<p>My S does well in science (including robotics) (compared to other subjects) but is generally not very motivated and says he has no idea what he'd like to do in the future, or what he'd like to study. He sometimes says he doesn't want to go to college - but yet he wants the good life. He's outgoing and is a hard worker at his pizza shop job and likes the recognition of doing well. I'm wondering if there is a summer program at a college that might get him excited about college? He's sometimes said engineering would be of interest, or even medicine. One of my Ds did SuperCamp - which was great for her, but would not be the right program for S. I'd definitely like a program with pretty heavy supervision. He's currently a good kid who does not get in trouble, but if he were in an unsupervised situation, I'm not sure he could resist the temptation. Thoughts?</p>
<p>He doesn’t want to work this summer and earn money? I could not have gotten my boys into something like you describe at that age. They were all about working and gas money and their warm weather sports (tennis and golf). Do you have a college within commuting distance that might have some summer programming for high school students? Many colleges/unis do have summer programs. The state university in our area has summer day-camp teen programs for high school kids. If you do have one nearby, the day programming might alleviate your fears with regard to personal responsibility at night. It would also give him a taste of the big/small thing depending on the college size and perhaps give him the opportunity to work still if that’s important to him.</p>
<p>He works two days per week now and will work more in the summer. I was hoping for a one or two week program. My “dream” program would be something that inspires kids to appreciate the value of science and working hard. It’s probably something that could come with age/maturity. I learned about Supercamp for my D on CC and it was a life changer. I was hoping for something that would help my son. I don’t think he’d want to go to a class and stay at home and would see that as “punishment” - but an organized program at a college with fun activities in addition to inspirational learning could help him. He’d go for a week or two if it seemed fun to him.</p>
<p>They are all longer than one to two weeks, but see if your state has a system of Governor’s Schools. In PA, I did the business one, but there is also a medicine one, and they are both fantastic experiences.</p>
<p>I have a S, same age, same motivation. He definitely has fun times when he goes to various summer programs. There’s a whole section on cc about summer programs</p>
<p>[Summer</a> Programs - College Confidential](<a href=“http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/summer-programs/]Summer”>Summer Programs - College Confidential Forums)</p>
<p>All programs that my S did have had great supervision. Somehow he made it to classes, so somebody must be waking the boys up!
I can’t remember for sure, but I think there is a robotic course and an artificial intelligence course at Stanford EPGY, but it is very pricy. There are probably many robotics type of courses. Also consider community college nearby as well.</p>
<p>Classes that S liked were digital media academy in 3d character art and video game development. Also liked class at ID Tech camp in game development. D did classes in film production.</p>
<p>Most summer programs that cost a substantial amount of money (as in, a couple hundred dollars or more) are a waste. Forget about those.</p>
<p>Let me present a contrarian view: schedule Absolutely Nothing for his summer. No jobs, no drivers ed, no classes, no summer programs. Let him totally decide what he does.</p>
<p>Watch.</p>
<p>And learn.</p>
<p>After he finally gets bored sleeping late and playing video games, what does he choose to do? There’s your answer.</p>
<p>Note: parents need to bite their tongue.</p>
<p>Summer after junior year he could apply to Operation Catapult at Rose-Hulman. He sounds like the kind of kid who might do well there. He might also want to take a class or two to learn some new computer language or something related to robotics.</p>
<p>LaurenTheMom, I don’t know where you are or what’s your budget, but maybe this would work:
[Summer</a> Institutes](<a href=“http://www.kopernik.org/summer-programs/summer-science-institute/]Summer”>http://www.kopernik.org/summer-programs/summer-science-institute/)</p>
<p>The astronomy programs are first-rate and the stay on campus and activities there are a lot of fun. The kids are busy all the time and very well-supervised.</p>
<p>My daughter did two weeks each summer after freshman and sophomore year in high school and in addition to the astronomy, which she loved, and the other kids, who were great, staying on campus really helped her start thinking about college.</p>
<p>Not cheap but they give some financial aid. And there were always some kids from out of town–they helped map out the transportation and met the students at the bus or plane.</p>
<p>I’ve heard good things about Operation Catapult at Rose Hulman campus in Terre Haute, Indiana -
[About</a> Operation Catapult - Operation Catapult - Admissions & Financial Aid | Rose-Hulman](<a href=“404 | Rose-Hulman”>Operation Catapult | Rose-Hulman)</p>
<p>===================
details from website
SESSION 1: June 10, 2013 - June 28, 2013
SESSION 2: July 8, 2013 - July 26, 2013</p>
<p>Cost and Payment Information
The 2013 cost for Operation Catapult is $2,500. Upon approval of your application, you will receive a letter of acceptance that requests a $100 deposit to reserve your place in Catapult. Do not send any money until your application has been approved. Later you will receive an invoice for the remainder amount due. You are required to pay in full prior to your arrival on campus.</p>
<p>He would have to wait a year to apply to Catapult, they only take students after junior year (my D did it last summer).</p>
<p>Catapult sounds like what he needs. I’ve never heard of it before. I’ll look into it for next year. </p>
<p>He’s a smart kid - but not into computer games. He’s just very unmotivated, and unfortunately, that’s affected his grades - so he may not qualify for some programs. Getting him to do his homework can be difficult. </p>
<p>He does play a sport (lax) - so maybe I’ll look into a lax camp. He’d be too tired to find trouble. </p>
<p>Stradmom: He pretty much does what he wants now. He likes working. He likes sleeping and hanging out with his friends. As long as he has money in his pocket to do what he wants, he’s happy. He’s just not motivated to achieve. I’m trying to find a program to jump start his motivation and help him develop an interest in something other than sleeping and socializing. Since SuperCamp was so perfect for my D, I was hoping there was something that would help him work to his abilities.</p>
<p>I would recommend Michigan Math and Science Scholars. It’s perfect for a sophomore - very low key - two week sessions, lot’s of bonding with serious students. Also, unlike a lot of programs, the courses are taught by actual faculty members who know the subjects.</p>
<p>Some private colleges offer expensive summer camps. All my three boys attended various week-long summer camps either free or with minimum expense ($300 including R&B) offered by our state schools (one link is attached below). Those camps were related to cancer research, electrical circuits, and business. I am sure that every state has opportunities like that. But, some CC offers courses in computer programming. DS3 is taking a course on Logic Design and Programming in our local CC for dual credit in his last semester of HS. It is free of charge. We did have to buy two textbooks though. </p>
<p>[Indiana</a> State University: Summer @ ISU: Camps](<a href=“http://www.indstate.edu/summer/camps.htm]Indiana”>Welcome to Summer 2023 | Indiana State University)</p>
<p>Another vote for Operation Catapult; daughter loved it. And a suggestion for Explosives Camp at Missouri University Science and Technology (Rolla.) Son loved it.</p>
<p>If you are considering overnight camps, I know this one at WPI is very good especially for math/science/engineering kids…
<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/Images/CMS/K-12/FrontiersBrochure-web.pdf[/url]”>http://www.wpi.edu/Images/CMS/K-12/FrontiersBrochure-web.pdf</a>
[K-12</a> Programs: Overnight - WPI](<a href=“http://www.wpi.edu/academics/k12/overnight.html]K-12”>http://www.wpi.edu/academics/k12/overnight.html)
They also have day programs for kids in the area (Worcester, MA - about 45 minutes west of Boston).</p>
<p>One of my teenagers did U of Maryland Young Scholars program. Great choices ( he did intro to engineering which included robotics), 3 weeks, reasonable residential supervision.</p>
<p>[National</a> Scholars Institute (NSI) / Belin-Blank Center Summer Programs](<a href=“http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/students/summer/programs/9-11/nsi/]National”>http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/students/summer/programs/9-11/nsi/)</p>
<p>~$700 for one week, residential, not including transportation to the U.</p>
<p>[Secondary</a> Student Training Program (SSTP) / Belin-Blank Center Summer Programs](<a href=“http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/students/summer/programs/9-11/sstp/]Secondary”>http://www.education.uiowa.edu/belinblank/students/summer/programs/9-11/sstp/)</p>
<p>$5875 for six week residential camp, not including transport to the U. This one seems more selective, but they do not get nearly the number of applicants of better known programs</p>
<p>DS participated in the week long program last summer. Most students were from Iowa but not all. It was very well supervised; they kept the kids busy.</p>
<p>Bumping this thread.</p>
<p>Trilliums, my rising junior got a full scholarship to attend (but I guess we’d fill out f. aid to see if he can get flight there), but I don’t know that he’d really want to go out on his own for a week. We haven’t really even talked about it yet.</p>
<p>He’s never done anything like this. His interests are super eclectic but the visual arts, engineering, and biology might be appealing. </p>
<p>My son is slow to warm up to new people, is pretty reserved and likes his privacy but he does have a great sense of humor and gets along well with people. Do you think he would find it hard to meet and talk with other kids? I do like that it’s well supervised; for him, that would be very important.</p>
<p>Do you mind PMing me and answering a few questions, things like daily schedule, how it was staying in a dorm, how they matched roommates, etc.</p>
<p>he can join the schools robotics team
i dont know if they do anything over the summer tho</p>