13 year old + summer internships
We have a kiddo ready for an internship experience. While a counselor-in-training role is also an option, she's interested in work settings and getting real world experience. Interests are art, design, possibly theatre (but little experience there), and music. There may also be an interest in the FBI and law enforcement. We've already found the FBINAA program for those 14+. We'd love recs in the east bay, ideally Berkeley, Oakland, Albany. Some kind of formal internship with mentorship would be great. She has some basic office skills related to the work of her parents.
Dec 28, 2024
Parent Replies
Are you familiar with The Crucible? It's an industrial arts education center in Oakland. Their Fuego Youth Leadership Program might appeal to her, but I think they only take 15 and up. But taking Crucible classes now might set her up for that in a couple years. From their 2024 posting:
The Fuego Youth Leadership Program is an industrial and fine arts youth leadership opportunity for high school students who are excited about deepening their technical industrial arts skills, learning leadership skills, and working as teaching assistants during The Crucible’s youth summer camps.
Ten to fifteen students will be selected to work with artist-teachers who instruct youth summer camps in Bicycle Mechanics, ARC welding, TIG welding, Glass Flameworking, Jewelry, Blacksmithing, Glass Fusing and Slumping, MIG Welding, Woodworking, Leatherworking, and Ceramics.
They might have some volunteer opportunities for someone her age in a different role.
I think you may need to adjust your expectations. At 13, she could be a 'counselor in training' or babysit, or work for a family friend (with a work permit), but looking for something like a 'formal internship or mentorship' and 'real world experience' s a bit of a stretch for several reasons, not the least of which the level of maturity required for these types of experiences, the potential for her to be placed in situations she is yet unable to navigate, and the liability involved for employers hiring someone barely able to work legally. For these reasons and many more I doubt any federal or local law enforcement agency would be interested in taking on a child of 13.
If you are trying to gain a leg up on college admissions, or if she is academically precocious, she'd be better off taking some community college classes in subjects of interest over the summer. Otherwise, as the parent of 2 college students, my advice to you would be to let her ease into the 'real world' organically, in small stages - it's hard enough being an adult here, much less a kid in it.
Honestly, what you're looking for is a long shot at best. Having recently gone through this process with my now 17 year old, there are VERY few internships that will accept students under the age of 15, often 16. Even still, getting a good internship that gives substantial professional experience is not easy. I am not aware of anyone under 15 or so being offered a real internship. Her best bet is more informal volunteering if she can find an nonprofit organization with a mission that resonates with her and which offers volunteering. Even still, because of liability issues, some only accept older students, but it's worth a shot. Look for some nonprofits and have her send an email about volunteer opportunities - maybe she'll get lucky.