Matching students, adventure
BY BILL LOHMANN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Feb 18, 2003

When her kids were growing up, Louise M. Bates had to scout around to find good summer programs for them. Now, she does it for other people's children.

Bates, who taught school for 25 years, now runs her own business, Educational Expeditions, which helps match students - primarily high school students - to summer study, travel and service programs locally and around the world.

Such programs used to be the sole domain of college students, but opportunities have been increasing for high school students in recent years.

"I've found there are thousands of programs designed for high school students," said Bates, whose Web site, www.educationalexpeditions.net, directs visitors to a sampling of the best of those programs. She has researched the programs she recommends and made on-site visits to many of them.

Opportunities range from local service programs to elaborate overseas travel groups. Other programs focus on art, music, language, outdoor adventure and other specialty interests. The time requirements can be a week to most of the summer. Price also varies widely, from free to many thousands of dollars. On the less expensive end, for example, is the Student Conservation Association, which places students on work crews in America's National Parks. There is no fee for the monthlong program, although transportation to and from the parks is not included.

Colleges increasingly want to know how prospective students spend their summers.

"They're hoping students are developing a passion for something and doing something to help their community," said Bates, who operates Educational Expeditions from an office in her West End home. "They want to see you're an interesting person and that you're open to ideas."

Besides looking good on college applications and expanding a student's education, meaningful summer programs - particularly those away from home - also can reveal a good deal about the student.

"It gives them a greater sense of independence and self-reliance," Bates said. "It gives them a greater view of themselves and their world.

"It makes a big difference in a child's life. When you get together with people and complete a project your whole perspective on your self-worth can change. It's an investment in a child's future."

A good match, of course, is critical. Volunteers for Peace, for example, offers overseas service opportunities for very little cost. However, accommodations are quite basic.

"If you don't like living in a tent, Volunteers for Peace might not be for you," said Bates, who works with individual families and also conducts workshops.

Research is important. So is timeliness. Spaces are limited in many of the programs, and the application process is competitive.