I've played football since I was six years old. After three years of Pop Warner, I grew too big to play in the league, and I was left with no other sport to play that I enjoyed. I had nothing to help me stay in shape, which was important to me, but not an easy thing to do on my own.

You take in the bones of your new room, the small, white-walled sanctuary that offers all that a bedroom should: a bed, a desk and chair, as well as a door that locks. On the other side of that door, your door, is your sudden family, a soup of different people, of different cultures, from different places. Behind that door, you have one grandmother, a supervisor, wise and kind, a solid frame of experience. There are 15 nieces and nephews, day students, if you will; you don’t see them often, but you know them, you still look after them when the time calls for it. Seven spouses, other RAs, people you might never have met before, whom you now work with, live with, rely on, and trust. And of course, 64 kids, pre-teen to teens, dorm students, your charges, the children of summer, the ones you will watch over and protect, to keep safe and ensure their fun.

Right when the clock hits 8 a.m., the final rush of boarders and day students enter their classrooms for the day to start. Depending on which of three two-hour courses they have first, they pull out their materials that will help them conquer the challenges thrown at them, whether it be their hands to mold clay or the CSI kits filled with lights and powder to uncover fingerprints. There’s almost an endless stream of activities in a student’s day at Hawaiʻi Preparatory Academy’s Summer Session.

The programs offered at summer boarding schools are as diverse as each school. Most boarding schools go to great lengths to develop educational, yet fun programs for students and have formed some tantalizing educational options from whichto choose. When your child attends a summer program, you can be assured that it’s meaningful and well-designed, as well as designed to challenge your son or daughter on many levels during their unique journey through life.

Every classroom eventually takes on the aspects of a unique environment, thanks to the combined personalities of the teachers and students who use it over the years. But how many classrooms are already so unique, so rich in history, natural wonders, and educational opportunities that the location itself takes academics far beyond the average level?

Summertime can mean wonderful summer boarding school programs for many middle and high school children from around the world. What could be better than spending several weeks in a beautiful location, immersing oneself in the local culture and environment while learning about exciting technological developments, various ecological systems and taking international foodie tours? These programs and more offer a special opportunity for children approaching their entry into grades 6 through 8 or 9 through 12.

Summer is a time when students the world over love to break free from their traditional classrooms and participate in a variety of activities. For many, summer provides the perfect opportunity to live independently at a boarding school in another state or country. If a few benefits include being able to climb the snowy peaks of Mauna Kea, scuba dive in the Pacific Ocean, and watch the active lava flow at Kilauea, so much the better!