While you must be 16 to solo an airplane, and 17 to license, you only need to be 14 to solo a glider, and 16 for pilot certificate...can add airplane later. A great way to get into aviation and learn to "fly a wing" without the distraction of that noisy fire hazard bolted to the aircraft(engine).
see:
Soaring Society of America, the source for Gliding in the USA
click on "where to fly" to find out if there is a soaring operation
near you.
It is pure fun recreation, with the advantage that if he decides aviation is for him, he'll already have a leg up on the process, and if not, he'll have a great off-work pastime.....