One of the wisest things my dad did when I was considering what to do for the summer in high school was to tell me I could focus on schoolwork in school, but that I should take the opportunity to really experience life on my summers. I ended up going to a horseback riding camp one year, and a "pioneer wilderness" camp another year to learn homesteading skills. And, yes, one year I did go to a camp sponsored by our local engineering school ... because I was considering attending that school.