I believe the summer institutes "sustain" my kids through the drudgery of the school year. Some of you are lucky to have great programs available locally that are inexpensive, but we don't. It has been very worthwhile for my kids. Even my non-social oldest DS keeps in touch with friends he's met from all over the world at these institutes. His long-distance friends inspire him when they get into Princeton or Yale, as opposed to local kids who don't have such high aspirations. He also has continued to research the topics of his institutes online, in magazines, books--it didn't stop with the summer; the classes helped pique his interest further.
