Penguin Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) We are planning to move in October and my son will be in 10th grade. In my experience, some activities seem to have a better chance than others for leading to friendships. Things like theater or travel sports teams seem promising because you spend a lot of time together. What activities have your teens participated in and found friends there? I want to give him some fresh ideas. We have been living overseas and the choices have been quite different. Edited August 3, 2016 by Penguin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnMyOwn Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Speech and debate 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 DS has found friends from attending summer camps, taking courses at Penn, and playing Magic at the local comic book store. And, of course, from his Rubik's Cube world. He has been traveling much of the summer, on his own - attending events and summer camps, but...three of his stops are visiting friends he has met at summer camps. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkateLeft Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 My younger daughter played sports at the local public high school and went to youth group. Most of her friends, including her boyfriend, attended the public school. Her closest friendships came from playing on the high school girls' rugby team. With #1, I focused on trying to help her find friends in the homeschool community, but it just never really happened. All three of my older kids have had far more success in building meaningful friendships with students at the local public school than they have by attending homeschool teen groups, which really surprised me. The amount of drama among homeschool teens (and their parents) is just off the charts here, and I just don't have the patience for it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjeepa Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 With #1, I focused on trying to help her find friends in the homeschool community, but it just never really happened. All three of my older kids have had far more success in building meaningful friendships with students at the local public school than they have by attending homeschool teen groups, which really surprised me. The amount of drama among homeschool teens (and their parents) is just off the charts here, and I just don't have the patience for it. The same rings true for my son. His closest friends were made through the youth group at our church and skateboarding, not homeschooling events and teen groups. He's also made friends through volunteering in the community. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrysalis Academy Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 I think you're on the right track, theater and sport (horseback riding) have been where dd13 and formed her closest friendships. There she has found like-minded kids who share, and get, her passions. We've had zero luck connecting with other homeschoolers. Now if only I could find a group of fantasy/fiction writers for her! Then she'd be 3 for 3. :) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
regentrude Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 DD: Horse stable, choir, DE classes DS: TKD, Judo, work, homeschool group 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FaithManor Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Ours made friends through 4-H and rocket team. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hilltopmom Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 4 H, youth group, homeschool group activities (NOT classes, but things like bowling, game nights, camping trips- those are the best!), Dungeons & Dragons at the gaming shop, dance classes, theater, choir 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lisabees Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) Adding DD13 - friendships were formed at the dance studio, while she attended. Now, friendships are forming at the barn where she rides. Three of us on this thread have horse lovers - maybe your son can try riding! Edited August 3, 2016 by lisabees 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie of KY Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Youth group - church Boy Scouts Ultimate Frisbee 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penguin Posted August 3, 2016 Author Share Posted August 3, 2016 (edited) Great suggestions! Thank you :) He is on a swim team here in Denmark, and I hope he will continue that in the USA. I think he might like theater - the language barrier was just too big of a hurdle for that here. He also does a lot of volunteering, so hopefully that will also help him meet some people. I have moved teenagers before, but they were not homeschooled. Edited August 3, 2016 by Penguin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quark Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Improv theater...laughter is a great ice breaker! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reefgazer Posted August 3, 2016 Share Posted August 3, 2016 Following their true interests and passions has helped them to make true, long-lasting friends. whatever that passion may be. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
butterflyhome Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Library teen programs: card games, book club, etc. & at teen room, community theater company, homeschool grp for our county- in programs I organized in my students area of interest- and I follow up w/the mom if they hit it off- live near- and we do more of the stuff they both like & then we share resources and events-that come up, and summer camp/wkend programs in areas of interest held at local universities, e.g., computer science. I have experienced it is the moms and parents that keep friendships going, till the children hit 14 and then they start doing the calling and ask to be taken to their pal's. And yes, that means one would need to early on develop a working relationship with the mom- homeschool and not. if the children are good together- similar interests, and the other parent values their child's friendships and the parents values are similar- you work together for the children's happiness. I might take them to that Star Trek movie and she takes them to that book signing. We take them to a science lecture I found or to an aviation museum event they want to attend and it evolves and keeps going... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happypamama Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Martial arts -- they work hard, but there's a lot of chatting and bonding that goes on between the kids too. Look for a homeschool support group, not necessarily a co-op, to see if they offer activities for teens. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luckymama Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Youngest found her tribe in Model UN and Youth in Government, as well as in language classes and Concordia immersion camp. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Other youth at church (we don't have a youth group), sports, and to some extent local classes. My youngest takes a combined hist/lit class where they do a lot of friend-type activities outside of class, so that's been a great outlet. They're a very open group and never exclude anyone. My oldest didn't have that experience with local classes though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carrie12345 Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Co-op (classes and activities), the local environmental education center (classes, camps, events, Envirothon teams), karate, Little League, and just hanging around the neighborhood. Our libraries do have Teen Advisory meetings and activities, but we haven't been able to work them in regularly. My 14yo has found a second home full of good people in our volunteer fire department. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merylvdm Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 4-H, Co - op, Science Olympiad, Quiz Bowl - all those involve students being together for a substantial amount of time. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goldberry Posted August 13, 2016 Share Posted August 13, 2016 Science Olympiad. Awesome! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlsdMama Posted August 14, 2016 Share Posted August 14, 2016 Church, scouts, Mock Trial. Mock Trial was especially bonding but, at least where we are, it's because they practically spend every moment together during the season. ;) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Speech and Debate 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaz Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 (edited) dp sorry! Edited August 24, 2016 by Jaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JanetC Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 He is on a swim team here in Denmark, and I hope he will continue that in the USA. Swim is a great sport to make friends! There's a lot of down time at meets waiting for your particular group(s) and event(s) to run, so the kids hang out and get to know each other. Definitely check out your community's swim program(s) and see if you can find one that will be a good fit. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StephanieZ Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 FIRST Robotics has been awesome for my teen son. Great kids, great mentors, great learning, and lots of opportunities to build meaningful friendships with an excellent peer group. So awesome that I'm certain to make sure my youngest daughter joins next year in 9th grade. If there is a FIRST team in your area that accepts homeschoolers, I *highly* recommend checking it out! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 Civil Air Patrol. I think scouts can be good in the right troop, but ds was in the wrong one for years. It finally dissolved this year, which gave ds freedom to explore CAP. It is the perfect fit for him and I'm a little disappointed he wasn't involved sooner. He's made stronger connections in 6 months of CAP than he did in years of scouts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie Smith Posted August 23, 2016 Share Posted August 23, 2016 In Canada one of the cadet programs (air, sea, army) you spend a lot of time together and go away together for weekends and sometimes weeks during the summer. When Dh and I got married his four cadet friends where his groomsmen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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