How to safely cut the apron strings

My son had never been away from home before. He'll be 12 in October and he had never once been "on his own" without at least one family member around. He was nervous. God knows I was nervous. And yet, after family orientation, that all changed. Envision runs a tight ship. They have multiple things in place to ensure the safety of the children in their care, and to put parents like me at ease. My kid had the best time of his life. Whatever nerves he had were gone by the time I went to say goodbye for the week just like mine were. He came back more confident in his own abilities because he was allowed room to grow in a laid back, yet no less effective environment. He had to rely on himself and his roommates to be punctual and responsible for his own things. He's more independent. He doesn't question his reactions to things as much. He made friends that he's still keeping in touch with. I can't recommend this program enough. It really was the best thing for him, and is an experience he will carry for a lifetime. I got a week's vacation knowing that my child was in the very best of hands. Every concern and question raised was addressed and I would do it all again in a heartbeat.

A Fantastic Experience- Excellent Program

Our 10 yr old son was nominated to attend the Envision Pathways to STEM camp this summer. It was very well organized, had plenty of curriculum and content for a solid week of learning but didn't feel like school. He had opportunities to do things he will likely not get through public school and by attending the camp he is now an alumni and can attend any of the offered programs. It was worth the money, the Envision team was very easy to work with and our son had a very positive experience. It boosted his confidence, taught him about leadership, goal setting and allowed him to interact with kids from other states and backgrounds.

NYLF: Medicine Review for future parents

My teenager attended the Youth Leadership Forum: Medicine program. He was honored to be selected for this prestigious experience. The program advisors were informative, pleasant and catered to my son's interests. The event was 10 days. He traveled independently to Washington DC where he was greeted by the Envisions staff and safely transported to the Maryland campus. The program curriculum was fully loaded with lectures, medical experiences, mentors who advised them and took them on a tour of the city. Each day I was informed of his agenda by email and text. My son was roomed with another student who supported him and they enjoyed the day's activities with many other students. When I spoke with my son after each evening, he responded with excitement, new experiences and friendships. As a parent, I would highly recommend this program to anyone's high schooler who is looking to enrich their learning and future leadership. Kudos to the who Envision team!

Overall great experience and would recommend to anyone

The workshops and group projects were lots of fun and opened my eyes to the many engineering fields. Although I'm not one for formal dress everyday, I appreciated the requirement because it made the "conference" more independent and, without a better word, formal. I will never forget this experience and I hope anybody that gets the option to go would go.

Great experience!

From registration to pick up everything went very smoothly. My child had a great time and made many good friends. There were many adult counsellors who made the experience safe and engaging! An excellent program!