Last spring, I embarked on a quest to find academic summer camps for my high schooler. If you haven’t yet experienced the whirlwind of high school overachievement and the pressure to bolster college applications, let me forewarn you: it’s a fierce competition out there.
And by fierce, I mean the competition to be the most overscheduled, overmanaged, and stressed out, all while drowning in AP classes, honors courses, clubs, jobs, and volunteer work. The goal is to emerge as a happy and well-adjusted young adult, free from anxiety—before even setting foot on a college campus.
As soon as your teenager collapses in exhaustion after another grueling school year, it’s time to enhance that résumé with “academic summer camps.” What’s that, you ask? Oh yes, it’s absolutely a thing. No longer is it enough to spend 10 months in school, then flip burgers during the summer. Today’s teens are expected to fill their summers with academic pursuits, overseas missions, volunteer work, and, of course, some part-time job.
But it doesn’t stop there. Even if your child can handle the academic intensity of a summer program, your bank account might struggle. I came to this realization while searching for summer programs for my son and quickly found myself in sticker shock.
A four-day nonresidential STEM program at a nearby university cost over $1,700, while a two-week residential program in the same field was priced at more than $3,500. Usually, I’m used to high tuition fees as my children attend private school, but a four-day health science camp for $1,700? Is there a celebrity guest speaker? After exploring various options at community colleges and universities, it became clear that these prices are par for the course for summer academic experiences.
Then, there are the summer sports camps, which could be more aptly named “Our facilities rival those of the Olympic training center” camps, complete with their hefty price tags. I’m sure your eight-year-old aspiring baseball star truly needs 80 hours of personal instruction from a former major league player at the bargain price of $1,000 a week.
And if you have a child who loves acting or music, be prepared for drama camps that can run $500 per week. Who can actually afford these programs? These prices are not only unattainable for lower-income families, but they also pose challenges for average middle-class families. Without the financial means to enhance their college applications, many students may find themselves at a disadvantage.
What happened to the days of dropping your child off at the local community center for swimming, crafts, and games for just $10 a day? Why can’t we create affordable summer academic and extracurricular options for talented youth that won’t break the bank? Moreover, why aren’t state universities accepting students based solely on their high school transcripts, rather than penalizing those who take on less glamorous summer jobs?
Honestly, I would prefer a student who has spent their summer working hard at a minimum-wage job, learning the value of dedication and responsibility. Ironically, I suspect that if affluent families were offered a chance for their kids to experience hard work, they would gladly pay a fast-food restaurant to hire them.
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In summary, while academic summer camps can provide enriching experiences, the costs involved raise significant barriers for many families. We need to advocate for more accessible and affordable options that foster growth without leading to financial strain.