Bill Wolf-Tinsman
Middle School Principal 

Yes, it seems a bit crazy to be thinking about summer, but NOW is a good time to consider experiences that may spark a lifetime passion for your son or daughter. To be clear, I am not suggesting that summer be as chock-a-block packed with activities as school years often are. Kids (and adults) need time to slow down, breathe and discover the benefits of a good book, a slow and aimless walk, and extra time with friends and family. I will even argue that it is a “deprived” upbringing if a child never has to make friends with boredom and learn to make their own fun. I am suggesting, though, that summer can also be a time for self-discovery in ways that the school year is not. This may be particularly true for young people who find school difficult or who have not yet found a passion or two.

 

School is wonderful. Where else can such a smorgasbord of opportunities be found? During an average day at CA, kids get to write, think, create, invent, develop skills, make decisions (both good and bad), develop identity, experiment, make friends, play sports, do activities and be exposed to a wide array of arts, all in a safe and supervised environment.

 

Still, not everyone gets the chance during the school day to follow or discover his or her passion (despite our best efforts!). School is not the “be all and end all” of a child’s experience, and those skills and content areas that school emphasizes are not a compendium of all that the world offers. For every child, and perhaps in particular  for the child for whom school is tough, summer can literally and figuratively be a breath of fresh air, a chance to uncover a passion and build confidence through earned achievement.

 

For some kids, summer provides the chance to develop social skills and build new connections. Sometimes this happens in the neighborhood, sometimes in a camp environment or maybe while on vacation.

 

I grew up in Kansas City, but I was lucky enough to visit family back east. A surprising and important benefit of visiting grandparents was the chance to develop a wholly distinct social group, my summer friends. This sounds like a small thing as I write it now, but it wasn’t when I was in middle school.

 

Having a group of buddies whom I could count on when things were not going great at school was important. This sort of connection – a redundant network of friends - helped me to keep perspective on who I was during a turbulent social time. The best part is, it can happen anywhere – even just around the corner.

 

At school we ask kids to multitask, to keep the learning moving forward in a variety of subject areas at the same time. During the summer, kids can be narrow, choosing to pursue one area of particular interest in an intense way. Equally important, it may be a summer deep dive that sparks a lifelong interest. In this sense, looking broadly at what is available to kids during the summer through one-week experiences (tall ships camp, poetry workshops, tennis academy, and more) may open just the right door for your child.

 

Statistically, we live in an increasingly urban world, and the vast majority of our children will eventually work in one city or another. Now may be the time to nurture an appreciation for and comfort in nature. This might take the shape of long walks, family camping trips, or a camp/wilderness experience of one sort or another.

 

Beyond being beautiful, these experiences in nature provide the backdrop for developing resilience and resourcefulness in a largely “unplugged” environment. There is never a “right” way to enjoy summer. Each choice we help our children make has benefits and downsides; still, while it is still snowy outside is a terrific time to take stock of who our child is today and what sort of experience may open a new door.