Fascinating discussion - we're only a couple of years away from middle school. When I was a kid, I went away to sleep-away camp for 8 weeks and I did a travel camp the summer between 8th grade and HS. I know Arlington County has camps/programs for middle schoolers, as do other day camps in the area.

Check with your county, OP (not sure where you live from your post).

I do think that 4 weeks is a long time with nothing scheduled, especially if you live in an area where you can't walk to things or where there's no public transportation.

the other option, OP, would be summer school. Again, Arlington County offers a mix of summer school programs, some more academic than others. Not sure what your school system has.

Good luck!

Call me crazy, but have you asked your son what he'd like to do with these weeks?