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 There is more responsibility, more homework, more teachers and new peer pressures to deal with. To keep your preteen intellectually and creatively engaged, you may want to consider a complementary youth program that continues to foster her academic and creative interests as she navigates this challenging time of growing into adolescence. Fortunately, there are many local options to choose from when seeking the best fit for your child’s needs. As always, your choice will most likely be dictated by several factors, such as cost, location and your student’s personal traits. The following programs are sponsored by school districts, private schools and nonprofit agencies: > An organization called California Young Scholars (CYS) works with students in grades three through eight who excel in the classroom and in the community by publishing their names on a website. The young students are featured in a press release for local media and receive a newsletter that updates them on other Young Scholars. CYS hosts local community events to further recognize its honorees. Now in its 13th year, the organization has honored more than 92,000 students. > The Davidson Institute sponsors an online community created to encourage interaction within the young scholar community through discussion forums, chat rooms and bulletin boards. It also features online seminars on various topics for parents. Especially popular is a curriculum that gives young scholars an opportunity to interact with professionals from a wide range of fields. > Anaheim-based Children’s Unlimited Talent (CUT) Studios Foundation is a nonprofit group dedicated to providing an opportunity for young people to develop their creativity in the arts. It is an independent multimedia center and music-recording studio that helps students stay actively engaged in learning, creating and recording music. > Orange County’s United Way sponsors a Keeping Kids on Track initiative for kids ages 7 to 17 by encouraging them to consider college, as well as technical and computer skills training. > The YMCA of Orange County is offering a statewide government program that provides a hands-on experience to teach youth about how the United Nations operates. It is available for children in grades seven to nine. Each delegation is assigned a country to represent during a Model United Nations Conference. Participants may hold elected offices and gain leadership, debate and public speaking skills while learning about global issues. A CLOSER LOOK: One particular educational program, to be launched at Orange-based Camelot Academy of Arts, Science and Technology (CAAST), caught our eye as being especially innovative. The school will formally accept students into its highly selective Camelot Young Scholar Program (CYSP) for the first time during the 2010-2011 academic year. “Many advanced courses in academics, music, performing arts and digital arts are available to these gifted students,” says Terrance Cheung, the lead researcher and architect of CYSP. For example, students in the program’s biomedical track may take precalculus and honors biology, chemistry and physics as early as eighth grade. Each year CYSP students will be enrolled in a comprehensive theme-based course in preparation for its Study Abroad Summer Program, which focuses on foreign languages, history, literature, music and fine arts. Locations include China, Europe, Greece, Austria and Russia. CYSP students are expected to participate in at least two Study Abroad Summer Programs. In addition to AP courses, CYSP students are automatically enrolled in such courses as Great Books, Rhetoric, Philosophy and Debate. Languages include Latin, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. Merit-based scholarships are available for students in grades six through eight. These scholarships are based on academic performance, instrumental music, classical or musical theater, classical ballet and sports. “We created this program because we have a mission to train some of the most qualified and best-prepared candidates for the most selective universities in the world,” says Cheung. “We also want to cultivate the roots of virtue and deep passions for goodness in these young scholars, so that they can some day become highly competent and virtuous leaders of society. “The program is about quality, not quantity; we are prepared to start the program with a small number of students and let it run its due course. It will always be highly selective,” adds Cheung. Carol Starcevic is a contributing writer to OC Family magazine. •> BABYSITTER'S BOOT CAMP To help young caregivers find jobs, the Orange County American Red Cross is offering five-day Babysitter’s Boot Camps (BBC) on July 12 and 26, and Aug. 9 and 23. Featured are hands-on activities, videos, role-playing and discussions. Participants will receive certifications in CPR and First Aid, and basic childcare skills such as feeding and diapering. Other topics include which games and toys are safe and age-appropriate, and how to handle discipline issues. In addition, BBC provides fledgling entrepreneurs with an organizer and a resume template to operate their babysitting business. Attendees will receive a babysitter’s training handbook, an emergency reference guide and mini First Aid kit, and a babysitter’s portfolio. “These Boot Camps help young people gain the confidence to make smart decisions and stay safe in any baby-sitting situation,” says Matt Catanzaro, a health and safety specialist with the American Red Cross of Orange County. “We know that they work, and we’re happy to be able to offer the program to our community again this year.” The cost is $150. mcatanzaro@oc-redcross.org |
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