In Part I of this thread, I gave some very specific questions and criteria to consider when evaluating a summer program for high school student.  However, in this post I’m going to go abstract.

Let me back up and explain.  Last week GLA started attending these yearly “Summer Opportunity Fairs” held by high schools around the country.  As we stood there looking at all the options, we realized that the average family would probably find it difficult to distinguish between the quality of the organizations just by looking at them.  Most likely, families will judge by the catalog they pick up rather than the quality of the program.

However, after speaking with organizations extensively and from my experience working in the field, I know that not all programs are the same.  There is a wide variety of programs – from “fun in the sun” to “teen adventure” to “Caribbean sailing” to “community service and global issues” (the last one is Global Leadership Adventures).  But it’s a bit disturbing to see how organizations are just throwing token community service into every program just because students are now required to earn community service hours for their school.

So, my tip for selecting a summer program is this: don’t just read the words of a catalog, don’t just scan the page for “community service” and assume that’s what is really being offered —- instead, “read” the imagery, read the subtext of what is being said through the photos, the structure of the program, the type of staff — what are the communicating on all levels.  And is this what is right for your student?

Some teenagers are genuinely not emotionally mature enough to handle certain types of programs and may thrive in more of a light-hearted, fun-focused environment.  While others are ready to be pushed outside of their comfort zone and be challenged to think deeply about what it means to be a global citizen in a world of poverty, epidemics and other global challenges.

Parents call me all the time asking about GLA, but often it emerges that they don’t even know how to think about choosing a summer program.  They’re bombarded by a ton of catalogs and often just select whichever organization has the prettiest catalog.  Obviously, this is not the best way to figure out where to send your teenage son or daughter.

Our calls usually turn into sessions where I help parents construct a mental framework to think about all the summer program options available.  Here are some of the key questions to ask:

1. Honestly (really, honestly) how emotionally mature and globally minded is your child?  This can help you answer whether they are even ready for an international program.  If you’re not sure if they’re ready, then maybe start with a 1 week program in Latin America.  If they have already traveled extensively with school or family, then let them go further out.

2. What is the objective of doing the summer program?  Is it purely for fun?  Is it to foster personal development?  Is it to earn some needed community service hours?  Is it to explore a personal passion about a certain part of the world?  Its amazing how many families haven’t asked themselves what they hope to get out of the program.  Start with the general goal and then work backwards.

3. What kind of peer group do you want your child to be surrounded by?  Is it an all-American group?  Do all the students come from the same part of the USA?  Is the student body diverse?  If so, in which way?

Global Leadership Adventures prides itself on trying to recruit an international student body.  Although the majority of students still come from the USA and UK, we have students from throughout Africa, Asia, Latin America.  For some families, this is not what they want.  For others, getting their son or daughter to be part of an international student body is a unique benefit.

I realize now that there are a lot more things to consider when choosing a teen summer program.  I will continue this thread in a separate post.