Summer Programs: Recommendations from Parents

<p>Nceph, scheduling as well as location was one reason she picked Explo.</p>

<p>Anyone have any ideas on really good soccer training programs in the summer. My son, Soph., loves soccer and would like to make it to Varsity in the Fall. Every search I have done has come up with really lame soccer camps.</p>

<p>Soccer camps are something that we're pretty familiar with. My S (who is a freshman and will start on the varsity team next fall) has attended Duke Soccer Camp, UNC-Wilmington soccer camp, Paul Banta Soccer Camp (in SC - our least favorite of the three, just because we drew a less than fantastic coach). Wake Forest and Davidson have programs that I've heard are good, too. The level of play has been competitive at all of these. I don't know where you are, so I don't know if North Carolina locales would be convenient for you. I'm sure there are many other good camps in other parts. People certainly come from all over to attend these camps, especially the Duke one. One thing you might do if your son is hoping to make the varsity team is to ask the coach what he recommends. The coach of our varsity team works at several camps. If yours does that, too, that might not be a bad way to get some recognition.</p>

<p>UTNIF at UT and NHSI Forensics at Northwestern are two that we've tried. Son loved both, particularly the new LD offerings at Northwestern.</p>

<p>jasmom….As BLUMINI mentioned “Ballet Talk for Dancers” is a great resource for ballet summer intensive (SI) programs. My D is in 9th grade and this will be her 6th summer at a ballet SI. If you can find a copy of December or January Dance Magazine or Pointe Magazine they have most of the SIs listed. During January and February are when most SIs audition or request audition videos for their SI programs. Not all programs require auditions but they full their slots (require deposits) before March. Good Luck!</p>

<p>Do any of you know anything about the Michigan Math and Science Scholars Summer Program? (MMSS) Know anyone who has attended? I'd be especially interested to know if a rising Junior would find it challenging and interesting enough for a two week program.</p>

<p>Check out Amigos de las Americas <a href="http://www.amigoslink.org/%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.amigoslink.org/&lt;/a>
D1 went to Costa Rica for the summer between junior & senior year of hs, lived with a host family and had the most empowering experience of her life. She was interested in international relations before she went,is now committed to Latin American studies and economics.D2 atttended Science at Sea</p>

<p>D did the Young Scholars Program out of University of California Davis between her junior and senior year. Cost is now $4500 (although it was substantially cheaper when she went). During the first 4 weeks, kids went to lectures in the morning from campus professors who talked about their area of science and then worked in a research lab in the afternoon. During the last 4 weeks, the kids worked in their labs full-time. Field trips were scheduled during the weekends--some touristy, some sciency.</p>

<p>D worked in the lab at which her dad got his Ph.D 20 years before. Some of the same people were there (although they told her to tell her dad that they had cleaned up their acts a lot in the intervening 20 years). </p>

<p>And being away from home for 8 weeks, living in a dorm, was a great dry run for college. It gave D (and us) confidence that she could handle going away for college.</p>

<p>Sorry, hit the wrong botton.........<a href="http://www.sea.edu%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.sea.edu&lt;/a> focus on marine research, oceanography, includes a shore component and sailing. Again, this jock daughter, had a great experience
Check of the book - A Teenagers' Guide to School Outside the Box by Rebecca Greene
also- Summer Opportunities for Kids and Teenagers 2005 - Peterson's Guide</p>

<p>Are there any summer programs similar to the NHSI program, open to 9th and 10th graders?</p>

<p>:o What does NHSI stand for?</p>

<p>kmom - take a look at Long Lake Camp for the Arts in Long Lake NY. It's got every type of performing art (musicals, straight plays, instrumental lessons, voice lessons, choir, bands, play writing, creative writing, dance), fine art (painting, drawing, sculpting, jewelry making, paper making, batik, etc.), and even a circus! It's completely non-competitive in its lessons (there is some competition in auditions for shows), believe it or not, and kids try all sorts of things - no one cares if you're any good, you can always find a band or chorus to work with, or you can try to dance for the first time. Just beware - it's expensive! <a href="http://www.longlakecamp.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;www.longlakecamp.com&lt;/a>. My daughter loves it.</p>

<p>I second SEA.EDU, crabbylady - my child LOVED it. And got four college credits from Cornell to boot! The sea component - sailing a 134-foot boat (never once using the engine) was awesome.</p>

<p>BLUMINI I hope I do this right. I’m going to try and bring up a post by:
3boysnjmom.

[quote]
Northwestern University in Evanston, IL has a 4 week National High School Institute Program in Media for kids going into senior year. It is not cheap but my kid loved it.
There are other NHSI programs in Music, Theatre, and Journalism.

[/quote]
</p>

<p>Now if I could only figure out how to use the smiley faces....</p>

<p>SEA.EDU looked great, but unfortunately their programs are awfully late in the summer. Finishing August 25 and 26 won't work for us. Like a lot of areas, my S school goes back in mid-August. Too bad.</p>

<p>D has applied to attend Governor's School this summer. She won't hear until mid-March whether or not she has been accepted. All applicants who are accepted receive a full scholarship to cover the cost of the program. D is very excited, keeping her fingers crossed that she'll be chosen to attend. I know some states do not offer Governor's School, but for those of you whose states do, I understand it's a great program.</p>

<p>Apparently Florida doesn't have a Governor's School. My son attended TIP programs for three summers and worked last summer. This year, he has applied for TASP. We do need some new ideas, however, they must offer financial aid. This is Single Mom Country here. His school starts early-to-mid August and that eliminates several possibilities.</p>

<p>My daughter (16) went to this three week music program in Provence last summer and had the time of her life. Its mainly for college students, and I would suggest only mature teenagers apply as they have a tremendous amount of freedom and little supervision. </p>

<p><a href="http://www.musicstudiesabroad.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.musicstudiesabroad.com&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Michigan Math and Science Scholars</p>

<p>My son did this program between sophomore and junior year of HS. Good news: the classes are with U of M professors who love teaching. Each prof also has an assistant, and the classes are small, so there is a lot of learning going on. Bad news: the dorm (Markley) was dumpy, the food was bad, and a lot of the "extra activities" never happened. Kids didn't go out much - couldn't leave the dorm at night without a TA or RA - in Ann Arbor!!?? This was two years ago; I hope the overly-controlling coordinator who was running the program has left.</p>

<p>Thanks, midwesterner. That's the kind of thing I wondered about. Once kids are driving, as mine is, too much adult supervison (micromangement) can get old very fast. The classes look so interesting - but if you can't explore the city at all, it would be a bit restrictive.
Does anyone else have any experience with this? I was about to sign him up, but I'm really having second thoughts.</p>