What happens when your child hits that “middle ground” when they’ve outgrown the typical summer camp scene but still need worthwhile activities and adult supervision during the summer?

Good news!

According to Theresa Torrone, a volunteer for the American Camp Association , “There are many summer camps designed exclusively older kids and teenagers.That's good news because many parents feel like their teenagers are in a type of no-man's-land: Too old for summer camp and too young to find a job. But there are lots of summer camps that are very appropriate for older kids and teenagers. In fact, these types of summer programs are growing in popularity each year."

Despite popular misconception, there are as many day camps suitable for older kids as sleepaway camps. You just have to know where to find them.

Of course, asking your friends for a referral is a good place to start. Perhaps you know someone with an older child or teenager who's attended a summer camp in the past and can recommend one.

The Internet is another a good place to start your camp search. Just enter “summer camps for teens” into Google and you might be pleasantly surprised at what you see.

Just offhand, we can tell you we typed "summer camps for teens,"1,670,000seach results came back. That's almost 1.7 million!

Once you've narrowed down your search for camps that interest you, run your selections by your child. We always suggest involving your child in the camp selection process because research indicates kids have a better time at camp when they've been involved in choosing one.

In addition, never rely simply on a referral from a friend of a simple internet search. Make sure you conduct your own due diligence to find the best camp for your older camper. But at least you know you’ve got summer potentially great opportunities for your teenager to have a safe, fun summer this year!

Copyright Eric Naftulin and Aloha Beach Camp . All rights reserved.