Teen Activites

   

TEEN POWER!!

This page is for youth aged 13 and older.  Institutions are great, but we can't always depend upon them.  Independence is a skill and teens are at the best age for succeeding at this adventure.  With email and phone, a teen can create groups that have more fun than anything that an adult could organize.  Important:  These activites are done in person, not online.  Your SCHA website has a community board where people can post a note about a group they want.

Homeschool Homies - cute rap video from YouTube

Need a host?  Need a location?  I've got a list.

Some suggestions for group activities:

Books and Brown Bags - Reading club that shares foods mentioned in the current book.

Gourmet Day - 1 teen demonstrates a great recipe, the rest watch, take notes, follow along, whatever.  Is there an Iron Chef of Sierra County?

Game Groups - Why join a "Bridge Club"?  Do it all!!

Competitions and Contests - Here's some ideas, but I know you've got better ones -

* Building domino cascades
* Estimating number of M&M's in a jar
* Redesigning of the worst traffic problems in your area using construction paper, straws, and tape
* Building card houses

Put your work online!  Your Home-school Association will proudly feature the work of our home-schoolers.  It's a step up from the refridgerator.  Music, art, poetry, photography, essays, sports events, and even science projects can be featured on your homeschool website.  Director@scha.5u.com

Got Music?  Form a band, vocal group, or even an orchestra!  Free online midis + free Tabledit program make it possible to create sheet music for 'cover songs' (those popular songs everyone wants to hear).

You can also write your own (Poetry Engine  How to write poetry by About.com)! 

Hold jam sessions!

Hold a talent show! 

Be a real Guitar Hero character!

Volunteer - Keeping a log of your volunteer time and activities becomes valuable when applying for a job or college or awards.  

Join TWYG in Sierra County to win prizes for making progress at anything. 

Your Homeschool Association provides the President's Award to youth over 14 who volunteer 50 hours or more.

Here are some volunteer opportunities that I have noticed around T or C.  You may notice others when you start looking.  In return for your time, request a letter or note for your portfolio.

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  • Sierra Health Care Center (894-7855, 1400 N. Silver) The elderly residents enjoy the entertainment that youth offer.  Whether it's juggling scarves for an audience, reading to individuals, or just sitting and watching tv with the residents, your time is appreciated. 
  •  Hot Springs Animal Clinic (894-6773)  The dogs and puppies enjoy walking at least twice a day.  The more people who walk them, the better pets they become.  There are also cats and kittens, which enjoy ...cat...things...(ok, I'm not a cat person).  The staff will be happy to let parents and youth walk the animals.
  • Civics--
    • The Useful Links page contains an idea for an exercise in civics:  Designing and lobbying for a dog park. 
    • The Wetlands project needs youth to go to the meetings and help make decisions that will impact your future. 
    • The Water Harvesters want youth input on Water Harvesting projects.  Have fun and help reduce global warming at the same time!!Let your homeschool association know... what should it look like, and where do we put it? Director@scha.5u.com
    • • How about a Miniature Golf Course? You help design the golf course, then water harvesters find the funding to build it, and store the rainwater that falls on it. 
      • How about a SK8Board Park?  You help  draw the park, then water harvesters help build it, and store the rainwater that falls on it.
      • What other outdoor arcade ideas do you have? You draw them, and maybe the water harvesters can build them? 
  • Anti-drugs:  Any youth could circulate petitions advocating anti-drug programs, then Representative Pearce will help get funding for it.  He will also stand beside anyone who collects 150 or more signatures and ask Congress for funding for the program.  His show of support would help a civics-minded youth achieve success in improving our community.

Here's a suggestion from Cafi:  Newsletter
Computers have made self-publishing easy and fun. Within your group of teenagers, you undoubtedly have one or more computer gurus who know more than all the adults. You also probably have several writers and artists. Put those talents together at monthly meetings, inject a little organizational guidance, budget for copies and mailing, and you have the makings of a homeschool newsletter.
     Consider the following editorial newsletter structure. It solicits monthly contributions from all participant families in three areas:
* Two to three paragraphs describing family activities (travel, work, projects, sports, recreation, academic achievements, illness)
* Answers to two survey questions ("What are your millenium expectations?" or "What's the best movie you've ever seen?")
* One extra item (quotation, movie or book review, recipe, calendar items like birthdays, jokes, great buys, pictures)
Also consider paperless publishing - either a web page or an e-mail newsletter. Both are fun and easy.© 1999, Cafi Cohen

Make a short video - The Computer Lab has DV Video cameras, hard drives, and editing software.  They hold free Saturday courses that end with a public movie night, and your video is part of the show!

Take a hike, Mike, make like a tree and leaf - Host a short tour of an area you know.  Make sure everyone is dressed right and has water.  Get two or three others to help you do a little research online - find animal tracks, great fishing spots, ghost stories, Indian sites, rock collecting spots, etc.  Turn it into a paint-out or write-out, and just hang there...someone might get all inspired, so at least one of you should bring a notebook and pencils. 

Here's another suggestion from Cafi:  Classes
If you have special expertise among your family, friends, or acquaintances - or among the homeschooling parents in your vicinity - use it!
Listen to this homeschooling mother's description of science classes she organizes for teenagers in her area. "I rotate biology, chemistry, physics and earth science each year. This year I had seventeen kids aged thirteen to eighteen. We did chemistry labs from Experiences in Chemistry (by Kathleen Julicher, from Castle Heights Press) and the "Bob Jones University chemistry lab book." Typical labs?
* Molecular structure using molecule model kits
* Physical states (solid, liquid, gas), and physical changes (melting and boiling)
* Making soap
* Testing milk for antibiotics
* Testing soils for phosporous, potassium, and pH (with a kit)
* Extracting DNA from onions
This scientist-cum-homeschool-mom reports that she downloaded instructions from the Internet for this last activity.  With an extraction buffer consisting principally of shampoo, DNA coagulates (and thus separates from everything else) in the presence of ice cold rubbing alcohol.  It is an example of real life chemistry, with all of the ingredients available at the grocery store. © 1999, Cafi Cohen

Now that you're thinking of even better things than these, drop me an email, post your ideas on the community board, or tell your friends.  It would be so sad if you come up with great ideas, and nobody knows about them so nothing happens.