Thanks for all the suggestions. Since he isn't interested in attending any camps, it has been a challenge to find other ways to keep him busy. He's a rising 8th grader, so too young for many of the interesting volunteer gigs.

I think that I will pursue the mother's helper idea. If he works for someone in the neighborhood, he could walk or ride his bike to the job. He's great with the little guys and earning some money would make him happy.

I second the mother's helper. I've also seen a team of babysitters, 17, 15 and 13, working with an extended family, 11 kids total.

My 13 year old DD and her 13 year old cousin (male) are both going to be mother's helpers this summer. 3-4 hours a day, 2-3 days a week = a little bit of money and suddenly the day is pretty full. 11-2 is perfect...gets them out of the house and then leaves time for the pool after "work." They each are making $8 an hour too, so they will end up with some nice money for the summer!

Anonymous wrote:

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.

Robinson through ACE - is a great program. But how could a teen get there with both working parents?!

I hire teenage drivers. I seem to scramble something together each year. Very few "kids" have jobs. that I can make it work for a few weeks here and there. I'm not nearly as picky as I was in the nanny stage - car and a "good" (not perfect) driving record. (I usually their parents, I know they hit a parked car in church, but not a speeding ticket) Also, once you lock up one, they are pretty good about turning over the lead in future years when they can't do it.

This was 20 years ago, but at that age I volunteered at my local community center and some of my friends were junior camp counselors. This was in Silver Spring.

My son volunteered for a week at a skate shop run by a friend. It was great for both of them.

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.

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.

Robinson through ACE - is a great program. But how could a teen get there with both working parents?!

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.

New poster here. I like this approach. My 13 year old nephew is being left to his own devices all summer because my brother doesn't want to spend the cash on camps. It's just a recipe for trouble, in his particular case. Too much free time. I completely get some free time, but not 100% free....

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.

It may be a bit late but NIH takes volunteers over the summer.

Can you build you a vegetable garden and start growing some stuff?

Can you teach him to cook for himself?

Things like this.

I don't understand people who cannot find anything for their kids to do here over the summer. Check out ymca, your county camps, camps held at schools...etc...etc. My teens do a little programming, tennis, dance, art, volunteering....Some are all day, some are for just a couple of hours a day and some weeks they have off. There are a million options. Pick an interest or two and start googling.

Think outside the box of traditional "camp."

Call it camp or call it classes or workshops but there are tons of things out there for kids his age. If he likes computer games, there are computer programming "camps" for kids his age and he can probably end up creating his own game. There are half-day writing camps (one to two weeks), drama camps and classes, sports camps and lessons (if he isn't into team sports, he could try something totally new--fencing, archery, golf, tennis, whatever). Lego robotics and other engineering-type fun "building" camps are out there too.

Let him get on the local parks and recreation department summer programs web site with you and let him find something he wants to do, whether it's a class that meets eight times over the summer or a one-week, all-day "camp" or any other format. Private companies as well as county and city recreation departments offer all these kinds of things. Teens can actually find a lot to do if they think outside the "camp" box and you're able to get him to wherever he needs to be. It's getting late to register for some things and some will be full already, but they also get kids who drop out so you will find something!

Volunteering is terrific but be aware: Some organizations do not accept volunteers under about 14. A few do, though. Here is an excellent resource if you are in Northern Va.:
www.volunteerfairfax.org
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/volunteering/
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/volunteer
If you are not in Fairfax County, whatever county you are in likely also has a big volunteering section on its county government web site. Fairfax has a document that lists a ton of volunteer opportunites and many are not just county government organizations. Also check with the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other major charitable organizations--they have age restrictions but that might depend on the volunteer job being done.

Is there a project he'd be motivated to work on this summer? It's not volunteer work/out of the house, but might keep him from just frying his brain. If he likes computer games, would he have any interest in starting to learn computer programming? You might be able to find some books or on-line tutorials he can study from.

My 13 year old DS does not want to go to camp this year. He had a bad experience last year at a sleep away camp full of privileged spoiled brats. He will work for two weeks as a CIT at a day camp close to home. What types of volunteer work or other activities can he do over the summer to stay busy. If I leave him to his own devices, he will stay in and play computer games all day. He's a good kid. He's fine on his own at home, but I'd like to find a way to keep him a little busier. I can't leave work to volunteer with him, but I could drive him to a volunteer gig each day. Thanks for any suggestions.