Leaders for Social Change: A Rewarding Summer Option for NYC Teens

Written by Carol Cain on 06 April 2010

As Summer approaches, many parents are thinking on ways to keep their kids busy and entertained during their time off. Some will take trips, others will look into camp options. And if you have teens, the choices become a bit more challenging. It’s difficult to find activities that are engaging and fun, but also rewarding and educational.

This is where I think Academic Study Associates (ASA) (www.asaprograms.com), a pioneer in summer study programs, is a perfect fit for families who have teens that have outgrown the simplicity of Summer camps, but still need the structure during the Summer months.

The Leaders for Social Change program is offered on the campuses of Stanford and Yale Universities and runs three weeks, June 27 – July 17, 2010, for high school sophomores and juniors. Through this ASA program, students will identify an issue of concern to them such as global climate change or insufficient access to health care. They will learn leadership skills, business etiquette, problem solving, financing and volunteer strategies and then apply these building blocks into a step-by-step action plan for how they can make a real difference in their own community with innovative solutions.

The ASA “Leaders for Social Change” program includes:

· Small classes led by experienced accredited faculty

· Dynamic courses including: Creating a Budget, Business Etiquette, Conflict Resolution, The Great Debate: Lobbying Your Cause Effectively, Show Me the Money: Getting Board Approval, Understanding Global Issues, Creative Thinking & Problem Solving and Action Plan Development

· Fun weekend excursions: At Stanford, students will visit Santa Cruz, Muir Woods and a San Francisco Giants game. At Yale, they will enjoy a trip to NYC, a day at the beach and the Gilded Age beauty of Newport, Rhode Island

· Residing on campus with access to each university’s array of facilities and resources

· Mentorship by Resident Advisors, tasked with overseeing accommodations and events as well as sharing their knowledge of the collegiate experience

ASA’s three-week “Leadership for Social Change” is $4,695. This includes: tuition, room, three meals a day, use of select Stanford and Yale campus facilities, the complete academic and excursion program, all afternoon and evening activities, transfer to and from designated airports, linens, bedding and towels, guest lectures and class related field trips. While not directly affiliated with Stanford or Yale, ASA Summer Programs count on experienced educators and staff who present an excellent program drawn from outstanding resources.

This would be an amazing experience for any teen and would really expose them to the leadership skills they will need to be successful later in life.

For more information or to apply for an ASA Summer Program, please visit www.asaprograms.com or call ASA at (800) 752-2250.

About ASA (Academic Study Associates)

Drawing on 27 years experience in college-preparatory education, ASA offers college-bound high school students a range of summer academic programs to inspire personal and intellectual growth as well as social change and global understanding amid the authentic experience of campus life. Based in New York City, ASA’s offerings comprise 15 distinct summer programs held on campuses of prestigious U.S. universities and in notable European destinations. Among U.S. universities that host but are not direct participants in ASA Summer Programs are Stanford, Yale, UMass, USC and Oxford University in England. For more information on ASA Summer Programs, please visit www.asaprograms.com

Photo credit: ASA Programs