13 year old DS. Too old for camp; too young for a job. How do I keep him busy?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you have a rising 9th grader or rising 8th grader?

I am pleasantly surprised at the type of "camps" open for the middle school/freshmen set in FCPS. Robinson through ACE has a huge list of opportunities.

I give my 13 year old a week on and a week off. He's got a list of chores for the off weeks, nothing too taxing (dishwasher unloading, laundry, etc). We actually couldn't fit in everything he wanted to do this summer. But, he's an introvert and likes the down time.

We do the same thing. Week on, week off. There is one day camp that is 9 days long that she volunteers for but otherwise she likes the downtime. Biking with friends, going to movies, pool, bowling, etc... She also loves to read/veg and watch a few movies and we do Mom/Daughter things together too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My DD went to Camp Hidden Meadows in West Virginia last year at age 15, and had a wonderful time. It was her first time ever at sleepaway camp. She made lots of friends and did new things she'd never done before (lots of hiking, swimming, whitewater rafting, art, dance, performance, etc.). It's an old-fashioned camp, where electronics are left at home, so the emphasis is on having fun. No snobby brats at the camp! If they're there, they leave their brattiness at home, along with their iphones and computers. DD found the camp online, we went to visit, and off she went. It couldn't have been a better camping experience for her. She'd like to go back this summer, but she has a job. We're going to send our youngest children to Hidden Meadows when they get a bit older.

We sent my DD too and she came back with lice At least they warned us the night before. The entire cabin had to clean everything out, do 2 hair washings, could not do group activities or pool for 2 days. We did not receive any reimbursement which really ticked me off.

She had an okay time. They found 3 used condoms in various parts of the woods, probably from the counselors. Overall, she said there was too much downtime.

[Anonymous]

DS, who is at Carson, came home with a flyer for the Hughes VIP program. It's open to Students a 6 middle schools in the Western part of the county, but I would imagine most middle schools have a similar program. It'S free And they bus from local neighborhoods. If DS plays an instrument, local band boosters also often have camps througH high school.