Parenting Daily

Previously, we talked about teens going back to work at summer activities they enjoyed in their (younger) youth. This is still a great idea, but what if your teen isn’t quite old enough for a summer job? What if your teen just isn’t ready to give up the summer activities they’re used to? What if they want to focus on something that will help them do better in the coming school year or simply pursue an interest there isn’t usually time for? Summer camps are not just for elementary and junior high school students. Though it may seem last minute, there is still time to get your teen signed up for camp. But you should probably go ahead and stick that sleeping bag in the washer that’s been in the garage since last summer!

Academic Camps: Academic camps are places where teens can go to get additional school credits, perhaps in an effort to get caught up on credits if they’re behind, or to help them to graduate earlier.

At educationunlimited.com, you can sort through camps by grade (grades 4-12 are accepted), subjects (acting to college prep), or location (multiple locations on the West Coast, an East Coast College tour, and one at Club Med in Florida!). Applications are online or you can request a brochure. Sessions typically last from 1-6 weeks, depending on which program your teen picks.

Located in New Hampshire,Brewster Academy Summer Session allows children ages 12-18 to earn school credit, as well as provides them with a Macintosh laptop for the duration of their stay, with connectivity available from over 3000 ports on campus. (May I just add that homesickness would have been so much less a problem if we’d had email when I was at summer camp 25 years ago!) The camp is a good blend of academics and outdoor and recreational activities.

If your teen is going to college in the fall, they can get a head start on their college credits by attending camp at Sage Outdoor Learning. There, 100 and 200 level classes are taught through an adventure/wilderness/recreation format in 4-week blocks. Students can choose from several subjects including field biology and American government. The teacher: student ration is 1:15, maximum. There are even times for parents to visit their new college students! Though the college credits are through the Utah Universities system, they are transferable to other colleges and universities across the
U.S. But check with your teen’s school first, to see if the credits will be accepted!

Stay tuned—further summer camp posts will focus on sports camps, hobbies, camper insurance, and whatever else I can think of! I loved camp growing up and think it’s a fantastic activity for just about any child or teen!

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