6 summer program ideas for high schoolers

view from an airplaneNot sure what to do this summer? Looking to try something different but you just don’t know where to start? There are many types of summer programs available for high school students, here are just a few ideas.


Travel
The world is getting smaller every day. Whether you visit far away countries or go just a few towns away, traveling can give you a bigger world view.  You could volunteer on an organic farm. New York City residents can experience the country through a Fresh Air Program. Or if the country life is your life, consider doing a summer program in a city.


Explore your passion
Whether it’s attending an actor’s workshop at UC Berkeley, exploring woodworking on Snow Farm, or attending a math camp, there’s probably a summer program out there for what you love to do.


Explore a career
If you can explore your passion and a career, that’s even better. You could find an internship available to high school students through Enrichment Alley such as doing field research with scientists at Earthwatch.


Get ready for college

When school’s out, studying is probably the last thing on your mind. But SAT/ACT test prep or summer courses could put you ahead of the game. If you’re not up for studying for standardized tests on your own, you could attend a college prep camp like the ones offered at Education Unlimited, or take a SAT/ACT test prep course like Kaplan.

 

>>Is Kaplan worth it?

 

Taking summer classes doesn’t have to be all work and no play – you could explore college life at the same time with programs at Columbia, Georgetown, or Cornell, just to name a few.


Volunteer
You may not have enough time to volunteer during the school year, so take advantage of the extra time. Some volunteer organizations have special summer programs. Here are some ideas for volunteering close to home. If you’re dying to go somewhere new, you could volunteer abroad with a program such as Amigos de las Amércias.

 

>>6 volunteer programs for high school students


Learn a new language
Being proficient in another language could open doors when you apply for jobs. Or it could help you out when you travel. Whatever your reason, the summer is a great time to start. Check out local community colleges for summer language courses. Most language programs will also count for high school or college credits, and you may even have the opportunity to travel abroad.


>>6 resources for finding the right summer program