Divorced fishtown parent with bored 11 year old here for summer w/o friends in area

**kcheme** · 07-05-2011, 06:08 PM

Hi,

I'm writing on behalf of my very bored 11 year old daughter who is here for the summer and in need of some friends here in Philly! She goes to school out of state, and since we've moved to fishtown she hasn't had any luck making friends. Around our block all the kids seem to be either older or boys ('eww'). She went to camp at Shissler last year, but again mostly boys or girls already in cliques (she's really shy too...). She is going to try acting camp for a few weeks, but I'm not positive that will work either.

Is there anyone out there that either has girls in this age group that would be open to meeting a new friend, or knows a good place for her to meet girls and not feel weird about trying to make friends.

thanks for any help!!

Frustrated parent,
Kristin

**Reader** · 07-05-2011, 06:25 PM

As a child, my family moved every 2 to 3 years so I spent a lot of summers in between at relatives' homes or in different cities, so I really feel for her. Best advice is to get her into some kind of activity. If camp isn't the best, try swim lessons, tennis, etc. There are also summer writing programs, Mighty Summer Sessions | Mighty Writers or photography, Fleisher: Summer 2011 Program Information, if she's not so into athletics. Hang out one of the Philly public pools and she's bound to meet somebody.
Good luck!

**ACG** · 07-05-2011, 06:38 PM

Some of the theatres in Center City offer theatre camps. And WHYY has a journalism camp. Those might be a good fit for a kind of shy girl to help her meet kids and come out of her shell.

**Queen Villager** · 07-05-2011, 11:47 PM

You might check out the Handwork Studio, a fun fabric arts camp. I believe they have a summer camp location at Friends Select School.

The Handwork Studio

**citykid** · 07-06-2011, 10:01 AM

If she likes horseback riding, Chamounix stables in Fairmount park runs a pay-by-the-week camp. Kids can go for a week or more and my daughter has found it a lot of fun and a VERY easy place to make quick and easy friends. No cliques, kids of all ages, and--of course--horses!

**OldMama** · 07-06-2011, 11:32 AM

I second the Chamounix idea. My daughter said that while some kids came with friends and were clique-ish, most of the others were very nice.

**kcheme** · 07-06-2011, 03:39 PM

thanks for the info, the horse camp does sound neat. Here's hoping she will come out of her shell this summer!

-Kristin

**Queen Villager** · 07-07-2011, 12:42 AM

Another cool camp option: Philly Zoocamp, which goes through mid-teens. The kids seem to come from different neighborhoods and schools, so maybe not so cliquish.

**It'sJessMe** · 07-07-2011, 06:53 AM

Originally Posted by Queen Villager

Another cool camp option: Philly Zoocamp, which goes through mid-teens. The kids seem to come from different neighborhoods and schools, so maybe not so cliquish.

Oh great suggestion. My 7 1/2 year old just finished his 4th summer there and loved it. I don't think it goes as high as mid-teens, but definitely to 12 or so. For the older kids it's a 3 week camp and they do a lot of cool stuff, exploration, trips, education. My son's younger of course but I never noticed any cliquishness and the counselors are really accessible and hands-on. The camps do tend to fill up early, but I also know that they occasionally overcrowd them, so if you discuss the situation with the director she may be able to fit her in even if it's officially full.

Only downside is lack of transportation - driving my son to the zoo at 9 and picking him up at 3 every day for 2 weeks took huge bites out of my work day. I don't know how I'll manage 3 weeks next year when he ages out of the 2 week camps, but I'll figure it out. Of all the activities he does, zoo camp is far and away his favorite.

**Queen Villager** · 07-07-2011, 09:43 AM

Zoocamp does have before and after care, although I'm not sure if that's just for the little kids or everyone.

**kcheme** · 07-07-2011, 08:05 PM

yeah, I've tried to talk her into zoo camp, but she's not interested which is so weird because she loves animals!! I think she's afraid of being outside in the heat all day. Anyway, we start drama camp at Arden theater next week so I'm really hoping she meets some nice kids there....

**nola** · 07-08-2011, 01:15 AM

Kristin,
Portside Arts Center is local & offers lots of classes as well as summer camp:
portsideartscenter.org

I would also recommend searching or posting on Fishtown.US for local activities &/or parents of other 11 year olds.

**ACG** · 07-08-2011, 08:16 AM

Not really a camp, but a FREE 3 day workshop program for kids at the Apple Store
Apple

**Queen Villager** · 07-08-2011, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by kcheme

yeah, I've tried to talk her into zoo camp, but she's not interested which is so weird because she loves animals!! I think she's afraid of being outside in the heat all day. Anyway, we start drama camp at Arden theater next week so I'm really hoping she meets some nice kids there....

Hope she likes theater camp!

As for the zoo, I think it's pretty shady and cool there, and some of the activities are indoors.