Summer Series

Being a 365 day a year boarding program, although our regular academic year concluded with graduation on June 16 our summer program is currently in full swing. The concept of the summer program is to provide an educational and entertaining summer to assist with the total development of our students. Components of the program include academic instruction, interest clubs, a guest speaker series, field trips, and a student work program.

The academic portion of the program allows students to make-up for credits missed and earn extra credits as they proceed toward their individual academic goals. Classes offered during the summer session depend on the needs of the student population but normally include classes in the areas of math, world studies, English, biology, current events and electives.

Interest clubs are held three times a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. Through the relationships they have established with their students, our academic teaching staff identifies clubs that they feel will interest and be enjoyed by our students. Students are permitted to choose two different clubs in which to participate. So that students may enjoy more than one club, half way through the summer session students switch to their second choice club. Some of the clubs students may choose from include drama, fishing, classical movies, woodworking, kite building, basic living skills, and golf.

The guest speaker program is held each Tuesday afternoon with a variety of entertaining and educational speakers. In addition to being educational and informative, the program is designed to open the minds of our students and possibly introduce them to a career. Guest speakers contribute their time to visit Timber Ridge to share their experiences. If you would like to learn more about participating in our guest speaker series please contact Jim Barretta at extension 129.

Fridays are designated for field trips to allow for day long trips. Usually, two field trips are offered each Friday. A sampling of field trips offered include visits to the National Zoo, Smithsonian Institute, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal, white-water rafting, National Aquarium of Baltimore, Gettysburg Battlefield, Hagerstown Suns baseball games, and the Bluemont Concert Series. For students electing not to go on either trip, fun activities are arranged on campus.

To teach our students the importance of work ethic and the value of responsibility, a number of our students who are on schedule to meet their academic goals may participate in our student work program. They may work in the areas of dietary, clerical, and maintenance. The employment program allows students to earn money and provides them with the responsibility to use this money wisely and even open a savings account. Each student selected to work through this program must sign a contract indicating he will fulfill his work commitment until the end of the summer program in late August.