Counseling Corner: Willowbrook Guidance Department provides ideas for a productive summer

With summer break right around the corner, the Willowbrook Guidance Department offers tips to provide teens with a rejuvenating, yet educational experience.

Camps:

• There are many educational camps (academic, art, music, etc.) for students, which can be found on the Educational Programs and Camps Directory at www.studenteducationprograms.com.
• Spotlight Youth Theater provides a creative outlet for students. See more information at www.spotlight.org/summercamp.

College visits:

• It’s never too early to start visiting colleges! If you are traveling, try to stop by a school while on the trip. It’s important for students to visit a variety of schools in different settings, so they can find their “best fit.”

Field trips:

• Museum trips can be made more meaningful by renting the headset that explains exhibits like a guided tour.
• Teens can easily create a video product with a phone to document the field trip, which they can then share with the family.

Technology:

• Create limits on personal, random technology use and videogame/computer use.
• Encourage time for research and projects, especially for career research.

Volunteering:
There are many ways to volunteer. Below are two examples.

• Loaves & Fishes (out of Naperville) has opportunities specifically for teens. See details at http://tinyurl.com/z73984z.
• Another opportunity for students is to volunteer abroad at a Peace Corps- Inspired Teen Summer Camp. See details at http://tinyurl.com/l8deyf6.

The key to getting excitement and ownership for a meaningful summer from your teen is to require something from them regularly. This will help them be ready to get right back into school in August.