What Can a 14-Year-Old Girl Do in the Summer?

My daughter will be 14 this summer. We had a variety of things planned, but a C.I.T. gig fell through at the last minute. So we now have three weeks to fill in.

Angie is OK by herself during the day -- I basically trust her -- but staying alone during the day is a last resort. She is able to take suburban buses (Montgomery County, DC suburbs). She's social but reserved, smart but not bookwormy, and has no consuming hobbies. She likes interior decorating (Trading Spaces), rock music, and The Matrix. She's a little too old for day camps now, and doesn't really like sleep-away camps (which are expensive anyway).

Any ideas for what we might plan for a few weeks in the summer? I would appreciate any input.

A lot of them have programs for younger kids and would accept help from an old kid.

I had fun doing that... even though I couldn't vote I could help out. I met fun, interesting, forward thinking people and it gave me a type of schedule for the week.

but it is the daytlight hours that we are concerned with. :)

when you are home, and just sleeps most of the day. IMO 14 is old enough to stay home unsupervised all day during the summer.

stuff like that. My son went to Science camp for a week one summer. I would take him in the AM and pick him up in the afternoon. I had to pack his lunch, but so what, he had fun.

get her a guitar or a drum set and some lessons, follow up with loads of encouragement. Teach her that Brittany and Christina suck. :)

She like System of a Down, Offspring, and a bunch of other bands I had never heard of before. Also some newer bands I personally like, such as Barenaked Ladies and Blues Traveller. Even They Might be Giants once in a while.

I'm glad she prefers electric guitar to pop crooning. Although we have our separate tastes, there's enough overlap to appreciate each other's music. This is important to me -- when I was a kid in the 60's, my parents were mystified and repelled by rock music -- it was a big point of division between the generations.

>>>resist<<<
>>>resist<<<
>>>resist<<<
>>>resist<<<

:)

God, she's still 13. Hardly into puberty. :grr:

*resist*
*resist*
*resist*
*resist*

im 17, how about a pic...

haha...just joshing...erm, yeah

Got any rooms in the house that could do with some re-decorating or organizing?

some plywood and fabric, heck, she's set for the whole summer.

there's only so much damage she could do. I'd just like to be around if there are power tools present.

Get some of her friends to help her, and a weekend project could take all summer :)

as a committed home-remodeler (1930's cottage) i have never had as good a time as working to make it "mine". It will give her confidence and experience for when she owns her own home, and (only if she's interested) she'll have a blast.

it would be good for her to do something manual, and that's one thing she's really excited about.

Allocate a budget and see what she can come up with in terms of designs. (I liked my room much better when I was in charge of decorating it ... though I didn't get to do this until after I left home for college!)


p.s. A couple of girls in my high-school class actually started a home organizing/decorating summer business based on similar interests. If your daughter is interested in this line of work, she can get some experience and see whether she likes it ...

why, i remember the first time, back in '63 i think it was, when my dad brought me to my first hardware store and he let me...blah blah blah blah...long rambling story with no point...blah blah blah blah

i still enjoy it.

... standing over by the faucets display with his eyes kind of glazed over?

See you there on Saturday again, then!

You could help her cut parts in the evenings, and she can assemble and paint during the days.

My dad taught me to use his power tools, but somehow it was clear to me that I could use the drill without oversight, but I needed to get his ok before pulling out the circular saw.

I don't know your daughter, so it's up to you to judge her ability to handle things on her own. But I'd guess most kids capabilities might surprise most parents, given the chance.

Have fun.

A lot of vets might like someone to help with dog walking, helping to feed the animals, etc. The local shelter is another possibility.

Candy striper in a hospital? Visiting the elderly at nursing homes?

Depending on the city, some PBS stations have non-paid volunteer positions. Museums, etc. have volunteer guide jobs.

When I was 14, I spent a lot of time outdoors enjoying swimming, etc. If there are national parks, amusement parks, etc. around, perhaps day outings to them, or trying something new with at least one adult chaperone with a bunch of friends, taking in historical sites, etc.

Who knows how kid's tastes work? One day something seems fun, the next it seems uncool and unworthy.

And she's at the age where they say to start planning ahead. Also, most libraries like volunteers to shelve and help out. That's always fun. Or you could get her a season pass to the local pool. If it's within walking or bike riding distance or you could run her over there during lunch, that would be an option until you got off work. (I'm saying this from a perspective of living in a small town of 2 square miles, and 4500 people. I have no idea where you live, so this may be a bad idea.)
Duckie

I can't think of a better way to spend a nice summer day than to hit the links. Also, she's at that age where she could pick up the game really quickly and as a result, have a fulfilling hobby for the rest of her life. Wish I woulda started when I was her age, my game might be worth a shit by this point.

and her mother even got her a cheap set of left-handed clubs. But I'm not sure how excited she is nowadays about golf. I do like the idea of an outdoor activity. We used to ride bikes on the weekends all the time, but the last year or two she hasn't been as enthused. I guess it comes with growing older.

Lots of girls do it nowadays. (BTW I was really tiny and could carry all but the heaviest bags.) You would be suprised what she could do.

electricity camp. Supposed to be pretty neat, not too expensive.

Might not be a bad idea.

is on South Capitol Street, SW. If she's interested in the political process, check with them to see if they might have some volunteer work for her.

It's not a joke. It's the real thing....

Overview of the Summer Rock Camp Program
The Rock 'n' Roll Camp for Girls' mission is to encourage, engage, and
showcase the musical, artistic and individual talents of girls and young
women ages 8-18. The Camp fosters girls' expression through
-musical education and technical instruction;
-forums to discuss and explore creativity and self-expression;
-providing role models and examples to promote motivation, self-reliance,
and empowerment through music.

The week-long, day camp program culminates with a showcase on Saturday
evening, the last night of camp. Here campers perform live on stage with
their newly formed rock bands.

Learning Goals
1. Musical instruction
Each day, girls get two hours of instrument instruction, and work for two
and a half hours with their bands. Campers with no prior musical education
establish an early foundation and interest in music; more advanced campers
work to increase their skills and range of technical skills. All campers
have the rare opportunity to receive direct mentorship from a network of
experienced female musicians. In 2004, we will be offering electric guitar,
electric bass, drums, vocals, keyboards, and dj/electronic/hip hop music.


2. Self-expression and self-reliance workshops
Two hours of each camp day will be devoted to a series of workshops which
all emphasize the connections between music and other venues of
self-reliance and creative expression.
In 2004, we plan to offer the following workshops:
Zine writing and publishing
Self defense
Sound and lighting
Stage presence
Song and lyric writing
History of women in rock
Visual arts
Media literacy
As we confirm our workshops for this summer, we will update this site with
information about the instructors and what they will be teaching! Check back
often!

What happens at Camp?
When girls get to Camp each morning at 9AM they meet up with their
counselors attend an assembly which is a time for announcements, warm-ups,
and a variety of entertaining and edifying skits and songs performed by
counselors and instructors.

The first two hours of the day are devoted to instrument instruction. In
2004, we will be offering guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keyboards, and
dj/electronic music. Girls are placed in groups appropriate to their skill
level, and work with one teacher for the entire week.

In the hour before lunch, girls attend a self-reliance workshop. This year
we will be offering a number of different workshops including self-defense,
visual arts, history of women in rock, songwriting, and more. The workshops
are geared to be age-appropriate, and girls rotate through each workshop as
the week progresses.

At lunch each day, girls enjoy the performance of a band, and have a chance
to meet the band and ask them questions about their music.

In the hour after lunch, girls attend one more hour of workshop.

Starting at 2pm, and lasting until afternoon assembly at 4:30, girls work
with their bands. This is probably the most exciting part of camp, since
girls get to choose what they want to do. They have the support of adults in
their technical and interpersonal needs if necessary.

Camp ends each day with an afternoon assembly. Campers leave at 5pm.

What former Campers have said about Rock Camp:
"I really loved the Body Revolution panels because it justified my feelings of
being fat and pretty and smart and confident all at once, which sometimes
isn't the message mainstream media presents to me . . . some benefits
of attending the camp are all the confidence it instills in young ladies like
myself. Like, after the first year I felt what I now know to be the beginning
of my life as a musician, feminist, and artist."
-15 year old, summer session participant

"I used to perceive my daughter as an unassuming, easy, quietly creative child
. . . maybe she didnÕt know that she could shine. That all changed when she
went to the Rock Ôn Roll Camp for Girls . . . ow I see her developing into a
confident, opinionated, motivated teen. She has discovered appropriate,
healthy ways to express the beauty and possibilities within her."
-camper mother

"My expectations of camp were exceeded - the sense of power and possibility
were amazing."
-summer session participant

http://www.girlsrockcamp.org

Some awesome musicians show up to help teach this camp.

That's what I did when I was 14.

Mine does and she takes a riding lesson on Saturday and volunteers to work at the stable a few days a week. She never minds going but you have to know the place and the people who run it first of course. Normally these places attract young girls and they can make new friends to boot.

Leave her home!

My mom tried all these inspirational activities when I was 13, 14, 15... this crap I needed to be "balanced" -- camps, golf, etc.

That's why I'm an antisocial recluse now.

Don't let your daughter turn into me!!

I really don't want to force anything down her throat. It has to come from her. I don't mind her being home some of the time -- it's just a little too much of the summer.

:toast:

And please feel free to add any others. I will check again tonight.

It'd be a nice way for her to meet other kids, help a worthwhile cause, and earn community service credits for school.

Here's the URL: http://natzoo.si.edu/Support/Volunteer/Teens/

pack her off to the Kerry campaign, young energetic kids such as her can get quite a bit done.

There is always "summer school"...not making us classes I mean, but maybe there are some youth courses she can take?
My town used to offer music classes over the summer down at the local Junior High.

www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

:evilgrin: