Penguin Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Looking ahead to high school, DS and I have started talking about a plan for extra-curriculars. Please don't throw things at me for being analytical about this - I want him to follow his passions not just calculate a resume for the sake of an application. But our current lifestyle involves a lot of travel and chunks of time in the USA. For my peace of mind in the can-we-homeschool-high-school conversation, I have to think ahead. My older boys were not homeschooled and they had the standard extra curriculars: clubs, sports teams,etc. If we continue to homeschool, this kiddo's path will be completely different. I am trying to think of ideas that appeal to him that allow for the semi-nomadic, frequent-traveller lifestyle. He wants to get his SCUBA certification, and I think that is a good idea. You can keep progressing through the certifications, so that is something that he could work on for years. He REALLY likes current events, international affairs, and world cultures. We looked into the online Model UN, but didn't care for the format. We are investigating some volunteer opportunities. You have to be 16 for Habitat for Humanity's Global Village Program, so that would have to wait. He likes photography. Maybe he could do something with that. I welcome your ideas :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mama Geek Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 If he likes scuba, he may like sailing as well. Sailing is one of my passions, and I like Scuba as well. There are lots of sailing cruisers who travel the world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josie Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thinking outside of the box here, but his travels can be his extracurriculars. I am sure he doesn't just sit in a hotel room while you travel. Document all the cultural and volunteer things he does in each place. Let him volunteer in a soup kitchen in each the places you visit. If he is interested in politics, for example, arrange for him to observe political events in different places. Let him visit parliament buildings and take tours. Travel is a great life experience and coupled with SCUBA I think he will have plenty of things to put on his college resume. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in NY Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Can he blog or podcast about his experiences? Maybe get a couple of books out of the library about blogging/podcasting to get some ideas about how to approach it in a unique way? Maybe he could use some of his interests to investigate the places to which you are traveling and write about those interests? ETA: Good Photography = Great Blog! That's a great interest to develop with a blog. My son has a blog.... at first I thought it was a bad idea, but he has followers and views from all over the world and it's kind of neat. He's young so it's a work in progress, but I can see how it could become more sophisticated as he grows older. (you can check it out to get an idea of what I mean... it's linked in my sig ...) Neat things ahead for your family! Wish I could come along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 This is something we're constantly talking about. It's easy to find ways to get the core classes in no matter where we are, but the extracurriculars are a challenge. It does help that we know for the first time ever where we're going to be for the next four years so we can at least make a bit of a plan. The two things we're focusing on are service and their interests. It's often possible to find unique and meaningful service projects when you're overseas and we're working on making sure they have several significant projects during high school. Since we're homeschooling overseas it can be difficult to find extracurriculars where they develop leadership skills so the projects should help with that, in addition to just being a good thing to do anyway. Their interests are a little harder. Oldest ds is planning on going into engineering. He's in Guadalajara now for 10th grade and will be in Washington DC for 11th and Riyadh for 12th which makes it hard to do anything consistent. But we've been able to ask around and find two teachers who speak English well to do a programming class and a sort of design/shop class. I'm sure we'll be able to find more options in DC, and I have no idea what we'll find in Riyadh, but I'm going to see if he can do something at a local university his senior year. And we'll always keep asking around for ideas wherever we are. Middle ds loves history, writing, and archeology. We found another teacher to do a publishing class with him to help him blog and work on a book of the places he's living. We're doing an intensive Mexico class is year for history and it will incorporate some extracurriculars, especially as we travel around the country seeing pyramids. We'll do a similar intensive class in DC and I really hope we can find some archaeology projects too. For 11th and 12th grades in Riyadh, we'll do a Saudi class, and then maybe a Middle East one (that would be too huge though), or a class on Islam (that's what I would prefer, but he wouldn't as much, probably). I don't know if this is helpful since it's all about us, but maybe it can give you some ideas. I really think the most important thing is to play to their interests and to use your individual circumstances to your advantage. And to see what types of extracurriculars are wanted by the schools your child is interested in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Look for Nan in Mass's posts. Her sons did some incredible stuff that was outside the box and would fit in well with traveling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 For archaeology, one thing you might look into is seeing if he can get on any field teams in the places you're living. You don't necessarily have to be a graduate student to do the brunt work of archaeology, (dig here, sift this dirt, etc.) and it can be a great way to learn. Also, if he's interested in archaeology SCUBA and advanced dive training are a great background to have going in, as underwater archaeology is one of the growing and active subfields of the discipline. I would probably contact NGO's who operate near you for volunteer opportunities. That kind of work can both be rewarding just of itself, and also help with local language acquisition/improvement and making connections that could be useful later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 13, 2014 Author Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks all for the insights. I still have to think through some of the ideas. I tend to think of visiting places like the Nobel Peace Prize Center as field trips, not extracurriculars. Amira, you might want to look into Engineering for Change. https://www.engineeringforchange.org/home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amira Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks all for the insights. I still have to think through some of the ideas. I tend to think of visiting places like the Nobel Peace Prize Center as field trips, not extracurriculars. Amira, you might want to look into Engineering for Change. https://www.engineeringforchange.org/home Thanks for the link, Penguin. And I agree about the field trips vs. extracurriculars. I think it takes quite a bit of effort to make visiting places more than field trips. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 Thanks all for the insights. I still have to think through some of the ideas. I tend to think of visiting places like the Nobel Peace Prize Center as field trips, not extracurriculars. Amira, you might want to look into Engineering for Change. https://www.engineeringforchange.org/home Thank you for the link. Very cool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted September 13, 2014 Share Posted September 13, 2014 My son parlayed his desire for current events and politics into significant political action with NGO's. He is a strong environmentalist, so that shifted our focus, but there are lots to fill any social need. If he volunteers a few times, and shows interest, many are more than willing to provide youth with ample opportunities. You can become as large or a small a part of campaigns as you want to. We traveled all over the region for my son's speaking events and media stuff. It is really weird to see your kid on the side of a bus or have people know him from his facebook presence. It can definitely get flashy enough for college applications. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 14, 2014 Author Share Posted September 14, 2014 I went to a volunteer fair for expats last year. I went with such high hopes, and came out with a burst bubble. The organizations of highest interest only took volunteers 18 and up. Truth is, most of them only want the university student demographic of 18-25. I didn't feel that my time was really desired, either. But I am going to take a fresh look into what is available. Finding something to "do" isn't hard. Finding something to do with it is harder, if that makes sense. While my son is conversationally fluent in the local language, he would only feel comfortable in a leadership role in English. We are just going to have to be very intentional and proactive. I actually find it easier to turn a trip into a school assignment than an extracurricular, LOL. Jen in NY: Your son's blog is awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in NY Posted September 14, 2014 Share Posted September 14, 2014 I just realized you are writing from Denmark.... my son would do just about anything to get to Denmark at this point.... :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Jen in NY, if it is the LEGOs drawing your son's attention to Denmark, he might be disappointed. As far as I know, we have the same LEGO sets here, and they often cost more! LEGOland is delightful, but the newer one in Florida is probably bigger. LEGOs aside, Denmark is a fantastic destination for a myriad of other reasons :) edited for accuracy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 I have honestly contemplated going back to school for five more years to get the degree certifications necessary to be a strong candidate for International Schools so that my son and I could become Nomadic Homeschoolers studying abroad. It is just so very enticing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 What about the Duke of Edinburgh award? It has expanded over the decades to many countries. Ruth in NZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JumpedIntoTheDeepEndFirst Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Could he volunteer as an English language docent at a local museum or similar? Also, you might check with some of the local international schools-many have some sort of program that will allow a non-student to participate in sports or some clubs. (Although this is very school and location variable.) If you have an IB school in the area they may have someone who coordinates volunteer opportunities and might be willing to offer some insight on what is available, another good source for this is one of the international women's clubs-ie American, British, International-what ever handle they use locally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 You guys are the best. :hurray: :hurray: :hurray:Ruth, the Duke of Edinburgh award looks like a possible fit. Customizable, non-competitive, measurable, and a long-haul effort. I had never heard of it - THANK YOU!! Off to do some reading...End of Ordinary, can you tell me more about the international certifications you referred to? Would that be so that you could teach in an International School?JumpedInto, Yes, we have an IB school. My middle went there and had to do the CAS hours thing. Thanks for the reminder of the resource.In fact, DS may end up at the IB school. Even so, we would still need to get through 9th grade in homeschool mode, and require a path for international extracurriculars during the IB years. My research will remain useful either way :)Well, I think we have more than enough to explore for now: SCUBA Duke of Edinburgh award. Blogging - I think he would like this once he got going Sailing - he has actually done a bit of this and liked it. I can see if he would be interested in earning certifications. Tutoring English / Docent Volunteer. The Danes do a fantastic job of teaching in English in schools, but there are still subsets of the population who might be interested in free tutoring (perhaps recent immigrants or the elderly). And I am going to take a fresh look into the local NGOs and project planning. And maybe the above list will spark some of his ideas, too. edited for clarity and multiple typos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Oh my gosh, Jen in NY, - look what I just found - limited availability factory tours: The LEGO InsideTour Now THAT would be something you can't experience in NY! BTW, 13000 Danish kroner is about $2300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
creekland Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 Thanks all for the insights. I still have to think through some of the ideas. I tend to think of visiting places like the Nobel Peace Prize Center as field trips, not extracurriculars. Each individual trip is a field trip. The abundance of travel with different destinations and things he does can be put into extra curriculars. My guys had traveled a bit and we certainly used it. When they had interviews, it came up and they could easily intelligently talk about where they had been and what they had done. Colleges are looking for a diverse class. Being well traveled fits its niche as much as anything else does (sports, music, etc). My guys are also all scuba certified, because scuba is something we enjoy. At some colleges this is rare. At others it's routine. Chess is something else all three of mine had. Mine went through their school district, but it's not necessary to do so. Then community service (even projects vs continual) and things like that are often good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 Each individual trip is a field trip. The abundance of travel with different destinations and things he does can be put into extra curriculars. My guys had traveled a bit and we certainly used it. When they had interviews, it came up and they could easily intelligently talk about where they had been and what they had done. Colleges are looking for a diverse class. Being well traveled fits its niche as much as anything else does (sports, music, etc). My guys are also all scuba certified, because scuba is something we enjoy. At some colleges this is rare. At others it's routine. Chess is something else all three of mine had. Mine went through their school district, but it's not necessary to do so. Then community service (even projects vs continual) and things like that are often good. The bolded makes a lot of sense to me. Taken in the aggregate, it does become something...more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justasque Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 You might also plan to have him attend some college-based summer programs. Many colleges offer 3-6 week residential programs, where the students take 1-2 college classes that focus on their interests and earn them a bit of "electives"-type college credit. They live in the dorms and eat in the cafeteria, and get a good sense of the school and whether or not it would be a good fit for them or if they're looking for something else. While not cheap, these programs are a great way to "kick the tires" of a school before committing to a four-year program; going to one as a rising junior and one as a rising senior would give quite a bit of experience and some benchmarks from which to judge other schools. As an example, I know of several art/design schools which plan their summer programs to give students a taste of what it's like to go to a design school (as opposed to a more traditional college). The programs also give the school an opportunity to get to know the student; one program I'm aware of extended conditional acceptance (and a bit of scholarship money) to students who did well in the program; that is, so long as they don't screw up majorly in the next year or so, they will be admitted to the school. Even if they choose to attend a different school, their application will include college credit and will show that they care enough about their education and their major to spend significant time in the summer working at a college level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted September 15, 2014 Share Posted September 15, 2014 International Schools through various programs have different specifications. The American International Schools I have the most experience with - my mother and many other women whom I taught with decided to go aboard about ten years ago and spend many years about the globe with AIS. For AIS you need to be more than just a standard certified teacher. I am currently just a standard certified teacher. If you can specialize or teach higher level advanced curriculum. If you are multilingual. If you can teach multiple subjects. If you have a background in art. Often times the schools want to hire teachers who are either specialists or have multiple certifications so they stand out as a step above "average." There are often lots of applicants, so it is important you can do more than just one thing. It also helps the school be able to utilize your specialties in different ways. Often gender segregation happens internationally (my mother and two other women taught girls in Dubai for example. No men are allowed to teach at the girl's schools). Since that is the case, women who can teach upper level math or science are desired. One of the women I know was gifted certified as well as being multilingual. You normally have to have taught for three years in one school to be considered experienced enough to be an asset. This can be waved of course. My male friend in Qatar this year speaks seven languages and has only spent one year doing student teaching. They did not care. The courted him quite extensively. Going back to school, I would have to brush up on my upper level mathematics. I have taught at risk kids for quite a while and that leads me to not have done lots past Algebra 2. I would get my science certification (I am really close), and work on fluency in Spanish (the geographical region I want to work in). Though my favorite kids are middle school and I specialize in integration (more at risk there), I have a feeling marketability would be in high school as a female. So certifications/endorsements would be in ESOL K-12, middle school Science 5-9 or possibly Earth Space Science 6-12, 6-12 mathematics, potentially social science 6-12 (this one is pretty simple to acquire with a few extra credits here or there). I do not know if that helps at all. It is a strong draw for me, but with my husband not so much. He likes the idea, but that is very different from the reality of actually doing it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 15, 2014 Author Share Posted September 15, 2014 End of Ordinary, thanks so much for that explanation. Gosh, I learn about so many amazing opportunities through these boards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lewelma Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 Ruth, the Duke of Edinburgh award looks like a possible fit. Customizable, non-competitive, measurable, and a long-haul effort. I had never heard of it - THANK YOU!! Off to do some reading... I'm planning on it for my younger. I think it is awesome! Hard work, tailored to the kid, and not busy work. What more could you ask for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raptor_dad Posted September 16, 2014 Share Posted September 16, 2014 What about the Duke of Edinburgh award? It has expanded over the decades to many countries. This looks very similar to the Congressional Award in the US, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Award If you are US citizens that might be more recognized in colleges in the states or you could do both since the requirements seem to partially overlap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted September 16, 2014 Author Share Posted September 16, 2014 This looks very similar to the Congressional Award in the US, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Award If you are US citizens that might be more recognized in colleges in the states or you could do both since the requirements seem to partially overlap. Wow, I didn't know about this one either. Thanks!!!!! I am kind of surprised that this award never crossed my radar before. Off to do more investigating... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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