If you’re like most parents, you probably have great memories of how much fun you had during summer break from high school. Of course you want to make sure your own high school student makes great memories this summer as well. But there is also plenty of time during summer to make sure your kids are ready for the fall school year. In fact, you can combine many of their interests with learning to get the best of both worlds—having fun and making great memories along with learning experiences and picking up new academic skills. In this article we share some tips and strategies to keep them learning while still having fun all summer long.
Achieve Virtual: Online High School for Any Indiana Student
At Achieve Virtual Education Academy, we offer robust e-learning opportunities to any high school student in the state of Indiana. All our courses are taught by real Indiana teachers certified to teach in their subject area. Our virtual learning program is offered year-round with courses available in the fall, spring, and summer. Does your high school student need to make up a credit or course? Maybe they need to get ahead of the game when it comes to college. Or perhaps the traditional approach isn’t meeting their educational needs. Regardless of the reason, we are here to support their high school educational journey with virtual learning opportunities. Ask us any questions you may have about our program by giving us a call at 317-988-7144 and we’ll be happy to speak with you. Now on to our tips for summer learning experiences:
Summer Camps
The concept of summer camp goes back to the 1870s when people realized children in cities, many of whom were also working in factories, needed opportunities to spend time in a more outdoor setting. Those early summer camps didn’t look much like the summer camps of today, although one common thread between them is outdoor activities. In the summer camps of today, there is a much greater emphasis on learning, both from peers and camp counselors, while also having plenty of fun.
Whether it’s a day camp or an overnight camp, as a parent you want to check in with them frequently about what they learned each day in camp. There are also quite a few camps offered these days that are virtual, and those tend to offer even deeper learning experiences focused on a particular topic. Search online for virtual summer camps that align with your student’s interests and you’ll be bound to find one.
Family Vacation and Field Trips
Family outings are another way to up the educational and academic content for your high school student without it feeling like school. Think of all the different places you could go as a family where your child will likely find something of interest. Options include the following:
- Museums: Art, science, history, natural history, and more. Find a museum that aligns with the interests of your child.
- Zoos: Don’t think of them as places where animals are trapped. Think of them as sanctuaries where biodiversity is being preserved.
- Aquariums: Besides seeing interesting creatures of all kinds, we all need to learn more about the issues facing the ocean environment.
- Arboretums and Orchards: There are so many amazing plants out there, and you might also look for places that explain the importance of pollinators and the role they play in the global food supply chain.
- Factories: Lots of manufacturing facilities offer tours to give you the inside view of how things are made.
- Historical Sites: There are also probably all kinds of fascinating historical sites within a reasonable drive of your home. Learning about local history can be very satisfying for the whole family.
The options listed above can be day trips depending on what’s available in your area. But they could also be great options to explore if you’re going on a family vacation. Take some time to plan ahead for your vacation to find out what exciting educational opportunities are in and around your destination.
Learning At Home
You don’t have to have big travel plans this summer to provide some fun and educational learning opportunities for your high school student. There are a surprising number of cool opportunities you can take advantage of from the comfort of home, and some pretty amazing virtual opportunities that will blow your socks off. In terms of museums, zoos, and aquariums. Explore the following lists to see some of the best options:
- The 10 Best Virtual Museum and Art Gallery Tours (Elite Traveler)
- List of Museums, Zoos, and Theme Parks Offering Virtual Tours (Good Housekeeping)
- Top 10 Virtual Museum Tours (Top10.com)
There are also all manner of documentaries available through all the top movie/television streaming platforms to take journeys all over the world, and through time as well.
And don’t forget that time around the house doing such mundane activities as cooking (recipes are great for working on math skills and following directions), gardening, and yard work can also be turned into opportunities to keep the mind of your high school student sharp all summer long and give you additional time with them you might not otherwise have.
Family game nights can also be a fun way to keep the learning mind engaged. You might expect a major teen eye-roll if you suggest board games, but you can tempt them with some options that will surprise them, such as the following:
- King of Tokyo
- Deception
- BANG! The Dice Game,
- Two Rooms and a Boom
- Monikers
- Codenames
Even the Library Can Be Fun
The library isn’t only about reading. Your local library is packed with resources such as games, movies, and magazines that can encourage reading and also teach new topics in a variety of ways. Going to the library is never a bad idea, and eventually will lead to an increased interest in reading and learning. Get in touch with your local library and find out what’s available, including any special programming that might be of interest to your high school student.
Looking Ahead to the Fall and a New School Year
As summer turns to fall, your high school student can continue developing and learning with online courses from Achieve Virtual Education Academy. Fall virtual courses offer the best of both worlds, with your learner enjoying the flexibility of Indiana’s only online high school with the resources and background of a public school district. Students can enroll full-time or part-time. Full-time students pay nothing at all to attend. Students with a part-time enrollment status will pay a modest fee per course. Students in MSD Wayne Township pay nothing to attend whether full-time or part-time. Turn all that summer learning into academic success and better grades this fall with Achieve Virtual. Get in touch via the Contact us page of our website or give us a call at 317-988-7144 to explore and learn more about our online learning opportunities for your child!
