Music Performance: Instrument Lessons; Youth Symphony; Community or Church Choir; Christmas Opera; Weekly Music Ministry Hour at Nursing Home; Special Ensemble Performances; Easter Musical; Start Homeschool Symphonic Band; Italian Club; Organize Memorial Day Musical Patriotic Pageant; All-State and National Music Contests; Opera Class.  

Carpentry/Contracting: Start Woodworking Club; Spanish Club; Join Community Entrepreneur Group; Arrange Apprenticeship w/Local Carpenter; Market Wooden Gift Items to Local Stores on Consignment; Regional and State Woodworking Contests; Volunteer Community Carpentry Work. 

Catering Business: Start “Food for the Mind and Body” Book Club (connecting books w/related recipes); French Club; Collect Recipes and Publish Local Homeschool Cookbook; Local Cake Decorating Classes; Arrange Apprenticeship w/Local Baker; National Baking Competitions; Start and Supervise Annual Homeschool Graduation Banquet; Market and Run Personal Cake Business.  

Plot Valuable Summers

Teens across the country should realize the wonderful resource they have in the four summers that come during their high school years. Certainly summer months are for relaxation and fun, but students must let go of the notion that purposefully designing what they will do with all of that “free” time somehow makes their activities less enjoyable.

Carefully plotting what they will do during the warm days of summer enables teens to accomplish many projects and gain immeasurable experience in their chosen field of interest. Summers do not need to be strictly organized by the hour in order to be productive. Students can choose enriching activities that focus on their specific interests, and their transcripts will soon reflect their ongoing, deep commitment to their passions.

Universities across the country offer highly touted teen programs ranging from codes and encryption to journalism, music, neuroscience and much more. If your teen chooses to participate in one of these programs (and some are excellent), investigate it thoroughly in advance to assure yourselves it will be worth the time and money expended and that it will provide the specialized training your student needs, as well as the overall environment that your family desires. Actually, my oldest children have had no problems following their passions to advanced levels and to acceptances and scholarships at many respected colleges without the benefit of these university programs, so don’t believe all of the experts who tell you they are a “must” for the serious college applicant.

Homeschooled kids will find that some of the best ideas for summer enrichment do not require them to leave home at all. Local stores often advertise special skill classes during the summer. Community colleges offer academic classes taught at a faster pace, while churches and homeschool groups offer many opportunities for service to others, including wonderful mission trips to other countries. In addition, working at a paying job can be quite impressive to colleges and future employers, especially if the job is directly related to the student’s passion. For example, someone who wants to train as a landscape architect would do well to work in a nursery or for a landscape company in order to learn all aspects of the trade.