Do your kids feel “too old” for summer camp but too young for a summer job? For Austin parents trying to keep tweens active, learning, and off their screens, the good news is there are plenty of in-between options that offer responsibility, independence, and a lot more fun than just sitting at home.

Whether your kid is an athlete, an artist, or someone who would happily spend the entire summer gaming indoors, finding the right summer activity can make a big difference.

Let’s start with Athletics!

You don’t have to go far to find camps—Look no further than your local high school and neighborhood organizations to provide essential sports programs!

Schools like Anderson and Austin High offer developmental camps that give local kids opportunities to improve their skills, meet future teammates and coaches, and grow through challenges.

Local programs also offer essential summer activities! Train 4 The Game, located in the Westlake area, offers a Summer Program for ages 9-92. Train 4 The Game keeps things personal and precise, helping beginners and experienced athletes improve their skills.

Want to try something completely “Austin-coded?” Local Rowing Clubs offer developmental programs right on Lady bird Lake! Clubs such as Austin Rowing Club or Texas Rowing Club help beginners enjoy lake time by teaching rowing, kayaking, and paddleboarding. Rowing is one of the best sports to teach endurance and work ethic. Starting with beginner summer camps allows an easy transition into the sport. 

Not a fan of the heat? Stay inside and learn in prestigious university programs!

UT Austin offers several summer camps for rising 6th-8th graders. Ranging from STEM, arts, and athletics. Key options include the 5-week UT Prep academic program, STEM camps, film and animation workshops, and various Longhorn sports camps.

Just look up your kid’s niche along with your local university on the website “summerdiscovery.com” and prepare to be amazed!

Looking for a camp for your kid that excels in Arts and Crafts? Enjoy the free A/C and pick up some new skills at The Art Garage’s Summer Camp located at all 3 locations! The Art Garage offers many options for kids of all ages. 

Looking for something less structured than a traditional camp? Volunteer hours are very important and can also become meaningful experiences for college applications. If your kid is an artist, they might be interested in the local volunteer organization PopUp Birthday. PopUp Birthday prepares and gifts personalized birthday boxes to kids in the foster care system. If you go in person and ask how you can help, they will likely give you boxes to decorate! 

If you have a charity in mind, a simple email can go a long way. There are countless organizations that need volunteer help in Austin. Look into Keep Austin Beautiful, Austin Pets Alive!, Austin Public Library Foundation, and the Central Texas Food Bank!

Looking for some “real-world” skills? West Austin Youth Association offers ChampionsTX Gymnastics camp and looks for their counselors to be rising 6th-12th graders. As a Leader-In-Training, budding students learn to take care of young children (with adult supervision), think on their feet, and even earn their first paycheck. The L.I.T. program is genius; older counselors earn more than their younger counterparts, but all feel fulfilled. 

The L.I.T. program segues beautifully into our last tried and true summer activity: Babysitting. Through programs like ChampionsTX, kids will be able to meet prospective families to babysit for. If you’re not interested in these programs, there is nothing to worry about! Look no further than posting a message offering availability in your neighborhood to a Facebook or Instagram group. Or, you can do it the old fashioned way, and hang out at your neighborhood park or pool!

Through opportunities as a young teen, I was able to garner boundless experience that I brought into high school and I will bring beyond! Although unorthodox, an email can go a long way. I started doing internships with local companies in 6th grade by sending emails out to those in fields of interest. Not only can your kid learn impressive communication skills, they will also learn so much about themselves in the process. Encouraging your child to draft and send a simple email can be a great first step.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for your time! Enjoy your summer and stay cool! 😎

Top photo: WAYA Facebook