My kids aren't that old yet but going into 9th grade I did a few weeks long summer camps and a week long group canoe trip. Was otherwise happy just relaxing at home. For money I babysat 3x a month or so.

Combo of sleepaway camp (her favorite place on earth), a small stint of CITing at a local day camp (unpaid), and family travel. Also some clinics for her sport. Otherwise, hanging out with friends and reading.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Jesus Christ.

Some kids (home schooled one) already took APs and Calc 3 in middle school. (don't judge pls, let people live their life)

Only to struggle in the workplace because they can’t make small talk about NFL playoffs.

There was always a couple of homeschooled boys stuck in a ballet class they has no business in. They were clueless because they had no idea what was out there. And none of them had potential. You could also identify them by their clothes and haircuts.

Let me have a socially aware kid in basic math instead.

Such a hard age. I have a 9th grader and my son didn't do any camps last summer. He had sports every night/evening, so I basically let him chill.

June: community theater shows, recreational track program, lazy days & down time
July: family vacation, sleepaway camp
August: preseason training for HS sport, hang out with friends, family day trips (beach, hiking)

Three weeks at two different sleepaway camps; trying out a new sport (girls flag football) at high school camp before August try outs; week of family vacation somewhere that has not been planned; going to the pool and 7-11 with friends; sleepovers; lazy days; might do a few weeks of CIT but don't think I can fit it in

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are your rising 9th graders doing this summer? I have older kids so I am on this board pretty frequently, but also starting to think about the 8th grader.

My current 9th grader worked at a paid job last summer. He’s wanted to work a job for years, so it was great to finally have the opportunity.

Thanks. What kind of job pays 14 year olds?

DC went to a horse back riding camp. A little expensive (total around 10k) but it's all worth it. Tons of fun and learning.

Sleepaway camp, camp for one of their activities, CITing a couple weeks at a neighborhood camp, vacation, chilling, hopefully sports practices for high school in August

Anonymous wrote:What are your rising 9th graders doing this summer? I have older kids so I am on this board pretty frequently, but also starting to think about the 8th grader.

My current 9th grader worked at a paid job last summer. He’s wanted to work a job for years, so it was great to finally have the opportunity.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes all these “how to get ahead” questions make me smile. I mean, people can basically choose the IQ of a fetus now. Doesn’t that kind of beat everything else?

Not really. I have a PhD in a STEM discipline from a T20 school and realized early on in grad school that intelligence is overrated. People who make the most money and achieve the most success are not usually the smartest. They are the hardest working, most persevering, make quick decisions, and the ones with the best people skills who know how to work the system. There are way too many PhD scientists working obscure jobs making $100-150K a year jobs withering away in some underground lab and unable to move past that.

You meant to get ahead is needed for unintelligent people and to become the 996 crowds?

My kid did summer PE and some camps for his sport. Besides that Green Day’s practices for the sport at his HS and then tryouts / practices in Aug. plus we were on vacation some

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes all these “how to get ahead” questions make me smile. I mean, people can basically choose the IQ of a fetus now. Doesn’t that kind of beat everything else?

Not really. I have a PhD in a STEM discipline from a T20 school and realized early on in grad school that intelligence is overrated. People who make the most money and achieve the most success are not usually the smartest. They are the hardest working, most persevering, make quick decisions, and the ones with the best people skills who know how to work the system. There are way too many PhD scientists working obscure jobs making $100-150K a year jobs withering away in some underground lab and unable to move past that.

My kids get a job (depending on their age, usually unpaid) and learn to handle themselves, deal with customers/parents and bosses, etc. We focus on emotional maturity and taking some time off from the insanity.

100% agree with previous post. Go to summer camp. It does kids a world of good. And many go back for multiple summers as counselors which turns them into excellent leaders.
They learn to live away from home.
They learn to live with other people.
They learn new skills in land sports, water sports, and the arts.
They often find a new interest or passion that they want to pursue.
They learn leadership skills.
They spend weeks away from screens!
They find they can do things they didn't think they could (like an overnight canoe trip or multi day hike).