Most people run home on the last day of school, desperately needing a break and ready to spend the summer months mellowed out on their coach. But summer can be a viable time to work on improving both academic and athletic skills; summer programs can also provide students with opportunities to participate in volunteer work and maintain leadership skills. No matter the type of program, summer activities can be fundamental at helping students get ahead out of school.
Academic Programs
Academics is the most popular of all the summer programs. Whether it be a science camp, a law immersion program, a space camp, or any other learning program out there, these academic camps reap a lot of benefits and provide a lot of opportunities. The academic programs can provide essential information and knowledge that will help you to pursue a certain career in the future. These programs not only provide quintessential information but also provide a support system & networking of individuals with similar interests that can feel like a family.
The primary reason that students apply for these summer programs is to learn more about a field they are interested in, make connections with individuals that can boast opportunities, and to spruce up their resume. Summer is an essential time for students to level up their studies and their college applications. From research programs to lab works to summer schools, students utilize these summer programs to learn something that isn’t specifically taught in a traditional school curriculum.
These programs help students grow intellectually by providing connections, wisdom, and mentors. These programs provide a space for students to excel. Usually in these programs, high school students have access to computer programs, lab equipment, and much more to help them on their academic journey. These programs exist for students to utilize and learn about topics that they don’t have a chance to learn in high school.
These programs are also really good at getting students ready for college. When students go to programs to study, they end up reaping so many benefits. Intellectual camps and programs prepare high school students for college and higher education. Not only with the advanced subjects and topics taught, it helps get the social aspect of college also. In college programs kids are around kids with similar interests in an actual college type setting and you get to meet people from other states and even other countries so participating in these programs can set kids expectations for what college has in store for them.
According to Junior Elise Pham who attended the Harvard Pre-College summer program, she said that she really benefited from the academics and community that she received from the staff and students that enabled her to learn and grow not only as a student, but also as a teacher. Sadly, she is not able to participate in this specific program again, but she would definitely do it again and is looking for more programs to do at the Harvard Campus next year. She also said she would totally recommend this program to others as she earned and learned so much from it. She said the most essential piece of information she learned was about how tricky ethics can be in professional settings and how big the world outside her own neighborhood is. On a scale from 1-10 she would definitely rate it as an 11 as it was one of the most memorable experiences of her life thus far.
Physical Programs
But summer programs don’t have to be academic, many students participate in summer camps for sports. These programs can build friendships, deepen students’ love of their sport and learn new skills and techniques. The best part about these programs is you don’t have to be set to go pro to participate. From overnight camps to midday programs, there are options for every athlete with every schedule.
Probably the number one reason athletes sign up for these camps is to try and level up. Summer provides a time for athletes to hone their skills while in the off season. These camps also tend to be face paced and built on student improvement so athletes can quickly see results.
These programs can also help students grow as more than athletes, by helping them develop soft skills and build friendships. Athletes are put in an environment where they have at least one thing in common with everyone around them, their passion for the sport. An article by US Sports Camps claims they have tons of parents praising these types of camps for helping their child climb out of their shell and meet new people.
These camps are also of course important in helping athletes stay active, during the summer. Everyone needs a rest day, but too many “lazy days” can become draw and boring. These camps get kids out of the house while also helping them get their needed movement. These camps can fight “iPad kid syndrome” and break the cycle of sedimentary summer activities.
