ones from two years ago or the ones from last year. I will be going either way, but I'm just curious.

mrs. dalloway · Post by **mrs. dalloway** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:24 pm

Adding to the suggestion to major in your previously weakest category: I would vote against majoring in something you already know a lot in. I was a lit specialist going in and still learned a lot in Lit II, but it seems like some of the people were just there to win their major tournament at the end of the week, using knowledge they'd had before coming to camp. Don't major in something you don't like, but also don't major in something because you're already a whiz at it.

Post by **DumbJaques** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:40 pm

Of course, it could also be that "some of the people" read the part on the website about how course focuses alternated in a two-year cycle and were expecting a complement to their previous year. At least, I doubt "some of the people" were expecting to get a major where the lit "teacher" read aloud from Benet's and refused to let the best players practice against everyone else. But what can you do.

Aside from what was a fairly negative major experience last year, I wholeheartedly recommend ACE camp (and will continue to do so). My experience there as a junior was invaluable to my development as a player. The fact is, most people who are serious about quizbowl don't start out knowing how to get better. A great coach helps a lot, but even then it can only take you so far on the personal study level. ACE gets you into the right mindset, teaches you the kind of committment differnet levels of success take, and does a great job of getting you started. I would think it would be very, very difficult to come away from ACE without improving your play.

As for the original question, it all depends. If you're a new player starting out, I would recommend either lit or social studies. My logic is this: if you're scientifically inclined, you're going to pick that stuff up anyway, and not many quizbowlers (on the average) do. If you're not scientifically inclined, you'd be wasting your time as an inexperienced player trying to pick up all these things you've never heard of. In either case, science is almost universally a smaller category than social studies and, sometimes, lit, so I wouldn't recommend science even to an experience player unless A) that player is responsible for science on his/her team or B) that player feels they could gain, by substantial margin, the most "new" information by majoring in science. But I personally don't feel that would ever be the case, unless of course you get the Benet's reading companion class.

As for minors, pick things that at least mildly interest you. I took a music minor my first year, and it was a waste of my time. Not because the course had no information (although it was pretty dry), but because I just had no knowledge of music whatsoever, and no real desire to learn. even for experienced players, those minors happen after a whole day of camp and right before the nightly tournaments. I was just never able to concentrate that well on them, so I'd definitely recommend picking something you're somewhat interested in, though obviously not something you already know far too well.

brownboy79 · Post by **brownboy79** » Wed May 03, 2006 6:47 pm

DZ_LAMP wrote:I thought about taking the science major. I was wondering whether i could jump to Science II without Science I and also what the rotation of the sciences were.

Before my Freshman year, I jumped to Science 2, but I don't think that they let you do that any more. Ms Boehme is a great teacher, from what I've heard, and Science 1 is an excellent category for someone weak in Science. Also, IMO, once you've reached a certain point, it starts to become worthless in studying the categories in which you are already strong. IE, I spend most of my time studying Lit, even though I depise it, because it is where I need the most work. I find that camp provides experience in certain categories that a player would never get in another setting.

Magister Ludi · Post by **Magister Ludi** » Thu May 04, 2006 12:25 am

Papa, are you going to the Maryville Camp this year?

brownboy79 · Post by **brownboy79** » Thu May 04, 2006 10:25 am

No, probably not. I am planning on going to Harvard Summer School and it conflicts with camp. If, however, I am not able to attend Summer School then I will definitely be at Maryville with the rest of Dunbar's usually massive contingent. Looking forward to seeing you again, Ted.

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Thu May 04, 2006 7:47 pm

ACE has sponsored 20 camps in the past 12 years. Every dorm we have been assigned SUCKS except that New Dorm at SEMO we fluked into in 2004. You can bet we'll never see one that nice again. Note: we also fluked into some really nice dorm rooms in one dorm at Maryville last year. But dorms are not nice places folks.

Byko · Post by **Byko** » Fri May 05, 2006 3:27 pm

jrbarry wrote:ACE has sponsored 20 camps in the past 12 years. Every dorm we have been assigned SUCKS except that New Dorm at SEMO we fluked into in 2004. You can bet we'll never see one that nice again. Note: we also fluked into some really nice dorm rooms in one dorm at Maryville last year. But dorms are not nice places folks.

Now Rick, I KNOW you're not insulting the dorms at Furman!

Compared to most other dorms on college campuses that I've seen, those are pretty decent. At least they didn't stick you all in Blackwell (I don't think) where your closet is about half of your usable space (and then one year, they tried to put THREE people in some of those dorms).

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Fri May 05, 2006 8:29 pm

Byko:

Don't even get me started on Furman! The last year we were there, they crammed about 75 of usa in some dreadful dorm that hadn't been cleaned since Eisenhower was President!

Furman folks left a very bad taste in my mouth.

brownboy79 · Post by **brownboy79** » Sat May 06, 2006 4:44 pm

Yeah. But Furman had good food. Which is more than I can say for Maryville. Either way, I've only been to camp twice, including the last Furman camp, which totally dominates Maryville. And if that was the bad one....
All I have to say, is that we had two working toilets to a group of 8 rooms (2 guys in each room).

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:07 pm

Papa:

Furman kicked us out. After promising us our week would be our's forever, they gave it to someone else giving us laternates dates we could not use.

brownboy79 · Post by **brownboy79** » Sat May 06, 2006 11:09 pm

Yeah, I know. But it really is a shame. The food was horrible. Regardless, camp is an experience nobody should miss. Even if you're only going for the football, which, I might add, is generally excellent. Somehow we missed all the rain last year.

Golden Tiger 86 · Post by **Golden Tiger 86** » Sun May 07, 2006 12:43 am

Maryville didn't have the Falcons, did they? That by itself was worth the trip to Furman

Byko · Post by **Byko** » Sun May 07, 2006 2:05 pm

jrbarry wrote:Furman kicked us out. After promising us our week would be our's forever, they gave it to someone else giving us laternates dates we could not use.

I would hope that in the last couple years, since they've added a conference center on campus, they would be kinder to off-campus groups paying money and using their facilities. It sounds like they treated y'all like they did PACE back in 2000--allowed me to set up everything, but then a few days before the tournament, a "mandatory campus-wide power outage" was scheduled, which would have completed derailed the second day of the tournament. And the only reason I knew about it was because I was living on campus at the time and had a note slipped under my door about 3-4 days in advance. So Rick, I may be a proud Furman alum, but they've done some pretty crummy things since I graduated.

Also, Rick, whose dorms were worse: Furman's or Lake Forest's back when they hosted ASCN?

sabine01 · Post by **sabine01** » Mon May 08, 2006 12:37 pm

Golden Tiger 86 wrote:Maryville didn't have the Falcons, did they? That by itself was worth the trip to Furman

Alas, the Falcons stopped training at Furman in 2005 -- when their facility in Flowery Branch, GA got finished up. They were a nice group, all in all to RA for (I was an RA in the on-campus apartment complex in the summers of 1999 and 2000.)

As for Furman doing some not-so nice-things to groups external and internal, I have nothing to add to Byko's post...

~T~

Golden Tiger 86 · Post by **Golden Tiger 86** » Mon May 08, 2006 2:55 pm

sabine01 wrote:
Golden Tiger 86 wrote:Maryville didn't have the Falcons, did they? That by itself was worth the trip to Furman

Alas, the Falcons stopped training at Furman in 2005 -- when their facility in Flowery Branch, GA got finished up. They were a nice group, all in all to RA for (I was an RA in the on-campus apartment complex in the summers of 1999 and 2000.)

As for Furman doing some not-so nice-things to groups external and internal, I have nothing to add to Byko's post...

~T~

Well crap...a highlight of going to the '03 ACE Camp (besides being taught by the only LSU fan I don't want to beat with a shovel) was getting a high-five from Mike Vick, right after the Falcons had won at Lambeau.

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Mon May 08, 2006 5:43 pm

Golden Tiger 86!

You coulda gone to LSU and become truly a Golden Tiger. It's not too late to transfer our of OgeronLandofOz.

Golden Tiger 86 · Post by **Golden Tiger 86** » Mon May 08, 2006 7:26 pm

jrbarry wrote:Golden Tiger 86!

You coulda gone to LSU and become truly a Golden Tiger. It's not too late to transfer our of OgeronLandofOz.

Naah...the potential fun of watching Ed Orgeron and Brent Schaeffer terrorizing the Oxford Square is worth the price of tuition by itself. Although I think the school owes it to the students to give us free student tickets to the game. Good Lord, the last two years have been horrific. The biggest win at home since I've been here was a 20-3 win over 3-8 Mississippi State in '04.

jcscats · Post by **jcscats** » Wed May 10, 2006 8:15 pm

I can tell you from a coaching point of view all of the majors and minors are great. Over the past few years I have attended all of the various majors and minors. I bring about 4-6 of my middle school players to camp each year, and they love it and they learn "HOW" to study which is the best benift in my opinion. However, this year we will not be able to attend because my FPS team qualified for internationals and we only get one out of state trip per year.

~~~Wishes for a math major at Maryville next year~~~

sweaver · Post by **sweaver** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 4:32 pm

fancynancy wrote:
I took Social Studies I (U.S. History) and the Physics and Art History minor. I really enjoyed my major, and the minors were fun too.

Glad you liked the physics minor...it was my first time out, and I had to start from scratch!

DrakeRQB · Post by **DrakeRQB** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 9:11 am

Is there a coach's itenerary anywhere online? I'm bringing three players to Maryville, but I've never been clear on what coaches do during the camp. Can anyone add any insight?

Matthew D · Post by **Matthew D** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:12 am

I was wondering the same thing.. I will be at the Maryville camp with 5 of my players....

sweaver · Post by **sweaver** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:11 am

You can sit in on the sessions with the kids, or go to different ones. Sometimes a coaches program is offered in the afternoon.

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Tue Jun 13, 2006 11:16 am

we will offer coaches eeminars in the afternoon while the kids are practicing. we do that 2 or 3 times depending on the need.

during the mornings, most coaches sit in on the teaching sessions if for no other reason to see what the staff feels kids should know in the subjecxt areas. Same deal for minors. Coaches can come and go as they please.

In the evenings, coaches watch the tournaments.

We hope coaches will keep and eye on their kids as well. Because we do not offer a substantial coaches program, the fee we charge them is considerabley less than the kids.

Siverus Snape · Post by **Siverus Snape** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 2:57 pm

I am going to be attending the SEMO camp this year, and I was wondering about my major. I've just finished my freshman year in high school, and the highest math classes I've already taken are Algebra II and Geometry. This fall, I will be taking Trigonometry first semester and Analytical Geometry second semester. Junior and senior years I'll be taking Calculus.

With this in mind, is it worth it for me to take the math major at SEMO? Would I be better served by taking a major (such as Lit or SS) that is more information-based than technique-based? Furthermore, how does the math major differ from the math minor? The ACE website does not give that information.

Thank you in advance for your suggestions.

P.S.: I have already decided to take art and music as my minors, and the math minor isn't a possibility.

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Thu Jun 15, 2006 7:49 pm

We wait and see if we have enough campers who want a math major before we decide to offer it. Mr Matt Knupp, formerly the Danville, KY coach and now the Russell, KY coach, will answer your questions about particular math content on the day of check-in, at our orientation session.
We discuss choosing majors at that time and again before yo actually start your major on day two at a morning session.

THE bottom line there is always what does your team need you to learn/master for the team's success? I always suggest consulting your coach about what to take at camp. And I will gladly talk to you on day one at camp if you still need any guidance.

quizme · Post by **quizme** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 12:01 am

Who will be teaching the minors this year at Maryville?

quizbowllee · Post by **quizbowllee** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:29 am

jrbarry wrote:We wait and see if we have enough campers who want a math major before we decide to offer it. Mr Matt Knupp, formerly the Danville, KY coach and now the Russell, KY coach, will answer your questions about particular math content on the day of check-in, at our orientation session.
We discuss choosing majors at that time and again before yo actually start your major on day two at a morning session.

THE bottom line there is always what does your team need you to learn/master for the team's success? I always suggest consulting your coach about what to take at camp. And I will gladly talk to you on day one at camp if you still need any guidance.

This is way off-topic, but I'm surprised to hear about Coach Knupp. Is Russell, KY a "Small School" under NAQT rules? I'd like to play a non-Knupp team for the title next year!

sweaver · Post by **sweaver** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 3:12 pm

quizme wrote:Who will be teaching the minors this year at Maryville?

I'm teaching Physics......

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 8:41 pm

1. I think Russell HS in KY is small, but may well be bigger than Danville. Russell HS (KY) is one of the top programs in KY every year and has been for many years.

2. Minors at Maryville College ACE Camp

Art--Eric Huff (Dorman, SC)
Music--Barbara Heckert (Ripley, WV)
Geography--Terrill Wilkins (Univ of South Carolina student)
Anatomy--Geoffrey Thomas (new coach at Trinity Collegiate in SC)
US Government--Sue Korosa (Copley, OH)
Shakespeare--Brenda Porter (Johnson-Central, KY)
Ancient Writers--Larry Allen (North Kansas City, MO)
Math--Matt Knupp (Russell, KY)
Physics--D Weaver (Parkersburg Catholic, WV)
Mythology--Susan Magadanz (Dunbar, KY)

Kids can take TWO minors of their choice and they choose on day one of camp.

jrbarry · Post by **jrbarry** » Thu Jun 22, 2006 11:46 pm

I have no idea why I put D Weaver for our Physics minor teacher at Maryville. It is Shawn Weaver, out Physics teacher from WV! Sorry, Shawn.

quizme · Post by **quizme** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 12:27 am

jrbarry wrote:1. I think Russell HS in KY is small, but may well be bigger than Danville. Russell HS (KY) is one of the top programs in KY every year and has been for many years.

Thank you for the minor list. I don't know how large Danville is, but Russell HS has around six hundred, I believe.

sweaver · Post by **sweaver** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 9:45 am

jrbarry wrote:I have no idea why I put D Weaver for our Physics minor teacher at Maryville. It is Shawn Weaver, out Physics teacher from WV! Sorry, Shawn.

I thought you were giving me a grade.

FCPanther · Post by **FCPanther** » Fri Jun 23, 2006 11:14 pm

1. I think Russell HS in KY is small, but may well be bigger than Danville. Russell HS (KY) is one of the top programs in KY every year and has been for many years.

Russell is considered a 2A school in Kentucky (by athletic standards)which means that it is larger than the smallest 25% of schools in the state but smaller than the largest 50% (we have 4 class system). It has an enrollment somewhere in the neighborhood of 750 students in grades 9-12. It is much bigger than Danville, but not as big as Dunbar, Manual or some other high profile schools. Despite the smaller enrollment it is always one of the top 3-5 teams in the state and I'm certain that Mr. Knupp can add to the Red Devils' already lengthy list of accomplisments.

mentalchocolate · Post by **mentalchocolate** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 9:12 am

I know this year Russell won the Govenor's cup in Kentucky, but I have never seen them in an out of state tournament. I am not sure why... With Mr. Knupp's coaching ability, the talent of the students, and support of the school I believe Russell may be a national contender next year.

Back on topic...
From last year we have lost our strongest lit player and a social studies oriented player as they have graduated. We have a Senior returning whose strength is science and fine arts (strange combination?). I will also be returning and my strongest points are math and history. This year we will bring 3 players (2 sophmores and myself) to the Maryville camp. I have alreday taken SS 1, SS 2 (odd years), and math. One of the sophmores strong points is lit and may become a starter next year, but their experience is not all that great. I believe it is a very large hole for a young player to fill. Also, our science/fine arts player is in band and will be gone for approximately the first half of the season. Additionally, we do not have a player that is strong in government, politics, philosophy, and economics, etc. which is much of the focus of SSII (for even years). I am trying to decide whether to take SSII (even years), Lit, or Sci. II (I do not know the focus this year). I want to do what is best for my team and if I took Lit, I feel that I may be trying to double up on what one of our younger players is trying to learn, but I also am afraid this player still will not have sufficient knowledge in the area before the season starts. Also not having a science person for the first half of the year can be a big gap (especially in Kentucky where it is 20%), but most out of state tournaments don't have more than 15%. Our coach is a science teacher and could assist me in covering the topic. I am thinking that perhaps I will take SSII and during the season have my coach suggest some topics in science to study. And for the lit, perhaps splitting the lit between me and the sophmore. For example I take World/European lit and she take US/Brit lit? I realize it would be hard to do all of this thoroughly, but I am willing to dedicate quite a bit fo time to this . Would I spread myself to thin doing this? And does anyone else have a better solution?

sweaver · Post by **sweaver** » Mon Jun 26, 2006 5:17 pm

................and what about Naomi?

Did you ask your coach? I'm guessing Sci I is your best bet, but it's just a guess.

DZ_LAMP · Post by **DZ_LAMP** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 11:46 am

Does anyone know how we are assigned to dorm rooms??

Matthew D · Post by **Matthew D** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 12:13 pm

No but I have gotten that question from my only girl team member that is going..

wwellington · Post by **wwellington** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:09 pm

I think they try to keep you with team members if they can and, if not, stick you with someone random (this is just based on what I remember and could be totally wrong).

Irreligion in Bangladesh · Wed Jul 12, 2006 5:13 pm

That's about it...if you want to room with someone specific that isn't a team member, email them and they can try to set it up. I did that last year and it worked out fine. I don't know how soon it is to camp this year, so I don't know if you can do that still or not.

sweaver · Post by **sweaver** » Wed Jul 12, 2006 8:54 pm

SEMO is currently taking place. Maryville is next week.

Siverus Snape · Post by **Siverus Snape** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:11 am

About the room assignments: They definitely try to stick you with a team member first. I think that if there is an odd number of boys or girls from your team, the oldest one has to room with someone else. I am fairly sure that they try to room by state/region. Our floor was almost exclusively Illinoisan, and two of our team roomed with other Illinoisans.

Irreligion in Bangladesh · Fri Jul 14, 2006 10:35 am

So how'd SEMO go?

JohnAndSlation · Post by **JohnAndSlation** » Fri Jul 14, 2006 3:52 pm

SEMO was great. We had 3 people from our team in dorms (one stayed at a hotel). 2 of us were girls, and we ended up together. The one guy ended up with someone from the closest school to us (Loyola), so if you don't end up with someone from your team, chances are you'll be with someone near you.