Summer Camps and Programs for Teens
Finding worthwhile summer programs for teens gets harder as kids get older. The key is finding one that makes the whole experience about the camper, not the camp
If you’ve got teenagers, you know finding worthwhile summer programs for them isn’t always easy. You want your teen to enjoy safe, fun, and supervised activities during the summer, but sometimes it seems like those opportunities shrink as kids get older, not to mention your child might feel like she's “too cool" or "too old" for camp now that she's reached her teenage years.
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. You’ll be happy to know there really are some fun and exciting summer programs for teens available right now. The reason I know is because I’ve got three kids of my own – all teens – and I finally figured out how to get them excited about going to camp each year.
The secret is this: You need to find a summer program for teens that makes the whole experience about them.
Let me explain.
Think for a moment how most camps operate. They’re typically very structured, regimented environments. All the activities and schedules are pre-planned and predictable.
For example, the kids might go swimming for 45 minutes during “Period 1.”
“Period 2,” they move on to arts and crafts for another 45 minutes.
They spend the next 45 minutes having lunch during “Period 3,” and so on.
Now the thing is, this concept’s fine for younger kids. But in general, teens don’t like this much structure. Teens crave freedom, independence, and making choices instead.
The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way. You’ll be happy to know there really are some fun and exciting summer programs for teens available right now. The reason I know is because I’ve got three kids of my own – all teens – and I finally figured out how to get them excited about going to camp each year.
The secret is this: You need to find a summer program for teens that makes the whole experience about them.
Let me explain.
Think for a moment how most camps operate. They’re typically very structured, regimented environments. All the activities and schedules are pre-planned and predictable.
For example, the kids might go swimming for 45 minutes during “Period 1.”
“Period 2,” they move on to arts and crafts for another 45 minutes.
They spend the next 45 minutes having lunch during “Period 3,” and so on.
Now the thing is, this concept’s fine for younger kids. But in general, teens don’t like this much structure. Teens crave freedom, independence, and making choices instead.
The Best Teen Summer Programs Always Make the Kids More Important than the Camp
So here's what we did at Aloha Beach Camp. We took an old concept – summer camp – and reinvented it with teens in mind. We made the whole program about the kids, not us. We call this program our "High Action Summer Camp," and it's quickly turned into one of best summer day camps for teens in L.A.
Rather than telling them what to do and when to do it, we let teens exercise their own desire for freedom and independence by letting them choose what they want to do, when they want do it, with whom they do it and for how long. They get to choose their own activities, groups, counselors, lunchtime - everything. It’s a self-directed summer program for teens, and they love the freedom and ownership they get. Now make no mistake, we’ve still got tons of organized activities going on at the High Action Camp, just like you’d find at other summer camps or programs. And our counselors are on site providing strict supervision and lending a helping hand. It’s just that the program itself is really focused on appealing to older kids.
In the end, we developed a summer program teens love and want to return to day-after-day because they never get bored.
It’s sure better than staying home playing video games or going to the mall every day, right? Right! :)
So when you’re feeling like you have limited options, and your teen rolls their eyes at you at the mere suggestion of going to camp this summer, make Aloha Beach Camp’s High Action program your first choice. It’s the number #1 day camp solution in L.A. for teens who’ve outgrown other camps.
Rather than telling them what to do and when to do it, we let teens exercise their own desire for freedom and independence by letting them choose what they want to do, when they want do it, with whom they do it and for how long. They get to choose their own activities, groups, counselors, lunchtime - everything. It’s a self-directed summer program for teens, and they love the freedom and ownership they get. Now make no mistake, we’ve still got tons of organized activities going on at the High Action Camp, just like you’d find at other summer camps or programs. And our counselors are on site providing strict supervision and lending a helping hand. It’s just that the program itself is really focused on appealing to older kids.
In the end, we developed a summer program teens love and want to return to day-after-day because they never get bored.
It’s sure better than staying home playing video games or going to the mall every day, right? Right! :)
So when you’re feeling like you have limited options, and your teen rolls their eyes at you at the mere suggestion of going to camp this summer, make Aloha Beach Camp’s High Action program your first choice. It’s the number #1 day camp solution in L.A. for teens who’ve outgrown other camps.
