<p>I have the feeling that for some- they think it has to be either or
It either has to be- all summer- hanging out- riding bikes down to the beach and trying to get a hobo to buy them beer afternoons & volunteering at vacation bible camp mornings- or on the other end it is shopping in Paris whilst fending off advances of people old enough to be your grandfather and eating snails- oh sorry escargot ;)</p>
<p>Both my kids have volunteered since 12/14 yrs old- year round.
But especially the younger one loves to travel- she likes the challenge of a new environment, she likes to reinvent herself and see herself through other eyes and comes back so happy.
Even a 2 week trip can build skills and add a layer to her resources that she will carry with her forever.
I worked since I was 15 and I only attended a camp once in my life for a week. I lived in the suburbs- I was bored- I walked everywhere- and I got into trouble- perhaps not with the law but with my life.
I have made it a priority to help my kids find their interests and encourage them the best I can- particulary for my youngest- that means adventure.
She has a pretty tough school year- academics can be very difficult for her- I am finding out that she is probably dyslexic which has impacted every area of her classwork. Being a teen is difficult enough without lds- and while I am also looking for tutoring support for her-to be able to provide experiences that dont come with a grade is ...priceless</p>
<p>I agree that everyone needs down time- time that is unplanned
I don't live in the suburbs- I live in the city- infact even though I could have had a bigger house and a better school district for my kids in the suburbs- I live in the city- don't ask me how I feel about that decision today- 1/3 of the kids in our city attend private schools- and we are edging closer to that everyday.</p>
<p>My kids ( well actually only one is under 20) have lots of opportunities to hang out- in fact we are getting ready to go to our big yearly vacation- where we just show up for meals and it magically appears- :)
they play in the snow- play board games with other adults or kids- even get exercise!
We do a lot of reading- I don't do as much skiing as I used to- but it is great to be in a place where they can pretty much do their own thing- and we can watch.
I don't think that summer camps and programs are such a threat to imagination and creativity, some include a lot of free time and lots of child directed opportunities- I think that the tendency of some kids to fill their hours with watching mindless videos or violent computer games to be more of a detriment to the minds of teens and younger.</p>
<p>I have a pretty flexible schedule and didn't usually need to use camps for child care- so no herd of kids from teh boys and girls club run by young college students who ran out of ideas after a few weeks.
I was able to patch together things by theme based camps- and babysitting coops- the theme based camps were great fun- they got to explore interests with their peers- and had materials that I didn't have to run around town trying to find.
The out for 3 months is really harsh on working families- especailly when you consider they have xmas break- spring break- midwinter break and half days every month that has already depleted most peoples vacation time.
Personally I think high school kids can use some structure- and a good summer program can provide that</p>
<p>"I have the feeling that for some- they think it has to be either or
It either has to be- all summer- hanging out- riding bikes down to the beach and trying to get a hobo to buy them beer afternoons & volunteering at vacation **ible camp mornings- or on the other end it is shopping in Paris whilst fending off advances of people old enough to be your grandfather and eating snails- oh sorry escargot"</p>
<p>Wow, I didn't get this from any poster. But I do think the statement about kids needing unplanned time is very astute. There is definitely a tendency for American parents to overschedule their kids, that is without question. But in the case of my D, two or three weeks of lounging is about all she can take and then she is off creating her own schedule. Mine ran (literally) between two paying jobs, a volunteer camp counselor job and a volunteer hospital job all summer. And she still managed to attend a university honors program (to which she was invited) and a journalism camp (which was required of her as a yearbook editor). I couldn't have stopped her if I tried.</p>
<p>I think the only sad thing is when some kids desperately want the break and parents don't see it. Or when they don't step back and allow their children to create their own schedule of worthwhile activities. To do either denies a kid an important part of their maturing process.</p>
<p>I wasn't necessarily referring to just this thread but the shared belief that I have seen among parents in my community and in how parenting is portrayed in media- that you either must schedule your child so that he can keep up with Hamilton next door- or you must allow him to have freedom to hang out all summer-
there is of course a middle ground- but since this thread was begun to discuss different experiences- I did notice that several posts seemed affronted that kids would choose to have a planned opportunty summers, as well as suggestions that you have to have money to do so.
I know a family of 4 who make less than $35,000 and they travel more than we do.</p>
<p>It's been mentioned a few times...the Oxbridge Academic programs...I am also a 16 yr old junior and I went to the Cambridge Prep Experience in the summer before 10th grade and it was amazing...definitely look into it. They have programs for all high school students. The courses are great, activities are great, the faculty is amazing, and it is such an experience...If you want more information on what I thought about the program, just PM me...good luck with planning out the summer!</p>
<p>I went to Harvard SSP two years ago, and took 8 units in a class with other high schoolers, Harvard students, and other college students. Awesome experience!</p>
<p>I spent 7 weeks at the University of Florida Student Science Training Program (UF-SSTP: <a href="http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/SSTP%5B/url%5D">http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/SSTP</a>) during the summer before my junior year, and I couldn't have asked for a better summer...well, unless it had been longer :) For me, that program was relaxing, fun and enriching, perhaps socially more than academically. I learned a lot - about scientific research at a university-level, the cryotolerance of arabidopsis thaliana, and how to write a full-length research paper - but I never felt overwhelmed by the work. In fact, I had such an amazing time, and the people I met are still some of my best friends, almost 3 years later. I wouldn't trade that summer for anything.</p>
<p>The summer before senior year I worked 6 days/week, about 50 hours/week, at 2 different jobs, and it certainly taught me what it's like to earn minimum wage and work my a** off for it. I would have rather been at SSTP again (not allowed to do it twice, and it would have been weird with different people), but I think every high school student should work at some point just for the experience.</p>