<p>As the parent of a rising 8th grader, I thought it might be helpful to start a thread on Summer Programs for motivated middle schoolers...that's "pre-college", right? ;-P</p>
<p>This summer, our daughter attended the Middlebury-Monterey Language Academy (Green Mountain campus) for French. She had a great time, and seems to have improved her facility and accent dramatically.</p>
<p>We would not have even known about the availability of this program if it were not for a teacher who recommended looking into it. Which is part of my motivation to start this thread...perhaps someone can learn from my/your input.</p>
<p>Speaking of which, we're considering a Hopkins' CTY course for next summer...anyone have experience with the classes in Hawaii?</p>
<p>Concordia Language Villages are also great for middle schoolers, both my kids attended for several sessions. They offer immersion camps in tons of languages, so your kid can do something they have already been exposed to, or try something completely different.</p>
<p>There are also the DUKE TIP programs at a variety of places across the US. I’d love to hear what folks think of them. There is a FB page where the kids talk highly of the programs.</p>
<p>If your D is a candidate for CTY, she might also consider applying for Davidson Institute’s THINK program in Reno. My D did it this summer, and while she worked incredibly hard, she LOVED it and can’t wait to go back.</p>
<p>My daughter is a rising 9th grader - so she has EXPERIENCE with middle school programs.</p>
<p>She has been to CONCORDIA for three summers now… two in the French village Lac du Bois. One in the Arabic village of Al Waha. She LOVED Lac du Bois… amazing - learned a ton. She was slightly disappointed in Al Waha. Al Waha is only 5 years old and had a HUGE turn over in staff this summer. There weren’t any of the typical CLV traditions and they weren’t “immersed” in the language 24 - 7 like they were at Lac du Bois. Overall - CLV is certainly a good value and Lac du Bois is wonderful.</p>
<p>After 7th grade she went to SPARK at Brown University. SHE LOVED IT !! She took Astrobiology with Seth Horowitz, whom she still keeps in touch with. She learned more in one week than she learned in 8th grade science last year. Amazing program.</p>
<p>This summer she attended THINK and LOVED IT. It is part of the Davidson Instititute. She learned an immense amount. Earned 6 college credits (A and A- in her classes). Learned how to handle two 3 1/2 week college classes. Met tons of friends and KEEPS in touch with them. She HOPES to go back next summer (however, she is considering going to summer school at TJHSST - where she attends - to take Comp Sci - we shall see what she decides)</p>