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A Summer Holiday Away from Home?

Hubbub

My son is 19, has (mild) Aspergers and is coming to the end of college this summer and has applied to go to university next September. Thinking back to last summer when he was mostly stuck in front of a computer screen every day, I was wondering if anyone could suggest some kind of adventurous holiday that might be suitable, as he likes the outdoors if he has like minded pals to go with (thin on the ground). I have looked on the net, but all I can find that might interest him are for younger teens. The alternative is adult adventure holidays, but I suspect he might not enjoy those if everyone else is much older and not be bothered to befriend the slightly odd kid.

My 3 other children at this stage in their lives were doing similar things but as young leaders (eg Camp America, tall ships) and social holidays with friends and had jobs. My youngest son is a little immature and apt to hold back in case he is thought to be doing something wrong, though is unafraid of physical challenges. Learning some independence would be so good for his future, at university and beyond. Last year we left it all too late to arrange anything and now it seems that he is too old for the fun stuff. I think a summer job abroad might be difficult for him to manage, as most are rather exploitative at best.

If anyone has any ideas before we delve into adult adventure holidays, I'd be most grateful.

 

 

  • in reply to NAS81464

    Hello. A language camp in Canada is a great option for learning a language and just relaxing for a child. If you need to find a suitable option, you can look here - https://smapse.com/catalog/canada/holidays-camps-for-children/ . There are collected about 70 institutions. SMAPSE employees are always in touch (mail, phone, skype, facetime, watsapp, viber), they can provide any assistance in organizing a trip, collecting documents, etc.

  • Hi all. I would like to appeal to those who sent their children to a camp abroad. We now want our daughter to visit some institution in Canada. If possible, can you tell me where I can find options? How to get there and where can they advise?

  • Will do, Crystal12, but so far have found that those sort of things are for under 18s.

     

  • Hi - don't know if he'd be interested, but it might be worth checking out Outward Bound centres.  When my son was younger he went with other youngsters + staff from his school + loved it.

  • Thank you Longman, I will look into that (while waiting to see what 'offers' might come this spring). We went to several open days in the autumn and he has his favourite. We spoke to people about disability matters (had lots of conflicting advice, but will wade through this as usual), but can't remember anything on volunteering. Perhaps we were busy looking at other things. I think prospective students are invited for a visiting day if they get an offer, so it would be something to talk about then. Thanks again.

  • Many universities now have volunteer schemes. This is seen as beneficial to students finishing, as evidence on their CVs and is also useful to students who are not so good at socialising, to get involved in voluntary activity. I have known students with Aspergers getting involved in student volunteers with very good outcomes.

    If you know which university he is likely to go to, it may be worth asking them about volunteering activity he could get involved with over the summer, through them.

    Presumably you are going to visit the University in the spring, on an open day, to look at the facilities, and to have preliminary discussions with the disability support staff at student services. It is worth doing this to see in advance what issues he may encounter, and you should be able to talk with academic staff via the disability team to see if there are any course issues.

    As quite a few disabled students get involved in student volunteering, the disability team is also likely to be used to liaising with the volunteers, which means some monitoring perhaps of summer volunteering.

    And this would then get him involved with his university and better able to settle in.