Non-Academic Summer Program

Pre-College Issues Summer Programs
1

<p>I am looking for a science oriented summer program for my d, who will be a rising sophomore. Looking for a hands-on science/nature program where the emphasis is not on classroom work but experience in the field. I don't care whether it will impress for college admissions and I don't want her to spend three weeks in a classroom. She loves the out of doors (backpacking, hiking, etc), writing, reading, and has talked about studying everything from archeology to nursing in college. </p>

<p>I found Actionquest: Ecuador/Galapagos Island where students work at the national parks but, with international travel, it is very,very pricey ($6000+ for 10 days). </p>

<p>Anyone have any suggestions for stateside camps/programs?</p>

2

<p>I don’t have any specific suggestions, but I know I have seen info on marine biology camps in the past. You might do some web searches on that; it would probably be a pretty hands on, science oriented experience.</p>

3

<p>I don’t know the specifics of SSP but I know the general project of that program is tracking asteroids, very hands on. There may be a lot of classroom stuff involved as well though, I don’t know. I don’t think it’s open to rising sophomores, but it is open to rising juniors, which is not that common in the one’s I looked at. It might be tough to find a program for a rising sophomore, unfortunately.</p>

4

<p>Maybe try the national park service:</p>

<p>[U.S&lt;/a&gt;. National Park Service Jobs for Students](<a href=“http://www.nps.gov/aboutus/jobsforstudents.htm]U.S”>CommonSpot Error)</p>

5

<p>Do you have a local zoo? Our zoo has teen travel programs to Costa Rica, Alaska, and the Florida Keys. They don’t sound super hard core but that age group is under serviced.
[Minnesota</a> Zoo](<a href=“http://mnzoo.org/education/education_kidsFamilies_TravelProgram.asp]Minnesota”>http://mnzoo.org/education/education_kidsFamilies_TravelProgram.asp)</p>

<p>Another thought is to check some of the state universities and see if they have summer youth programs. If she went to a day camp, would some one be able to spend the week or two with her in a hotel?</p>

<p>Here is a link to programs at U of Miami that are open to sophomores:
[Program</a> Dates: June 26 - July 16, 2010 | University of Miami](<a href=“http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,57282-1;43787-2,00.html]Program”>http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,57282-1;43787-2,00.html)</p>

<p>Texas A&M Galveston runs Sea Camps:
[Sea</a> Camp](<a href=“http://www.tamug.edu/seacamp/schedule.htm]Sea”>http://www.tamug.edu/seacamp/schedule.htm)</p>

6

<p>Check out Broadreach and Academic Treks. Both offer great marine biology programs… My son has done two - one Broadreach, one Academic Treks. The Academic Treks program involved more studying, but most of the learning was hands-on in the field, so it didn’t seem to bother him. The Broadreach trip taught him a lot about the underwater world, but no academics. He did that one first. The programs aren’t cheap necessarily, but we thought it was a great investment, and cheaper than the Galapagos trip you mentioned. Our son LOVED the trips, and they exceeded our expectations in every way. </p>

<p>Look at [Worldwide</a> Marine Biology Summer Camps for Teens | Broadreach](<a href=“http://www.gobroadreach.com/programs/marine_biology_summer_camps.asp]Worldwide”>Marine Biology Summer Programs for Teens | Broadreach) and [Marine</a> Biology Summer Camps for High School Students | Academic Treks](<a href=“http://www.academictreks.com/programs/marine_biology_summer_camps.asp]Marine”>http://www.academictreks.com/programs/marine_biology_summer_camps.asp).</p>

7

<p>Check out [Teton</a> Science Schools: Home](<a href=“http://www.tetonscience.org%5DTeton”>http://www.tetonscience.org)</p>