Summer Programs for 9th grade visitor from abroad
My niece is interested in spending about a month in the Bay Area this summer. She will have completed 8th grade at an International School abroad (American-based school so majority of the classes are taught in English). Her parents would like to enroll her in a program that’s more fun, local culture-focused, and not too academic. Can anyone recommend any such programs for a rising 9th grader? I would prefer the location to not require driving past the tunnel towards Orinda/Walnut Creek or go east of Castro Valley, since I would chauffeur her along with my own much-younger children. Thank you for any advice.
Apr 13, 2024
Parent Replies
I'm a fan of the Crucible's industrial arts programs for teens. My daughter loved their leather-working class, but they have welding, woodworking, glass, kinetics and electronics, ceramics, and more. Very Oakland. Accessible by BART or bus, if you don't want to chauffeur. https://www.thecrucible.org/
For that age, my family can personally recommend Cal Outdoor Adventures at the Berkeley Marina, Path to Panacea cooking camp through Albany Recreation, and WriteOn also through Albany Recreation.
Trackers might also be a nice option--they get out into the East Bay regional parks. There are Oakland and El Cerrito drop-off options. You don't mention where you're based, which may also help narrow the options.
You might want to check out a really fun photography camp, which sounds like it would really be a nice fit! Our daughter, who is a rising 10th grader and a passionate photographer, started out in the summer camp of Perspectives Photo School three years ago. It was founded by a wonderful local photographer, Tara Layman, who has worked with teens for years, The camp is a great opportunity to get to visit the area (she takes her campers around the East Bay and also to San Francisco), and really learn to "see" what's around them. Tara is both an excellent photographer and an excellent teacher, and continues to work with our daughter on a one-on-one basis, working hard with her to mount her very first photo exhibit (in our home).