You may have heard of Dr. Glaser before as a recommended pediatrician in Brooklyn.  I had and so was suprised to get an email from her telling me not about her practice but about a book she had written about summer opportuntities for teens.  When I received the book from her, I was interested to read the introduction to find out why (and how she had the time) to write this book.  As she explains in the book, she is the mother of two teens, a lifelong New Yorker  and a pediatrician who hears what her teen patients are doing and so she has learned a lot about what is available for teens.  She has been able to pass that information on to other parents in her medical office, but wanted to share it with a larger audience. I think she is onto something. There isn’t a resource like this out there. Sure, there are summer camp listings and summer class listings, but nothing that gives you such a broad and unique scope of little know programs for teens: free classes, unusual law programs that pay and cool sports camps. The book isn’t very thick but seems to cover a lot of territory. Honestly, this is one review copy I am happy to have in my collection. I am sure by the time Birch is a teen, Amy will have updated it many times. 

Some of the coolest listings from Dr. Glaser’s book:

The Day Jams Rock Music Camp.  At DayJam your child can form a rock band with both individual and group instructions where the band composes songs, creates videos and learns how to play like a band. It is on E. 92nd Street in the city.

How about kids interested in marine life? Your child can go to the Brooklyn College Marine Ecology Institute to study urban marine ecology for one month where they visit salt marshes, oyster farms, a wildlife refuge and ocean beach. It is free too!

How about a great opportunity for future human rights leaders? The International Center for Tolerance Education DUMBO offers a curriculum of films, writing, theater and research in conjunction with organizations.  There is transportation aid, daily lunch and a stipend.

I took sailing lessons when I was a teenager and loved them. I can’t say I am any use on a sailboat, but I sure loved practicing capsizing all summer.  The New York Sailing Camp gives 9-16 year olds the opportunity to try sailing in larger boats including a 42 foot (yikes that’s a lot of boat to handle!) The kids are also able to try dinghies.

For details about any of these opportunities and a lot more that are available for teens, check out Amy Glaser’s book,  "Summer in the City for Teens".  The cost of the book with shipping is $14.

Similar Posts: