<p>I am tearing my hair out, trying to find a summer program that appeals to my 8th grader.</p>
<p>She is smart but not bookish, is a homebody on weekends, and, although she fences (sabre) during the year, does not have an interest that translates well into a summer occupation.</p>
<p>In the past, she has attended a traditional girls summer camp, an Audubon camp, an adventure camp (hiking, sea kayaking, camping, canoeing), and SOCAPA (filmmaking).</p>
<p>She really liked SOCAPA, but we do not feel that the experience was worth the expense.</p>
<p>She wants something that is a small group (12 - 24 kids, maybe), not camplike (“anything with a ropes course is out”), and not school like.</p>
<p>If she liked filmmaking maybe something with a creative arts emphasis. I’m familiar with this one because it’s located nearby and a friend of my son attended one year</p>
<p>Bennington College (also nearby) used to have a summer creative arts program for high school students but I think they may have discontinued it.</p>
<p>Although Culver Academies (rural Indiana) is a school, with a full out summer camp program, they also have a 2 week specialty camp, where she could try a specific area of interest. My son went a few summers ago for aviation (now closed), and my daughter went for fencing (foil). They have a very solid women’s sabre team, and they’re exposed to Notre Dame fencing coaches. If she has any long-term interest in the fencing, this might be an interesting match. Website is <a href=“http://www.culver.org%5B/url%5D”>www.culver.org</a></p>
<p>Fourteen is often the minimal age for volunteering and even getting a job. My daughter babysat quite a bit as a teenager and then became a camp counselor. My older son did the traditional mowing lawns. As a teenager I mowed lawns because a nearby neighbor had the babysitting market cornered. If your daughter has an interest in earning money she might put her energy into finding a summer niche job. </p>
<p>We also have an 8th grader and we noticed that the local large amusement park starts hiring at age 14. That made me start thinking that our son is now of the age where besides our family vacation and his two week summer camp, he can also start earning some money. I’m going to encourage him to put flyers out offering pet sitting for when people go on vacation in our neighborhood. Just an idea…</p>