Summer break is almost here and, it’s a matter of time before your teen is ready to get out of the house! How can you use this time in summer to help your high school student plan for the future? Start with researching summer programs for high school students! I’m sharing a few of my favorite ways to find summer programs for high school students that will give them great exposure to college and career options as well as help them build a resume for college, scholarship, and job applications!
Summer Programs for High School Students
1. University camps for high school students
Summer programs for high school students at local universities is first on my list! Attending a university summer camp is one of my favorite career planning activities for summer vacation because students are exposed to career paths and academics as well! Summer camps and programs at universities vary in length; however, most are one week-long and focus on specific career fields or areas of interest. For example, Wichita State University in Wichita, KS, hosts a variety of week-long engineering camps for students entering 4th through 12th grades. Similarly, the University of Alabama has various programs, including week-long camps in Forensic Science for high school and middle school students. Likewise, the University of California Los Angeles offers summer camps for students interested in digital filmmaking or game design, as well as many other career areas and interests!
University summer camps are often very hands-on and engaging for participants. These experiences also look great on scholarship and college admissions applications. Are you sold on summer camps as career planning activities for summer vacation? A quick search online will allow you and your student to quickly identify camps in your area or nationwide camps related to his/her interests.
2. National Parks Service Summer Programs for Youth
There are so many different summer programs for high school students available through the National Parks Service! It doesn’t matter if your teen has one week or two months, there are programs of all lengths and across a multitude of areas of interest! There is so much potential for a student to learn and grow through these experiences. And, after a long period of social isolation, what better environment to be in than the great outdoors! To learn more about their long and short-term programs, internships, volunteer experience, and more, visit their “Work with Us” page.
3. Take Dual-Enrollment classes at a local college
Great summer programs for high school students can be dual-enrollment courses at a local college! It is an added bonus if you have a community college nearby as these colleges often have existing agreements with local high schools and make dual-enrollment coursework very affordable (if not free in some states!). I am a big advocate for dual-enrollment coursework for high school students, and I have written an article about the Benefits of Dual Enrollment Classes to help parents and students understand what this means and to help determine if it is the right opportunity for them!
4. Find a volunteer experience
If your child already has a tentative plan for a future career field, why not encourage some volunteer experience this summer? Volunteering two or three afternoons per week can give your child a first-hand perspective on a career field. For example, if your student is interested in a career in the medical field, almost every hospital offers volunteer positions. Do you have a child that loves hands-on activities and building things? How about volunteering with the local Habitat for Humanity team? Not only are volunteer experiences great career planning activities for summer vacation, but they also look great on scholarship and college admission applications as well as a future resume! To find volunteer opportunities, start by entering your zip code on the search page provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service!
Additional resources for helping your child plan for the future!
I am passionate about helping students create a plan that empowers them to pursue the future with confidence! If you are in the midst of college and career planning conversations with your student, check out some of my additional resources:
- Free College and Career Planning Guide – This five-step guide is designed to help parents and teenagers navigate the college and career planning process. Many people think the starting point of preparing for the future is choosing a college. In this guide, I introduce the idea of career planning first and then a more tailored college or training school search. Don’t miss this resource!
- Motivating Your Child to Plan for the Future – Is your teen reluctant to begin the process? This free guide will help you ease into conversations with regard to the future. This doesn’t have to be a daunting process where you are tugging your child along fighting eye rolls and a lack of motivation. Ditch the frustration and make the process enjoyable!
- College and Career Planning Coaching – Some students have huge amounts of anxiety about the future. Am I making the right decision? What career will be fulfilling for me? How can I find a major that I enjoy? If your student is struggling with these questions, I can help! My eight-week coaching package takes a student from uncertain and anxious to confident and excited!
- Job/Internship Search Coaching – gone are the days of a college degree ensuring gainful employment following graduation. Employers want relevant work experience and successful internships to prove the graduate is ready for the workforce. I help students and recent graduates navigate the job search, prepare for interviews, and negotiate their compensation. Let’s get your student’s future career started on the best note!
- Resume Help – Writing a resume is daunting. You have 10 seconds (or less) to showcase yourself on paper and capture the reader’s attention before they move on to the next document. It takes strategy and experience to really make your document stand out! This mini package will take your resume from common to exceptional!
If your child is beginning to plan for the future but struggling to identify a fulfilling path, I can help! I offer one-on-one college and career planning help as well as a free college and career planning guide for parents. In addition, you can set-up a free 30-minute chat to get your questions answered by choosing a convenient time in my online calendar! I look forward to supporting you and your child in this important time of growth. Let’s get your child on the path to confidence and long-term fulfillment. Message me today to get started or chat!
Let’s chat about your plans for the future!
Hello there! Thanks for visiting my site. My name is Loren, and I am a Career Coaching for Students! I am passionate about helping students identify a fulfilling career path and then executing the steps it takes (college included) to be successful. Let’s chat about your future in a no-strings-attached free consultation!
