The Silver Screen Oasis

I realize that Wikipedia is hardly the most reliable source on the planet, but: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junior_Nat ... Conference

From the few other sites I perused, probably the same ones you saw, my impression is: it can be a valuable personal experience, but don't expect it to have value in terms of college admission or resume building.

Like the Academy Awards, the real honor is in being nominated.

This is a for-profit company and IMHO, as someone who works at a university, it's a scam. You'd be better off spending the money taking the family on a well-planned trip to DC yourself.

Anne, my two cents worth is this:
The world as we know it today is a scary place for ADULTS, and an eleven year old girl has no business being in it without a trusted family member to help guide her through it. Paula says scam, I say SCARY.

It's a scary scam!

Throw that letter into the recycling bin.

absolutely!!!! And, the more I thought about it, I should have said an eleven year old CHILD.

Anne, our children go for a week at the end of junior school aged 11, they go with plenty of teachers and go as a class together to a retreat, even then some parents demure to send their children. I wouldn't feel happy to send either of my children when they are 11. Hope it helps.

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Thank you to all of you. I didn't mean to make it sound as if we were sending her off alone, although re-reading it, it certainly sounds like it. No, her dad would definitely go along, but he's checking now about sleeping arrangements. Those of us who have attended seminars, know that they are what you make them. If you go with the intention of listening and learning, they can be very good and helpful. If you go with the intention of having a week away from Mom and Dad, that is a different thing. Yes, I probably read the same search info that you did, Chio, and I do get the impression that those who wanted to learn did so, but those who expected parties all night were disappointed.

Thank you so much for your responses. You have been very kind.

It's hard to know you HAVE to hurt your beloved little gal's feelings because a letter like that seems like such a proud thing especially such a well behaved child as she, who rarely needs any kind of rebuke, so is not used to being denied much.[/color]

I hope it all turns out alright in the end, Anne. Children are very resilient, if you take the decision not to let her go her father could compensate her in some other way that would help towards her education and development.