passport 2 manila
Summer Camps, Opportunities and Activities for Kids and Teens
Thoughts turning to those lazy summer days without the hustle of the school day, sports, and homework? But desiring some structured activities for your kids? Want them to enjoy a camping experience in the countryside? To learn new skills, make new friends? Get exposure to the college environment while earning some credits? Gain experience and generate some cash from a summer job? Thanks to the wealth of information on the Internet, researching, exploring and registering for all these options and more is possible.
Although many of these listings are in North America, most have international
camps or programs. If you know of any other resources for international programs,
we would be interested in hearing from you at info@passport2manila.com.
If you can't find what you want below, try searching on a search site like www.google.com. Type in specific criteria (like--summer riding camp in Oregon) and more specific information should appear.
As always, inclusion of a site on Passport 2 Manila does not imply our endorsement and we are not liable for any misinformation on any other site. All information presented here is solely as an assistance and resource to our site visitors.
Camps
In the US, camps accredited by the American Camping Association (ACA) will have met certain standards. For 90 years, they have worked to "ensure quality camp programs, provide a safe camp community, competent adult role models and age appropriate experiences." Most experts recommend that you choose from an ACA accredited camp and this is probably especially important if you are selecting a camp sight unseen from Manila. According to their web site, 50% of ACA accredited camps offer campers financial assistance and 56% incorporate some type of community service into their programs. Reading about standards and browsing ACAcamps.org is a good place to start your search. Since you can also access 2000 ACA accredited camps on this site, this may be the only Internet stop you have to make.
If you want to expand a search outside of traditional camps or want additional features, like virtual tours, you may want to hop on some additional sites.
* Kidscamps.com -over 15,000 programs are listed in such camp categories as overnight, day, family, sports, art, academic, special needs, weight loss, military, leadership and community service. There are links for camp jobs including the option for posting a resume. There are also options for Winter/Spring Break camps.
* Summercamp.org - offers a camp advisory service. There is free guidance and referral to camps and may be helpful if you are unsure as to what type of camp your child needs or wants. They offer referrals to general, specialty and academic camps as well as to travel programs.
* Summercamps.com - offers the ability to do a camp search by US states or counties, by religion, price and age. They offer virtual tours of camps. Here too a resume can be posted and there are also kids' chat rooms.
* Petersons.com/summerop/ - This is the Peterson of College and University fame. They have expanded into lots of areas including summer opportunities. You can access 3000 summer camps, academic and travel programs. Summer jobs, such as lifeguard or camp counselor positions, are listed and resumes can be posted. ACA data can be searched from here. For international users, summer programs in Chinese, French, Japanese and Spanish are included. There are articles for parents on choosing camps, advantages of summer programs, how to do your homework and more.
College and University Programs
Many colleges and universities offer summer programs or camps, often to generate cash during summer months. There are an endless variety of summer sports camps at educational institutions, including universities, but also at private and public secondary schools. Lacrosse, soccer, football, baseball, rugby, tennis, golf, swimming, basketball, wrestling, fencing, track--chances are if you can think of a sport, there is a university or school based sport camp to fit the bill.
In addition, colleges offer academic programs, including course offerings ranging from art and theater to marine biology and some incorporate SAT and ACT tutoring as well. Some programs are selective and students may be "invited" to apply (often based on PSAT or SAT scores) but many are open and available to all, upon receipt of the full payment!
Search one of the major camp sites above by sport or go to the web site of a specific school and look for "summer programs for high school students or sports camps."
Girl Scout, Boy Scout and YMCA Camps
All of these organizations run summer camps. Unfortunately, the web sites do not list the summer camps that are available. If your child is in scouting and interested in a scout camp, talk to your Manila leader or if you have a U.S. based address, contact your local U.S.A. Scouting Council and request information on camps. Sites for both Boy Scouts (http://www.bsa.scouting.org) and Girl Scouts (http://www.girlscouts.org) allow you to search for a local Council. The web site for Y's (http://www.ymca.net) will ask you to type in your zip code to locate your nearest YMCA/YWCA. However, many of the camp locator sites mentioned above will list Y camps.
Travel and Wilderness Programs
These programs are generally the costliest options for summer programs though
some research can turn up good deals. If you have a high school student, language
immersion programs and home stays with local families can be surprisingly affordable.
Generally programs run through schools are expensive but overall have a good
reputation for safety, chaperoning and the like. Wilderness programs, which
may include hiking, biking, river rafting and such, are generally quite expensive
but seem to have a high "wow" factor by kids and parents both.
* Studyabroad.com - high school programs. Also offers information on the ISE (International Student Exchange Card) which gives a variety of discounts for students, faculty and youths to age 26.
Summer Jobs
It is possible for a teen to locate a summer job from afar using online resources. However, in the US there are strict guidelines for what teens are allowed to do, hours that can be worked etc. All teens between 14 and 17 must get a work permit and under 14's are restricted as to types of jobs. A work permit is free, but must be obtained (often through a school) prior to beginning employment. Proof of date of birth (passport, driver's license) must be presented and a signature of a parent or guardian is required. For complete regulations, see Federal Guidelines on http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/99-1411.htm.
The current Federal minimum wage for teens, after the first 90 days of employment is $5.15. However, a lower wage can be paid if wages plus tips would equal the minimum wage. Note many states have higher minimum wages than the Federal standard. For a full listing see http://www.dol.gov/dol/esa/public/minwage/america.htm
Resources for Jobs
* Jobmonkey.com
* Summerjobs.com
* Coolworks.com
Staying In Manila? Summer Activities for Kids in Manila
Remember that local schools in the Philippines are off generally in April and May, so many programs will be geared towards the Filipino summer vacation. However, there are some options to consider. You can start a search by going to Life in Manila and scrolling down to the sections entitled Sports, Activities and Clubs and to Amusements, Events and Nightlife. Both of these sections have lists of activities including wall climbing, ice skating, sailing lessons, music or art lessons, and much more.
* For U.S.A. Embassy families, the Seafront compound has offered a summer camp called "Little Critters" for young children. Activities have included art, sports and games. Embassy families should contact the C.L.O. for more details.
* The International School Manila may once again offer summer English programs to assist ESL students with language skills. Contact ISM for more information.
* There is a horseback riding camp by Mia Virata, in Silang Cavite which can be attended on weekends for kids still in school. Riding, camping activities and arts are offered. Contact the Manila Polo Riding Stable for more information