Too old for camps, too young for jobs, what to do in the summer?
Any suggestions of what your teen has done for summer at this kind of 'in between' age? Our 14 year old has basically aged out of all but one camp that he likes (which honestly aren't that many anymore) and has a couple of small trips planned for the summer. We're waiting to hear back from one camp that might decide to do a Counselor in Training (CIT) program, but in case that doesn't pan out, I'm trying to figure out if he can work a job as he'll be 15 at the end of May, but most jobs for his age (other CIT positions) seem to require availability for the whole summer and we have one two week camp and the two trips, so I don't know if any types of those jobs are flexible in that regard, it seems like they aren't. Even classes at the community college won't work due to the trips and camp unfortunately. Any advice appreciated!
Parent Replies
No offense, but consider what you are asking for. Summer is what, 8-12 weeks, depending on the district? And your son has a two-week camp and two trips already planned? Now put yourself in the position of a potential employer. Even hiring a CIT, they need someone who is available for the summer, not “the summer except for this two week block and some other trips.” If you needed a job done, would you hire this person? This isn’t like taking a new, full-time job with the understanding that you have a vacation planned and paid for; in that situation the employer knows that you will be gone for a couple of weeks early in what is anticipated to be a long-term employment relationship.
It seems to me that you and your son need a different approach. What are you seeking to accomplish? Is the goal to earn some money? To stay busy instead of playing video games all summer? To learn? What will his friends be doing? Perhaps he could pick up some casual labor in your neighborhood, such as yard work or babysitting? Take a shorter (3-4 week) course at the community college or the Y? Or a hybrid course, so when he is there he can attend in person and can make up missed classes on his own? There may also be volunteer options at the food bank or an animal shelter that he can drop in and out of. Libraries often have summer programs. You don’t say what his interests are, but perhaps he could talk to the librarian about helping with some of their programs for younger children? Another possibility is keeping up with whatever foreign language he is learning at school by finding a on-line class for daily practice and a local discussion group at a cafe or institution for conversational practice. Perhaps he and his friends can meet regularly to hike or bike? When I was his age I loved exploring my city on foot and going on long bike rides in the parks. Or does he play an instrument? He could arrange regular times to play with others.
Together you should be able to come up with a mix of activities in the East Bay as well as San Francisco that are engaging and flexible enough to allow for the times he won’t be around. This is definitely more work than packing him off to be a CIT for weeks at a time, but researching options together might help you stay connected to his interests while expanding his world at the same time. When I was a tween and early teen my mother sat with me every evening to help plan what I would do the next day. This was pre-internet, so I had to call museums, etc. to confirm schedules and any entrance fees, figure out transit using paper maps, and make a lunch to carry with me. I had a couple of regular babysitting gigs, and my mother insisted I take a typing class at the Y since it wasn’t taught at my school. Those scheduled activities gave my weeks structure, and my self-designed field trips felt like one-day adventures and awakened me to all sorts of ideas and expanded my interests.
We're in the same boat. And TBH last summer was a struggle, too. Here's what's on my list:
* Echo and Tuolomne have two week CIT programs. We're doing that.
* Kitchen on Fire has a cooking class that is 12 and up. We're doing a week of that.
* UC Berkeley Rec rock climbing (or getting him to a rock climbing class ... figuring out how to get that bug into him)
* The Crucible has some cool classes for teens. Woodworking, glass blowing, ceramics. I haven't looked at the schedule yet, but I think that would fly with our teen.
* Trackers had a CIT program (you pay them) that was week by week. Definitely involves working with kids. My kid wasn't into it, but he loved Trackers.
* Looking into whether the shelter will let teens volunteer to walk dogs.
* Unalayee -- backpacking camp (I'm looking for other backpacking options)
* My kid is curious about golf and it seems like there are some potential options that actually have 15-16yo kids registered.
* Cal Sailing Club might have some interesting options if he's interested in getting into the water.
I had a friend whose son was leading D&D games at a game store. I swear that KidsNClay had a teen program at one point. One thing I'm thinking of framing for my kid is that I'll pay him to volunteer. He isn't going to do it without me, but if I say "I'd pay $x for a week of summer programming, so I'll put that into your savings account to spend as you wish, if you do this productive thing that I want you to do with your time." I think that might get me some traction with my particular kid. I haven't decided about that one yet, though.
You may already be tuned in to the City of Berkeley camp programs, but in case not, for a14-year-old there are:
- a marine biology week for ages 11-14 one week in the summer, only half-day. (Registration begins soon.)
- junior lifeguard camp for ages 11-14 (not sure if the dates are posted or if registration has begun) which is also helpful if they might be interested in training to be a lifeguard at 15.
If your kid is a high school freshman, take a look at CIT at City of Berkeley Echo Lake camp. It is a 2-week sleep-away. More info is here: https://rec.berkeleyca.gov/CA/berkeley-ca/catalog/index/70e7f81b73ca9c1…
UC Berkeley Summer Springboard is two week sessions. Depending on your kid that could be a good option.
1 - He can set up his own account on NextDoor to advertise his availability to help with moving, gardening, pet sitting, odd jobs. Better for him to advertise for himself than have you advertise for him. 2 - Take a class at Classroom Matters on executive function skills, study skills, PSAT prep, etc. 3 - Find a couple of like-minded friends and maybe a parent to do a 2-night or 3-night backpack to Desolation Wilderness or any Sierra destination. 4 - Our teen enjoyed one-week cooking camps for teens. 5 - UC Berkeley and Lawrence Hall of Science usually have a few one-week classes for teens that might be interesting. 6 - our kid did a one-month (or 6 week?) class online at UC San Diego directed towards high school students. 7 - is there an instrument he's always wanted to learn to play? now is the time to fool around with it and make it fun. 8 - See if he wants to set himself a reading goal for the summer (2 books? 3 books? 10 books?) and ask him how he wants to hold himself to it. 9 - For teens, there are various summer things that evolve at the end of spring term as they discover what their friends might be doing or find someone willing to take them on an interesting trip. Suggest to him that he keep his ears and eyes open for anything new, and that it's time for him to start finding his own structure and his own fun. It will work out.
What does your teen like? Do they have any interests + hobbies?
There is a photo camp in the east bay - https://www.perspectivesphotoschool.com/
I'm in this predicament as well, perhaps you can also ask your fellow freelancing parents if they need some mother's helpers? Or any assisting tasks they could offer?
Good luck!
Try Cal's teen leadership programs. Both of my kids were CILTs and CITs through Cal camps, and it was a great experience for them
Teen Leadership Programs - Recreation & Wellbeing (berkeley.edu)
https://recwell.berkeley.edu/youth-recreation/summer-camps/teen-leaders…
Just got an email from UC Berkeley rec, with these options for 15yos:
Counselors-in-Training (ages 15-17): Counselors-in-training attend pre-camp training and are assigned a schedule and volunteer duties with the camp in which they are placed. To apply for this volunteer (unpaid) position, visit the Youth Recreation Jobs page.
Adventures Teen Leadership Programs Senior Leadership: (ages 14-15): Achieve leadership goals under the guidance of senior staff. Senior Leaders will select a skill area from our Cal Adventures program offerings, such as rock climbing, windsurfing, paddle boarding and more.
Pre-Team Swim Training develops competitive swimming strokes in a structured team workout atmosphere. The Pre-Team Swim Training program is a perfect opportunity for participants to maintain their progress and bridge the gap to the club team experience. (Age/skill levels include Intermediate for ages 9-12 and Low Advanced for ages 13-18.)