Summer activity ideas for 16 yr old?

[Wandamakesporridge]

DD is in Y11, so GCSEs will be over in a couple of months time, and she has a long summer ahead with nothing planned.

Any suggestions for anything I can suggest she signs up for? She’s not very proactive in organising her own stuff, but I reckon I might be able to persuade her to sign up for things - anything to do with computing / science / geography particularly.

Her best friend is moving away and I am worried she’ll just mope about. I think a bit of experience before she starts 6th form would be good too.

I’m currently looking at NCS, is that any good?

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Aye. A job.

NCS is excellent.

A job!!!

How about theatre camps, like Stagecoach? Alternatively could you look into some volunteer roles?

A job! Meet new friends, learn new skills and money!!

I was working Saturdays and school holidays when I was 16 and hope my DSs will be able to do the same. It was great earning my own money and I saved loads for uni.

Other ideas - police cadet type stuff? If you're near the coast there are groups that organise beach cleans and dolphin surveys that she could volunteer with. Could she volunteer as a leader at sport/ holiday clubs she's attended in the past? Volunteering at your local dog shelter - cleaning, walking etc?

Have a look at the Smallpeice Trust. Lots of courses, some online, some residential. There is a cost involved, but also help with costs if you need it. Is based on engineering, but Eg clean energy and other areas. www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/timetable

Thanks for ideas.
Yes a job would be a good idea too - she already does some babysitting and cat sitting - but they’ve had such a boring couple of years at school (all school trips cancelled and most clubs too) that I wanted to find something a bit exciting for her too.

NCS is excellent.

Other than that, what about a job?
Don't know how good her swimming is, but what about doing a lifeguard course? Costs up front, but you can earn that back within a few shifts, and gives you a great qualification for working for the coming years.

Oh that’s a good idea - she’s a good swimmer.

My dd has signed up to volunteer at the library to help out.

My daughter has a Saturday job that she'll do extra in and she's doing ncs and a week in a local theatre work experience

Does she know what she wants to do in the future - uni courses/career etc. If so it might be worth seeing if she could get some work experience/do some courses that relate to that? eg if she is interested in computing perhaps see if she could go in a run a coding club one morning a week at a local holiday scheme? If she's interested in environmental studies is there somewhere she could volunteer for that?

Coding course
Warhammer
Suggest she try writing a book / poetry
Start learning an instrument
Water colour class
Pottery class
Join the gym
Choir
Redecorate her room
Sell old things on eBay
Back some candles / soaps

Do nothing! Being 16! Was the best summer of my life. I did have a Saturday job but I would have hated to a prescribed activity.

the Ambassador Theatre Group are launching a west end summer course for 15-25 year olds which I think could be great for her. Saw it on twitter www.atgtickets.com/shows/creators-west-end-summer-performance-course/west-end-creative-learning/