Chile Forum

We visit Chile every year during August. This year my 14 year old son will be participating in a camp in Chile that ends 4 days earlier than when the rest of our family arrives in Chile to join him. He is likely to stay with family friends, but they have no children and I think he will be bored. Any suggestions for reputable programs for an American teen in Santiago area or boarding program elsewhere?

pearlpen wrote:We visit Chile every year during August. This year my 14 year old son will be participating in a camp in Chile that ends 4 days earlier than when the rest of our family arrives in Chile to join him. He is likely to stay with family friends, but they have no children and I think he will be bored. Any suggestions for reputable programs for an American teen in Santiago area or boarding program elsewhere?

Send him up snowboarding for the 4 days, it’s the middle of the school year and winter, winter break for schools is in July, you may find something in the mountains but not much happening in Santiago. He may just need to hang out and absorb a bit of Chilean culture. Check the Nido they are not in classes in July and August and may have some sort of program.

yea, I had the same thought.

Buy him a 4 day lift ticket and a room at one of the hostile up near the ski resorts. Knowing how to snowboard or ski is optional. Guess you could also hook him up with a ski guide for lessons if you feel he needs supervision. At 14, he might never go home.

Guess it kinds of depends on how independent your kid is at that age. Some parents wont let their kids handle sharp objects at 14. I was getting in to and out of all sorts of trouble on my own just fine by 14, across most the western U.S. and parts of Mexico. My father went to a summer camp sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corp at age 15 in the Pacific, so he figured as long as I did not stumble in to a war zone before 15 I was doing better than him.

A few days at a ski resort, hardly dangerous.

Make sure he packs condoms.

gloriosopicante wrote:Make sure he packs condoms.

second that...

Yea, still the most dangerous thing around the ski resorts is the teenage Chilenas.

I think the kid isn't going to Chile at all now, you all scared the Mother wittless

nwdiver wrote:I think the kid isn't going to Chile at all now, you all scared the Mother wittless

haha totally!

nwdiver wrote:I think the kid isn't going to Chile at all now, you all scared the Mother wittless

Solved the original problem....

ok, so assuming you're probably not going to send your kid up to the slopes for 4 days solo, I don't think he'll need any special programs. If he has street smarts and can speak (chilean) spanish, he'll be able to explore the Santiago sights on his own a bit. That said, chileans are overprotective parents, so they probably won't let their gringo house guest who doesn't know the area out on his own too much. On the other hand, chilean friends are incredibly hospitable and generous. They will cook great feasts and take pride in showing your son their favourite places and in fact showing him off to their other friends. He will be well looked after, even if it is not the kind of things he necessarily wants to be doing.