SUMMER CAMPS FOR TEENS AND PRE-TEENS from At The Core

compiled by Beth Probst, At The Core

[some national, some Ohio]

The “dog days” of summer are a great time to explore a student’s interests away from the daily grind of school–what do they like to do, what skills do they want to explore–all great stuff when thinking about their future! We’ve gathered up a few of our academic/career-minded favorites to share with you.

Important quote we read from one college admissions counselor…“It’s not the program/job/internship/experience – it’s what the student takes from it. There is no ‘hierarchy’ that says one experience is ‘better’ than another.” Just something to keep in mind–counselors will not view a program more favorably simply because it costs more money.

Be aware…some of these programs haven’t posted their new dates for 2018 yet so tuck this email away somewhere you can find it later. Pay attention to deadlines, pricing, and age restrictions.

Can you please take a moment to [share this] with your friends? It’s one of the most popular we do every year. They can join our mailing list too!

(We apologize to our out-of-town friends for lots of Ohio ideas. Use these ideas for a Google search to find similar programs in your area!)

Aerospace engineers:

• Space Camp in Huntsville, AL
• Illinois Aerospace Institute Summer Camp
• Air Camp in Dayton – Dates TBD

Offered by OSU:

• John Glenn College of Public Affairs Internship – Fall of HS senior year – Application deadline is 4/1.
• MD Camp
• 4-H Youth Development – leadership, camp counselors, science, sea, & shooting camps
• Ohio Supercomputer Center Summer Institute
• Summer Institute for Discovering Nursing
• Ross Mathematics Program
• Stone Lab Introductory Biology Coursework
• Explorations in Neuroscience
• Improving Diversity in Optometric Careers
• Humanities & Cognitive Sciences High School Summer Institute

STEM – Offered by Nationwide Children’s Hospital:

• Exploring the Scientific Method and Careers in Medical Research
• Mechanisms Of Human Health And Disease

More STEM:

• Stratford Ecological Center – Junior Camp Counselors (ages 13-17)
• Mount Carmel Explore Nursing Day – NOT a summer thing – March 10 – (How to register was unclear…Questions? Contact Mt Carmel email on webpage.)
• Ohio Wildlife Center – Wild Academy (ages 13-16) Eco Warriors
• B-WISER Science Camp – Buckeye Women In Science, Engineering, and Research Institute at the College of Wooster
• University of Dayton Engineering Outreach Programs – Several different choices
• Sally Ride Science Junior Academy for Girls
• Math Plus Academy Camps – CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT COMING SOON – include brain games, LEGO robotics & engineering, video game design, Shark Tank, chess, computer programming, STEMcraft, inventor’s workshop, girls only camps, & pre-algebra prep.
• Pharmacy Camp – University of Toledo
• Summer STEM Program US Naval Academy
• Worchester Polytechnic Institute
• iD Tech Camps at OSU – computer programming, coding, game design
• Robot Academy
• Game U – Coming soon
• Career Cornerstone Center – a national listing of programs

Foreign Language:

• Summer Linguistics Institute for Youth Scholars
• Camp OFLA (Ohio Foreign Language Association) – Coming soon

Reading/Writing:

• Advanced Reading Concepts – COMING SOON – Speed reading courses – recommended highly!
• Thurber Summer Writing Camp – Dates coming soon
• E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Summer Workshop at Ohio University

Business:

• Accounting Careers Awareness Program
• Ohio Business Week
• Junior Executive Business Program for Diverse Students

Arts:

• Columbus Museum of Art – Has some choices for middle schoolers
• Ohio Craft Museum – Teen summer art workshops – Dates coming soon
• University of Cincinnati DAAP Camps – Globally recognized College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
• Summer Music Programs at Oberlin College
• Columbus Children’s Theatre – Summer programs not posted yet.
• Ohio State Marching Band Clinic
• Music For All Summer Symposium – New this year–Music Production!, Plus Band, Color Guard, Leadership, Middle School, Orchestra (Our own Vanessa H. can answer your questions about this camp–her daughter attended.)
• University of Cincinnati Summer Arts Immersion program – Musical theatre, voice, acting, ballet, & piano

Multiple program choices:

• The School of the New York Times Summer Academy – 33 different program choices
• Olentangy School District’s Summer Experience camps for grades 1-8 haven’t been published yet.
• Tolles and Delaware Area Career Center both have excellent camps with lots of program choices. 2018 dates have not been announced yet.
• Dublin and Powell both have summer programming (not announced yet)
• Columbus Academy Summer Experience –  wide variety all ages
• Village Academy Summer Program – 2018 not posted yet
• Rustic Pathways – an example of study abroad type student experiences
• Northwestern University’s Midwest Academic Talent Search (NUMATS) – variety of programs for gifted students of all ages (Beth’s son did two sessions in Chicago. She can answer questions about it.)
• NUMATS Online programs and courses – WIDE variety of courses for every grade level
• Inspiring Girls Expeditions – Wilderness!

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Ohio Wildlife Center
• Dublin Area Summer Volunteer Opportunities
• Leaders Save Lives Scholarship Program offered by the Red Cross – Students coordinate a blood drive and gain leadership & community service experience.
• 50 Community Service Ideas for Teen Volunteers
• Volunteer at your local library – Delaware County, Westerville, Worthington, and various Columbus Metro branches. Check your local branch.
• Volunteer Match:  lists tons of ever-changing volunteer opportunities in your area; can filter by age and area of interest

Get a job

• 7 Tips for Finding Great Summer Jobs
• Job Search Tips
• 5 Reasons to Look for a Summer Job

Service:

• FBI National Academy Youth Leadership Program
• Westerville Youth Police Academy
• American Legion Buckeye Boys State – For current juniors

Not to be missed…At The Core’s summer programming!!

• Guided Self Assessment is booking NOW for summer slots. Book a free family meeting to learn more.
• Heads Up! – Special workshop for 7, 8, & 9 grades – Summer dates coming soon (Workshop available in February)
• Tips for the College-Bound – Summer dates coming soon (Don’t wait until summer–Winter dates in February and March.)
• College Application Workshop – For class of 2019! Save the date…June 13 & June 27 tentative workshop dates. Details coming soon.

Colleges offering a variety of choices:

• Ohio Wesleyan OWjL Camp – Junior League (grades 6-8) – mathematics, logic, computing, science, humanities & creative development
• Wright State University Residential Camps: Architectural engineering, physics, digital photography, theater, leadership, and creative writing
• Ohio Northern Summer Camps – Honors institute, engineering for girls, Japan camp, music, & piano
• University of Dayton Entrepreneurship 101 program
• University of Findlay – Equestrian, pharmacy, theology, forensic science (waiting list),
• Education Unlimited – Various universities covering: public speaking camps, summer college admissions prep programs, science camps, summer acting camp, creative writing camp, computer camp, video production camp, and East Coast college tours.
• Carnegie Mellon University Pre-College Summer Program  – Architecture, art, design, drama, music, & game academy.
• Otterbein University Martin W. Essex School for the Gifted and Talented – arts, sciences and humanities
• University of Toledo Global Leadership Experience – Public health, human trafficking, civic engagement, public education, mental health, clean water, power & fuel sustainability. 2018 dates 7/23-28 but webpage not up-to-date.
• Miami University (OH) Summer Scholars Program
• Duke Summer Sessions
• Stevens Institute of Technology Pre-College Programs – Cybersecurity, engineering design & architecture, pre-med biomedical engineering, pre-med biology, computer science, coding, game design, electronic music production, STEM law & policy, virtual reality, entrepreneurship, business explorer

Prefer to review a summer planning guide?

• Granville School District provided this great list with lots of choices!
• Teen Life – National database of programs

Summer Camp Expos to Explore Lots of Options (Thanks Advanced Reading Concepts for the share!)

• 2018 Summer Camp and Activities Expo – Olentangy Orange Middle School – March 15 – 6:00 to 8:00 pm
• Worthington Mall – February 11 – noon to 3:00 pm
• Upper Arlington at Tremont School – February 22 – 5:00 to 8:00 pm
• Grandview at Edison Middle School – March 1 – 6:00 to 7:30 pm
• Westerville North High School – March 7 – 5:30 to 7:30 pm

Teen drivers? (Want some tips? DWV Tips for Parents Teaching their Teens How to Drive)

• Tire Rack Street Survival – Ohio date in April
• Honda Teen Defensive Driving Program
• Bloom Driving Car Control Drills Program – 2018 dates not published yet
• Distracted Driving Resources – for reading

And one just for fun…Hoover Sailing Club – one of the longest running and most successful Learn to Sail Programs. Each summer, they teach approximately 300 campers (ages 7-17) the sport of sailing.

Quite a list! We hope you find it useful and that it sparks some family conversation. Thank you to local guidance counselors who provided us with some of these programs!

Thank you Beth Probst

this is copyrighted; www.GettingAtTheCore.com

Orton-Gillingham tutoring in Columbus, OH: Adrienne Edwards 614-579-6021 or email aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ 8000 Children Had Great Summers With the Fresh Air Fund

other topics: click a “category” or use search box

Many of us bloggers, Tweeters and Facebookers spread the news about the Fresh Air Fund this summer. 

Now they want  to thank us. 

Enjoy this video montage of images from the summer, as well as other “fun stuff.”

http://freshairfund-news.com

You can become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/freshairfund.  The Twitter handle is @freshairfund.

Sara Wilson can be reached at sara@freshair.org.  The Web site is http://www.freshair.org. There are many ways to participate.

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email  aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com

+ Help Kids Make the Most of Summer!

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From the Johns Hopkins School of Education, which sponsors the “Center for Summer Learning,” some information:

• All young people experience learning losses when they don’t engage in educational activities during the summer.  Research spanning 100 years shows that students typically score lower on standardized tests at the end of summer vacation than they do on the same tests at the beginning of summer.
• Most students lose about two months of grade level equivalency in mathematical computation skills over the summer months.  Low-income students also lose more than two-months in reading achievement, despite the fact that their middle-class peers make slight gains.
• More than half of the achievement gap between lower and higher income youth can be explained by unequal access to summer learning opportunities.  As a result, low-income youth are less likely to graduate from high school or enter college.
• Children lose more than academic knowledge over the summer.  Most children — particularly children at high risk of obesity — gain weight more rapidly when they are out of school durning summer break.
• Parents consistently cite summer as the most difficult time to ensure their children have productive things to do.

 Numerous studies show that summer learning opportunities improve academic outcomes for youth.  Early and sustained summer learning opportunities lead to higher graduation rates and better preparation for college.  Summer programs have also been shown to positively affect children’s self-esteem, confidence, and motivation.

High-quality summer programs keep students engaged in learning, teach them new skills, and allow them to develop previously unseen talents.  They allow children to form relationships with caring adults, help them stay fit and active, and foster creativity and innovation.

What parents Can Do to Keep their Kids Sharp

1. Locate some kind of summer program.  There are high-quality summer camps and programs in almost every price range.  Schools, recreation centers, universities, and community-based organization often have an educational or enrichment focus to their programs.  Think about establishing one yourself!
2. Visit the library.  Find out what interests your child and select book on that subject.  Participate in free library summer programs; make time to read every day.
3. Take educational trips.  These can be low-cost visits to parks, museums, zoos and nature centers.  When you’re planning your vacation, consider places with educational possibilities.
4. Practice math daily.  Measure items around the house or yard.  Track daily temperatures.  Add and subtract at the grocery store.  Cooking is a chance to learn fractions.  Everyday experiences can be fun and interesting, while giving kids opportunities to learn the skills they need.
5. Get outside and play.  Limit TV and video game time, just as you do during the school year.  Intense physical activity and exercise contribute to healthy development.
6. Do good deeds.  Students learn  better and “act out” less when they engage in activities that aid in their social-emotional development, such as community service.
7. Keep a schedule.  It makes sense to continue daily routines during the summer and to continue to provide structure and limits.  The key is providing balance and keeping kids engaged.
8. Prepare for fall.  Find out what your child will be learning during the next school year by talking with teachers at that grade level.  Preview concepts and materials over the summer.
9. Find out more at www.summerlearning.org .

 The Mission of Johns Hopkins School of Education “Center for Summer Learning”

The Center’s mission is to create opportunities for high-quality summer learning for all young people.  Based at Johns Hopkins University School of Education, the Center is committed to expanding summer learning opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth as a strategy for closing the achievement gap and promoting healthy youth development.

The Center trains over 2000 summer program providers annually, reaching more than two million children each year.

What you can do to help:

Become a program provider.  Visit www.summerlearning.org.  

Get the word out and use the research.  Reach out to funders, decision makers, partners and the media; share the research to demonstrate the need for and effectiveness of high-quality summer learning opportunities.  

Enlist support from community partners.  Host meetings to discuss how you can work together to support young people in your community during the summer.

Parents should demand more options for and better access to high-quality summer learning programs from local leaders.  In addition, help to pass legislation that make summer learning programs a priority.

Sopris West’s Summer Reading Camps: One Possibility for Your Community

Sopris West’s Summer Reading Camps are concentrated four-to six-week programs that have been shown to significantly improve the reading skills of elementary and middle school students across the country.  The camps are for students who will enter grades 2-6 in the fall.

Working just three hours a day for six weeks, Summer Reading Camp students have raised their reading levels significantly, as measured by the Word Identification section of the Woodcock Reading Mastery Test.  Every aspect of the Summer Reading Camp is classroom tested and based on the most effective up-to-date instructional information available.  Materials are research-based, and instruction is explicit and sequenced.

Teacher trainings are held for two days before your Summer Reading Camp Classes begin.  There are three separate trainings — one for teachers of the primary grades (grades 2 and 3), one for teachers of the intermediate grades (4,5 and 6), and one for teachers of middle school (grades 6,7 and 8).

Summer Reading Camps have been successfully held in many places, including Montogmery, Alabama, and Kent, Washington. 

Contact B.J. Wise, Director of the Closing the Achievement Gap Initiative, at 800-547-6747 (ext. 300), or email bjwise@sopriswest.com .

tutoring in Columbus OH:   Adrienne Edwards   614-579-6021   or email   aedwardstutor@columbus.rr.com