My problem seems to be that DS is not expressing that he needs something - but he tends not to - and while I do rate being outdoors as very important. I'm struggling with whether his intellectual needs aren't being met as he isn't getting to discuss or do science with anyone but us.
! But he is only 7 - does he need it now? Part of the no is that they do a lot of work on school and I want him to be more unschooled in summer. What concerns me is putting him in something that is the same level as what he is getting which would drive him insane.
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My ds20 also didn't complain about school being boring, but after about a year in college, he finally opened up and shared how bored he had been during his school years, even when he was placed in an accelerated program because it just wasn't accelerated enough.
My point is that some kids don't talk about their problems, but a parent can spot the signs, which is probably why you took the time to post on this forum, right? If he doesn't have any friends to do science stuff with, which is his #1 interest, I would take that as a sign that he needs your help. Summer camps are only one of the ways to meet friends. (My ds20 also hated it when summer camps turned out to be below his level, so I suggest you find out exactly what they are going to teach.)
I think Mensa is available for kids starting at age 7, for example.
How I found a "science stuff" buddy for my dd11: When my dd11 was 8 yo, I was teaching in a school where a kid showed up mid-year. The homeroom teacher said this student had serious writing problems, but she seemed so intelligent when she talked to me, so I became intrigued. I got permission to give her a reading test and she was able to answer reading comprehension questions at least 3 years beyond her grade level! (Found out from the head teacher later that he was judging her by her spelling and handwriting!!) I brought her to the next highest grade math class and she understood everything and could work out the problems that the teacher gave in class. I quickly made friends with her parents, who are also very bright and a lot of fun, and we started visiting each others' homes. To our delight, the kids hit it off and on their first playdate, they told us they would go out of the room and wanted one of us to touch an item. They would then fingerprint us and figure out who "committed the crime." Now they do all kinds of things together, including tennis and violin.
Another option is to find a mentor. I think there is a website to match up mentors with children. But probably it's just as effective to start letting everyone you know in on that you are looking for someone who wants to guide your son in science activities.
I just found a mentor for my dd11 when I visited my former math professor from college, with her in tow. Instead of chatting with me, he started giving her math problems to solve. 3 hours later, we had a list of math problems and his offer to continue to send her problems as she solved those!
I don't mean to make it sound like I'm so lucky. We still have tons of challenges with our dd11 being bored in school and being barraged with homework. But at least she has a respite from it all with her science buddy and math mentor.
Best wishes to you and keep trying until you help your little guy find some good friends!