<p>I guess it is early for this but what are your kids doing this summer? Are the kids looking for work or trying summer classes, camp counselor, or European study? Looking for ideas as we are starting to think about this.</p>
<p>Mine needs to earn money. He had a job in his major here last summer and it's available if he wants it. He may try to find a research job on campus and stay there for the summer. I hope he comes home, but will understand if he stays at school.</p>
<p>My daughter has kinda "mapped out" her desires of how she would like to spend the next three summers of her college years. Two of those ideas are not ones for this summer I think but those are One: possibly an architecture program at Harvard and TWO: going abroad to travel and/or work which MIGHT be tied back to back with a semester abroad, not necessarily same country (would like to be in France but there is a chance if she does architecture that semester abroad programs might be some place like Italy but then she could live in France for a summer instead). </p>
<p>But what she is looking to do this summer (talk about letting go on my part!).....is this: My father, who died a year ago tomorrow, and knew he was going to pass away, had just bought a new car right before his diagnosis and so he decided he wanted to give that car to my niece who at the time was turning 15 and who lives in Anchorage, Alaska, after his death. My freshman college daughter wants to drive that car to Alaska (and find a friend to do this with) to get it to her cousin. Then she wants to spend the summer in Alaska, possibly living at my brother's house and working. It is not like she has looked into a job there yet but she might teach tennis (did last year at a day camp at a resort) or even try to see what she can do with skiing related jobs and youth at Alyeska, not sure. First, she must find a friend who wants to make the trip. Believe me, this is BIG on my part to let her do this but I will let her because I feel she is 18 and we did things of this sort at that age and it is time to let her. She is highly responsible and keeps in touch regularly. We shall see what develops.</p>
<p>One summer my daughter had to stay on campus and take a few classes. I did not like that at all, we really missed her! I know what you mean!
Wow, that 's great, taking a trip to Alaska! I know she will find friends to go with her.I wonder how they can get through the Canadian Rockies? Do they drive up the coast?
I know about the worry. I thought I would die when D told me she was driving cross country with friends. I thought, maybe this won't happen. Then there it was, phone calls from Texas, Las Vegas, 'hey! I'm at the meteor crater in Arizona!' Oh boy.I was so worried.They had a terrific time.
You know, there are some very reasonable state college study abroad programs.Unusual places, interesting projects, and a quarter the coast of some. There are some great state college profs. also and such an experience is a nice opportunity to meet them.</p>
<p>Originally D was going home with a suitemate during Thanksgiving. Plans changed when her great-grandfather passed away...so she returned to CA for the service. He left each of the great-grandkids some pocket change. D mentioned planning a "cheap" summer trip with some classmates...it will come in handy. It would make him happy to know that this will give her the opportunity to "enjoy" herself.</p>
<p>My D2 who is a college sophomore this year is planning on doing a community service/leadership type volunteer trip to Kenya in the summer. It's still at the planning stages but looks like it will probably happen. This will be a big change for her. Her summer activities have included soccer since she was 5 years old, and occasionally some acting but she's very excited and hoping that this will cement her plan to join the Peace Corps when she finishes college.</p>
<p>Daughter is starting her summer vacation by spending 3 weeks in Belaruz doing a habitat for humanity project with the Tucker Foundation so she should be home in late June. Like Over30's son she must make some money and has a summer job here in NYC if she wants it but is also thinking about doing reseach over the summer or possibly trying her hand at something else.</p>
<p>She and her friends are planning toget a cheap fare to Barbados where one of my sisters has a summer home but we'll see how her money runs.</p>
<p>Very sorry to hear about grandparents passing.
Wow. Good luck to her! And very eye opening!</p>
<p>Mine just interviewed for an internship at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, where she would work on exhibits related to native medicine. She also hopes to be applying for one at the Folger (her research supervisor is the founder of the Folger Early Music Consort.)</p>
<p>We'll see....</p>
<p>Archermom, Sorry to hear about your family's loss. I'm sure you're right - Great-grandfather would enjoy knowing she's doing something she wouldn't be able to do otherwise!</p>
<p>My son is looking into teaching at a summer urban program for disadvantaged kids (which is paid a litte) as well as teaching at CTY. I don't know if he will be getting the teaching at CTY since he is only a freshman.</p>
<p>Kiddo is looking for a summer science research opportunity in the Boston area as we speak. Barring that, he'll come home and find a paying job. :)</p>
<p>DS (a sophomore now) will hopefully go to some music festival this summer for at least 4 weeks. He will spend the remainder of the summer working at a restaurant and teaching private trumpet lessons.</p>
<p>Backhand & Carolyn...Thanks for the good thoughts. Great-grandpa lived an incredibly full 94 yrs. We are so thankful that the children have spent many quality moments with him...and will have memories to last a lifetime. And, yes, this DOES provide a travel opportunity for D1...we had "that" conversation before she returned to school.</p>
<p>my S will be working this summer to earn money to live on during the school year. He works construction, building the large retaining walls you see at malls and shopping centers.</p>
<p>S will stop in to see us and then travel back to China for another 8 weeks of immersive Mandarin and a few weeks of travel. Hopefully, we'll get to see him at the end of the summer too.</p>
<p>S will work at the same job as last year. He will man the desk in a dorm at a major university where there are huge summer programs for HS kids, college kids and adults. It was a great job for him last summer- it got him used to dorm life (he lived in the dorm), living independently and life in America. He saved enough money to cover expenses for the school year. It will be a nice change of pace for him this summer since he will be in a city, after the school year in a rural location. His brother will do the same..</p>
<p>China is popular. I've heard of a few local kids traveling there. And construction does pay well enough to take care of college expenses. I know the kids of c.c. parents will probably find that research job they are looking for. I like to know what they find.
Mini; unique as usual!
My son 3 has the option of sharing the teaching of the township tennis program to kids. There are all kinds of summer opportunities for h.s. rising seniors to take a college course or two on a campus. I would like him to do that for the experience, but what is the rush? If he doesn't want to that is fine too. Son 2 wants to find a local job. I would encourage him to take a course or two also but he would like to find a temp. job and this is a good time for that!</p>
<p>Son, D1 athlete, will be playing baseball in one of the NCAA-sanctioned collegiate wood bat leagues, from June (hopefully going direct to his team from CWS in Omaha!) until early August. All of the players are placed in summer leagues around the country. Then home for some R&R, then perhaps off to an early start at Stanford with their sophomore college (small group seminar experience in selected topics, taught by professors, for 3 weeks prior to the start of school). I think I am the "hopefully" part of that, not sure he doesn't prefer a few more weeks of summer....</p>
<p>Our son will be life guarding at the lake up the street and perhaps taking a required physics or biology course at the local community college if RPI will accept the credits and if the schedule doesn't conflict with his work schedule. He needs the money, is looking forward to hanging out with his HS friends, and is looking forward to rejuvinating the band he and friends started in HS.</p>
<p>The last week in June he will go to Maryland for a week on our church's youth group mission project, his fifth.</p>