After School Activities for Teens

[louisea]

My 12 year old boys would like to do some after school activity that doesn't involve sports. I'm hoping to re-start guitar lessons soon.

They are both interested in Tech, building and making things, using their hands. We don't have space at home for them to have tools or equipment so they can't experiment here. Does anyone know of clubs, courses or activites that can participate in.

We live in North London.

TIA

Scouting?
Cadets?

Did both myself in teens (back in the middle ages, of course...) and admittedly huge variety of activities but included a fair bit of tech/problem solving. We had a science club at school for a bit, too (things like egg races etc)

Likewise D of E, but can't start till just under 14, and young enterprise is I think a little older again.

We actually still have a youth club in our area, they have things like a pool table & workshop activities. Targetted very much at age 12-14.

My DS is in the Air Training Corp open to both boys and girls he loves it they offer a huge variety of activities including flying of course.It's literally changed his life but ours is a twice weekly commitment.

I was going to say Scouts / Sea Scouts / Air Cadets / local Youth Club.

Thanks you all. I hadn't considered any of the above. One of my boys dislikes camping but maybe he can be persuaded if he knows that he'll get to other skills based activities. I shall certainly sound them out about the suggestions.

what does the school offer?

I don't know what camping-out activities they do in the sea-scouts/air cadets - certainly none in this weather!

The non-sporty boys I know that go, absolutely the routines and extra activities on weekends, etc.

My son does pottery, and he loves it.

St. John Ambulance Cadets is another idea.

Does the school offer any extra curricular stuff such as photography or computer club?

Try to get something set up at school. They have the equipment and space - I'm sure if you get enough people interested they would do something. There are very few places for children to hammer nails into bits of wood and that sort of thing, I think it's a health and safety thing. You may be lucky with scout groups and other suggestions above.

My 12 year-old DS enjoys the following - in and out of school:

• guitar band workshop
• a concert/wind band
• Scouts
• Lego Robotics club (Mindstorms/ Lego League)
• GameMaker/IT club