what is your rising 8th grade girl doing this summer?
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Anonymous
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DD is in her last year at a day camp she has loved. We will need something new for next year, and I figured this was a good time to hear what folks think about where their kids are this year.
She has not been open to the idea of sleepaway, and long stretches of time home are not a good thing. She tends towards the artsy/craftsy side, not so much on the sports. Given our work obligations, we need something that goes at least until 3pm, at least most of the time. If I can avoid it, I'd really prefer not to piece something together one week at a time. I was thinking that Norwood might work. Anyone tried their "urban adventure" camp for kids that age? Or other day camp programs? I know about programs at Landon as well. Are there other camps for older kids in the Bethesda area that I should know about? Thanks! |
Anonymous
| What about being a CIT (counselor in training)? Several of the camps my kids attend have younger kids that "help out" - I believe parents still pay (a reduced rate) but the kids are learning responsibility while still being in a structure. |
Anonymous
| Would she be interested in being a "Counselor in Training" ? Some places have camps for that for older kids and it can lead them to the path of getting a paid camp counselor gig in later summers. |
Anonymous
| 4 weeks of middle school ensemble at Traveling Players Ensemble, sleep away camp, and then fall sports practices begin in late August. |
Anonymous
| My DD is working part time at a pottery place, and part-time as a mother's helper. |
Anonymous
| I know a few kids who have done the Norwood Outdoor Adventure camp and loved it - I don't know anyone who has done the Urban Adventure. |
Anonymous
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This is my daughter's summer:
2 weeks as a volunteer at a day camp July 4th week off (quick trip to beach a few of those days) week of sport camp week off week of Teens to Go camp week off family vacation week off high school sports practice/try-out for 2 weeks prior to school So far during her weeks off, she has babysat a few times, went to mall with friends, Adventure Park zip lining, seen 2 movies with friends, gone to the pool with friends multiple times, played with her sister, abused electronics, bike riding with neighborhood friends, took the metro with 2 friends (and no parents) to the museums, read at least 3 books and a few sleepovers. She has claimed this is the best summer so far because of more downtime, more autonomy and more hanging out with friends. School was intense this year and will be even more this year. She didn't need a whole summer of structured activity. She was never a big fan of sleep-away camps and at this age it is very babyish. |
Anonymous
| Age 13 is babyish for sleepover camp? |
Anonymous
How old is your daughter? |
Anonymous
13, why do you ask? |
Anonymous
+1 My DS is a rising 7th grader and so this is is last year for a lot of camps. He is eager to be a CIT next summer at his favorite camp -- they take volunteers starting as rising 8th graders. He'll need to apply for the job next Spring so we've reviewed that application so he knows what he needs to communicate in it and talked about making sure he's stepping up this year at camp, helping out where he can (he's there for 4 weeks this year). |
Anonymous
A rising 8th grader is someone who just finished 7th grade - so I believe this poster is talking about someone who just finished 8th grade and is a rising 9th grader. Rest assured that for rising 8th graders, sleep away camp is still a very popular option - if that is of interest to your daughter. Once high school hits, most kids pursue other opportunities. |
Anonymous
I've actually know several kids who went to sleepaway camp until the last year they were eligible (generally the summer before 10th grade).If it's a camp kids go to year after year with many of the same bunkmates, this last year can be pretty special (kind of like a camp "senior year"); there are often things like extra off-camp trips just for them, days where the rest of the campers do nice things in their honor, a camp improvement project they vote on & do as their bunk "legacy",etc. |
Anonymous
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This is my rising 8th grade dd's schedule for the summer. She is currently 13
2 week family vacation 2 week of Girl Scout camp (high adventure half way across the country) 4 weeks where she is responsible to get her younger siblings up in the morning and on the bus to their half day camp. While they are gone for the morning she will either work on her summer reading assignments or volunteer as a mother's helper with a neighborhood family. We have it split so she has just about every other day doing each activity. In the afternoon she gets her siblings home, they eat lunch and then are allowed screen time until dad gets home at 3pm. (1 week of cooking camp in the late afternoon) 1 week at VBS as a group leader 2 weeks "off" where we have a past nanny (she is now out of grad school) coming and she and the kids will take the metro downtown each day to go sightseeing/movies or go to the pool. |
Anonymous
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My rising 8th grader has:
1 week of boy scout camp 3 weeks of family vacation (grandma, dad, mom - married, but those last two weeks before FCPS starts school are a pain! And I really didn't want to go camping with my hubby!) 3 weeks of day time sports camp/conditioning for the upcoming season Then honestly, I am giving him time off! My goal is usually to have a week on and a week off. This helps him focus his free time. I leave chores for him. On some of his off weeks he's home with his younger siblings and a nanny, but there are a few nanny free weeks where he's alone and the younger ones are in camp. I'm not a big fan of CITs. I really think kids need a year or two off to get a break to transition from participant to leader. |