<p>My D is shy and somewhat immature and childlike. Her ingelligence is slightly above average, but her performance, despite her best efforts has always been average at best. Her GPA is about a 2.3, but she has never reeived a D or an F. She takes all "average" classes (no honors or APs) and her only extra curricular is competitive dance. She wants to go to college and I continue to hope that she will get in somewhere. She has a learning disability which is "nonspecific," she simply has a hard time retaining information. I was wondering if anyone knew of a summer program that might allow her the experience of being on her own before college? She is completely unathletic and intimidated by athletics. She wants to be a teacher or something in the health field. She's a kind wonderful girl, but just does not have academic ability or confidence. Any suggestions or similar experiences would be really helpful.</p>
<p>I looked at this summer program experience for students with learning disabilities at Fairleigh Dickinson. The topics covered looked pretty helpful. Could help with academic confidence to have a construct on which to improve her skills.</p>
<p>These summer programs are a bit expensive but I think they are along the lines of what you are looking for.
Independence and academics (like college), relatively "easy" and not too long. Maybe one is relatively near you?</p>
<p>One-week programs
Heidelberg</a> College - SummerBerg '08
Centenary</a> Summer Scholars - 2008
[GirlSummer</a> 2008 - Academic Summer Camp at Emma Willard School<a href="girls%20only,%20not%20for%20rising%20seniors">/url</a></p>
<p>Two-week programs
[url=<a href="http://spotlight.salem.edu/update.html%5DSalem">http://spotlight.salem.edu/update.html]Salem</a> Spotlight - Summer Academic Camp '08](<a href="http://www.emmawillard.org/summer/residential/updates.html%5DGirlSummer">http://www.emmawillard.org/summer/residential/updates.html)
FivePoints</a> 2008 - Summer Academic Camp at Union College
[url=<a href="http://www.madeira.org/girlsfirst/%5DThe">http://www.madeira.org/girlsfirst/]The</a> Madeira School: Girls First - Summer Camp 2008<a href="girls%20only">/url</a></p>
<p>Will it help her to go to a summer program? I'm just afraid that if we dump her off at college (even if it is close by) that her innocence will cause her problems. Her learning disabilty is a tough thing because there's no specific way of helping her. She lacks confidence and the ability to retain information that does not interest her. Interestingly, she is obsessed with the Twilight series of books - which is the first time in her life she has ever been able to pick up a book (particularly one that is over 400 pages) and has a hard time putting it down. Things like that give me confidence, but when she bursts into tears because she can't find the sweatpants she was looking forward to wearing, I have my doubts. I'm not sure what we can do outside the home to help her. I'm not sure if treating her as a learning disabled child will help her. I think that she needs some practical goals for the future. She's extremely kind and comforting, although she often lacks confidence dealing with people. She has a job at a snack bar and seems to do okay with that, although she did not do well at a job at the ice cream parlor where she had to handle food in front of customers. I'm at a loss.</p>
<p>I wouldn't send a shy and immature, low academically achieving student away to a summer program. I think that such a program would be very difficult for her, and she wouldn't enjoy it. </p>
<p>Instead, I suggest having her participate in some local summer activity that interests her. For instance, since she's interested in the health field, perhaps she could volunteer at a hospital.</p>
<p>She also sounds like someone who'd be most fulfilled by starting college by living at home and going to a community college. Perhaps she could enroll in a program that would result in her being certified in a health-related vocation that she would enjoy. In general, community colleges are very nurturing and supportive, and are good at serving students similar to your D.</p>
<p>I think she might enjoy one of the one-week summer programs that are open to 8th to 12th graders. The ones I listed above are summer programs "lite"</p>
<p>Look into Supercamp. I know several students who have benefited in many different ways from the experience. The name is corny but they are worth a look.</p>
<p>Perhaps you might consider sending her to a program that is not academic, but will allow her to develop a few skills that one needs when living away at school (doing laundry, light cooking, working within a group, social skills). You might look into Habitat for Humanity, Landmark Volunteers, a teen travel group (might look at your local YMCA first). If this is not what you are looking for, just disregard my post.</p>
<p>My neighbor and her D were very happy with the summer program at Landmark College. The school is geared toward kids with learning difficulties and this girl is now a full-time sophomore there.</p>
<p>I feel that kids learn so much from working summer jobs. They gain confidence, overcome shyness, learn to adapt to conditions outside their usual comfort zones, and gain communication skills. The paycheck at the end of the week is an added bonus. If she can find a summer job where she'll be around other working teenagers, the job also becomes a great vehicle for interacting with her peers.</p>
<p>I have also heard that Landmark College has a good summer session geared specifically for HS kids with learning issues:</p>
<p>Our</a> Degrees & Programs | Landmark College Summer Session for Visiting Students</p>
<p>Definitely look into Supercamp. We thought it sounded corny also, but it worked out well for our S.
They learn test taking skills, how to remember information, problem solving, team building, confidence building, and communication skills, etc. We were pleased that they really encourage shy kids to participate and he came home with some new social skills.</p>
<p>How old is your daughter?</p>
<p>She might enjoy this camp:</p>
<p>Stone</a> Mountain Adventures</p>
<p>This is a small (about 50 kids total) camp for teens. My daughter had a wonderful time there.</p>
<p>It isn't oriented toward academics, but she could have a good time and learn how well she can do on her own.</p>
<p>Call the director and talk to him, see what he thinks.</p>
<p>My D is currently a junior. She wants to go to a four year college, which is one of the reasons we are not considering community college. The reason we would like to have her go to a summer program is to give her the opportunity to be "on her own" for a week, and then return home for continued nurturing before she has to go out into the "real world" of college. We'd like her to go to a sleep-away camp for the week. For the past two summers, she's worked at the snack bar at our pool. I agree, the job has given her self-esteem. She's applying for a school-year job today, which she'll work two days per week. I think a week away would be hard, but I think at the end of the day, she would benefit. Supercamp looks very interesting. Thanks for all of your suggestions.</p>
<p>You may want to consider a program that is longer than a week.</p>
<p>It can take a week to just settle in and get over any homesickness, so the longer programs may actually be more enjoyable and have more benefit.</p>
<p>My friend's son has asperger's. The summer following his junior year in high school, he attended the above summer 7-week program. Yes, he was a bit homesick for the first couple of weeks but it was well worth it. He ended up loving the program and for the first time in his life, he was able to experience a social life with friends. He gained work experience through the program by working a few hours a week with the elderly in a nearby assisted living facility. By the end of the summer, it was obvious that this program helped him mature and gain confidence.</p>
<p>He graduated from high school in June (with a NYS Regent's Diploma and a member of the National Honor Society). He's now attending the 3-year program at New York Insitute of Technology (VIP program). Next year he will be given the opportunity to attend college classes. He's now taking Pre-college classes. He's loving the program and is definitely not homesick. He has a social life (which didn't exist for him in HS), friends, is learning to drive, taking pre-college classes, and experiencing dorm life. The drawback is that the program is very expensive but his parents strongly feel that this is the best fit for him. I agree with them.</p>