^ I'm guessing she's not going to get any family help for college so why not just declare herself independent at 18, and file tax returns. She might get more financial aid, and she won't have to rely on her parents to fill out the FAFSA.

OP, you are the greatest sister to her. Keep encouraging her. Don't let her quit.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think most of he summer camp jobs go to kids who were campers at the camps where they work. Maybe someone else will have better ideas but I would suggest getting trained as a lifeguard.

How would being a lifeguard get her away from where she lives?

Not the PP, but maybe because camps need trained lifeguards and having that credential may give her an edge in getting a job. That being said, my DC worked at a camp she didn't attend and they provided lifeguard training/certification before the camp session for counselors. It is a camp that is on a beach and lake though so many of the counselors needed to have lifeguard certification.

OP there are various camp fairs for sleepaway camps - just find a list of camps from one of those and have her apply to lots of them. Now is the time to apply for next summer. Camp Friendship is a large camp that has lots of counselors who weren't former campers.

Where is she geographically, OP?

I was a camp counselor, and while it was fine, I think I would have done better with an internship in an area of my interests.

Could she come live with you for the summer and work/volunteer/have an internship?

OP -
On Jobs

- Can you work with your sister to develop a resume of her academic program, volunteer work, paid work experience (even sitting), honors, activities and skills keeping it to one page. Also help her have a list of reference with current contact information. These two things will be key to have set for any job application form.

- A lot of options might depend on her being age 18 and if she could have access to a car. You are a great older sibling to take an interest and some ideas to give her options even locally would be:

a- Encourage her and offer to pay for her to take a life guarding/CPR class for certification in her area. Or at least a CPR/Basic First Aide class. This will give her options on lifeguarding at pools in many different kinds of settings or being a summer full-time sitter.

b- Locate a listing of camps in her state and perhaps contact them yourself to see the likelihood of one being hired who has no camp experience. This does seem like long shot to me.

c- Could she come to spend the summer with you? If this is possible, then explore employment options for teens with limited volunteer or work experience in your area?

d- Another option might be to see if she could be a full-time summer nanny to a family in your area or even hers as it would at least provide income for college and get her out of her house or your home.

I also think it is very important if you could make time to keep abreast of how her college application process is going this fall since applications are due by January 1st for most places. And wotj the family life picture you have shared, it likely even as a high performer, she might need "a coach" to encourage her through the process.[b] If you can advise her to apply to at least one or two schools with Early Action or Rolling Admissions, it will help to have an acceptance or two in hand as soon as possible as she may have to wait for her ultimate school till late spring.

My greater concern in this scenario is that she will get into a great college, but that "the family" will not complete the FAFSA and other necessary financial aid information packet to get her the funding that she needs to attend.[/b]

Check out this link and see if it sounds right for her.

https://www.rotary.org/myrotary/en/take-action/empower-leaders/start-exchange

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How about something service oriented that might get her out of the country?

OP here - that'll work too!

Domestic or international is fine. Service or paid is fine. She just doesn't have the money to pay for an experience.

Have you looked into Rotary Youth Exchange? Sometimes they sponsor kids that can't pay the fees. We've hosted one from Mexico.
Call your local Rotary Chapter.

Anonymous wrote:I think most of he summer camp jobs go to kids who were campers at the camps where they work. Maybe someone else will have better ideas but I would suggest getting trained as a lifeguard.

How would being a lifeguard get her away from where she lives?

I would look for a camp over a resort given her age and upbringing - too much room for trouble at a resort. I'm sure a quick google search will find a camp counselors job aggregator. Good luck - you are a sweet sibling and she's lucky to have you looking out for her.

Anonymous wrote:How about something service oriented that might get her out of the country?

OP here - that'll work too!

Domestic or international is fine. Service or paid is fine. She just doesn't have the money to pay for an experience.

How about something service oriented that might get her out of the country?

I think most of he summer camp jobs go to kids who were campers at the camps where they work. Maybe someone else will have better ideas but I would suggest getting trained as a lifeguard.

Try Independent Lake Camp in Pennsylvania. It's a great camp--my kids have gone there for 4 years. You sound like an awesome sibling. Good luck!

By the way, she is 17.

I come from a pretty impoverished background and never did anything as a youth except work menial jobs to help out the family. My younger sister has managed to turn into a wildly talented kid (99%ile SAT, perfect GPA, volunteers) despite our awful family life and lack of resources. She is currently applying to go to colleges next fall. My relatives are jealous of her and I really worry they will try to undermine her before she can get out. They are a backwards bunch and did everything they could to get me in trouble before college (even lying on me) so that I would not be able to escape to something better. She is even more talented than I am and they are not happy about it.

My sister is a very sweet, innocent kid and I just feel this cold fear in the pit of my belly when I hear our relatives talk about how arrogant she is to think she can go to a top school. I caught one of our cousins offering her alcohol and I just know they are going to try to trip her up. I really want to get her away from them next summer while also expanding her horizons. College was such a shock to me because I had had none of the experiences the other kids had. I remember that a lot of kids had been coordinators, counselors, and such at camps, parks, and resorts. I had never even heard of such opportunities, but now I wonder if I can help my sister land something similar. I don't have the money to send her on a trip and my mother will never kick in any money. I could afford a plane ticket or a few hundred to get her through the summer if she was working.

Anyone know about any programs, camps, parks, resorts etc that allow teens to work there in return for room and board or a stipend?

Please help me get this poor kid somewhere safe and fun for the summer until she can go to college.