Boston's Best Summer Camps Or Workshops For Teens

Whether your teen is just starting high school or about to finish, keep them busy this summer with workshops aimed at broadening their horizon. With summer camps such as investigative reporting, improvisation, culinary cuisine, creative writing and architectural design, your teen will not only have fun, but will also expand their life goals. Immerse yourself in the history of Boston while learning writing, design, reporting, cooking and performing. These workshops are some of Boston's best ways to help your teen prepare for college or grow their skills.

High School Investigative Reporting Workshop
New England Center for Investigative Reporting
640 Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 358-6651
www.necir-bu.org

Learn how to be an investigative reporter through the High School Investigative Reporting Workshop at the New England Center for Investigative Reporting. Teens in grades nine through 12 have the chance to spend two weeks at Boston University learning the art of journalism. Work on investigative stories with Boston University faculty and get help from award-winning journalists. Learn how to write a news story, perform a background check, use government databases and perfect interview techniques. Also enjoy touring Boston and all the historical venues it has to offer. The two-week sessions run from July 1, 2013 to August 9, 2013, and are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Boarding at the Boston University dormitories is optional. Payment plans may be available. Enroll by June 30, 2013.

Summer Camp
Improv Boston
40 Prospect St.
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 576-1253
www.improvboston.com

For teens who love to perform or would like to learn how to be on stage, the summer camp at Improv Boston offers youth a chance to test their skills. Children ages eight to 17 can join a comedy camp where improvisation skills are taught, while fun is had and confidence is built. Instructors make a supportive atmosphere, promoting fun and creativity. Learn how to view mistakes as part of the process, become team players and improve performance skills. Each week session ends with a show. The one-week sessions run from June 24, 2013 to August 19, 2013, and are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Financial assistance may be available.

Cooking Up Culture
Boston University Metropolitan College and Extended Education
One Silber Way
Boston, MA 02215
(617) 353-9852
www.bu.edu

Expand your culinary experience by learning how to cook food from all over the world, including Greece, Turkey, Spain, France and Italy. Learn all about cooking from preparation to execution. Teens 13 to 18 can take a week-long cooking class with professional chefs at Boston University through the Cooking Up Culture program. From July 15, 2013 to July 19, 2013, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., teens will learn food and kitchen safety, food preparation and presentation, cooking and baking techniques and how to read and understand recipes. Find out how to use spices, herbs and seasonings, and how they relate to different foods.

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The 2013 YAWP Summer Teen Fellowship
Grub Street
162 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 695-0075
www.grubstreet.org

The YAWP Summer Teen Fellowship offers teens an opportunity to learn about writing and publishing through classes and workshops. Teens in grades nine through 12 can take a three-week writing program from July 15, 2013 to August 1, 2013, 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The intense program features writing exercises for fiction, nonfiction and poetry, how to give and take feedback and opportunities to focus on the world of writing, publishing and editing after college. Participants will receive a $300 stipend for attending most or all of the classes. The application deadline is March 29, 2013.

Summer Academy: High School Design Exploration
Boston Architectural College
320 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 585-0100
www.the-bac.edu

Teens can engage in architectural design at the Summer Academy at Boston Architectural College where they will learn through hands-on projects. From July 1, 2013 to July 26, 2013, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday, teens enjoy a four-week design program that includes graphic collage, free-hand drawing, mapping, model building, photography, diagramming and full-scale prototyping. Independence and individualism is encouraged so students experiment with new ideas and projects. The professional staff helps students to broaden their portfolios, expand critical thinking and build design skills.

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