Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Minds Abroad: Study, Volunteer and Travel in Asia



TITLE OF PROGRAM: Minds Abroad: Study, Volunteer and Travel in Asia

WHO: Minds Abroad is a US based organization that conducts study abroad programs in Asia for both individual students and customized groups from colleges and universities. We were recently named as a “Top 10 Program in Citizen Diplomacy” by the Center for Citizen Diplomacy and U.S. State Department.

WHAT: Our programs contain the following components:
  • Small Sized Morning Mandarin Classes that are offered by highly experienced teachers of the faculty of our university partner
  • Afternoon Volunteering at local NGOs, Internships at offices or Structured Language Exchange with local students
  • Weekend Travel to places of academic interest from Beijing and Shanghai in the East, to the more 'typical ' Chinese city of Kunming in China's heartland, to small villages and towns in the Chinese Himalayas.
WHERE: Beijing, Shanghai and Yunnan Province, China's most diverse province and Lonely Planet's top choice in China.

WHEN: From June through to August

APPLICATION DEADLINE: At least sixty days prior to the program’s commencement  

FOR MORE INFORMATION: For more information on these programs, please visit MindsAbroad.com

EMAIL FOR INFORMATION: info@mindsabroad.com

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE: Yes, inquire for more details.

NAME OF PROGRAM: Summer Study+Travel Programs

SHORT SUMMARY OF PROGRAM:  These programs combine morning Mandarin classes and constructive afternoon activities including language exchange with local students, volunteering or serious internships at local NGOs and offices as well as weekend travel to places of academic interest in and around Yunnan.  


Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Headwaters Outdoors School


WHO: High school students
WHAT: outdoor school
WHERE: various classes, but many near or at Mt Shasta
WHEN: all year round, but many in the summer, especially Nature Awareness in early July
APPLICATION DEADLINE: see website because it depends on class calendar
FOR MORE INFO: www.hwos.com 
FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE: yes

NAME OF PROGRAM: Nature Awareness Class, Marble Mountains 
SHORT SUMMARY OF PROGRAM: I took an 8-9 day trip in the Marble Mountains (west of Mt Shasta, almost Oregon) in 2007 and loved every minute of it. Gorgeous location up in old growth forest, learning about edible plants, sustainable camping, camouflaging, connecting with nature in new ways, exploring your own awareness, and much more. It was a group of about 30 ranging from 14-60 I think, but a terrific group led by an expert team of people, especially Tim Corcoran. Good food, incredible scenery, seeing bears in the morning, hearing owls at night. Not a backpacking trip or an Outward Bound "conquering nature" kind of class at all, but an immersive experience to bring you closer to the natural world. Well worth it, and many of the students went straight onto the Wilderness Skills class the next day. Pack mules take the gear in, you backpack out at the end, but otherwise stay in a single camp in the basin of a beautiful valley.

Submitted by Brad Niven

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Looking for more programs?


Check out Enrichment Alley (http://enrichmentalley.com/).
This is a comprehensive search engine site!

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Oxbridge Programs Academia de Espana


WHO:  Students in 8th to 11th grade
WHAT:  Study and live in Spain (dormitory)
WHERE: Barcelona, Spain (Oxbridge offers courses in other areas as well)
WHEN:  Summer
APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Spring
FOR MORE INFO:  www.oxbridgeprograms.com
EMAIL FOR INFO info@oxbridgeprograms.com or 212-932-3049
FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE: Yes (Scholarship deadline 3/1/13)

NAME OF PROGRAM:  La Academia de España
SHORT SUMMARY OF PROGRAM La Academia de España is an academic program for students in grades 10-12 held in The Residencia Universitària Josep Manyanet, a university residence in an upscale residential area of Barcelona, Spain.
There are almost twenty courses available, including courses in English, such as Barcelona and Modern Culture, Global Medicine, and International Politics, and in Spanish, such as Spanish Language, España en el cine, and La Guerra y las artes.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

College Impressions Recommendations

This is a list of summer programs all hosted on college campuses.  The list is compiled by the College Impressions Newsletter.  Click the link below to see their college program recommendations.

Recommendation List

Adventures Cross Country


Logan Holloway
Class of: 2013
Name of Program: Adventures Cross Country
When you did the program: July 3- August 1
Location: Southern Europe: Italy, Switzerland, and France
Type of Program: Travel, Multi-sport leadership program
Short Summary: For one month I went on an amazing trip to Southern Europe where I visited famous places such as the Vatican, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Rome, Paris, and the country side of Switzerland. While on this adventure, I sea kayaked, backpacked 72 miles in the Alps, river kayaked, and white water rafted. The trip guides are eccentric and absolutely wonderful. If you are looking for a trip that has fantastic views of mountains, visits to ancient historical sights of which you have only learned about in class, and experiencing new cultures, then you should seriously look into this trip. I highly recommend looking at the Adventures Cross country (also known as ARCC) website as they provide trips to all over the world, ranging from Multi-sport leaderships, Community service trips, and Gap years. I also did a community service trip to Costa Rica with ARCC which also was absolutely amazing too. If you have any questions or would like to talk more contact me at Jholloway@bayschoolsf.org.
About how many kids were in the program? 20
Who were the adults and what role did they play in your experience? There were 2 adults and they were our guide leaders. They were the ones who made sure the trip progressed and made sure everything was going well.
How much free time did you have and what did you do with it? I would say around 1 to 2 hours after a big day of activities or hiking. We would usually rest or talk with each other.
Did you have room and board or a home stay in another country? Yes, in Europe we would stay in Refugios which are basically family owned houses scattered throughout the Alps. The Refugios are nice places to sleep and they offer really good meals. As for the sleeping arrangement, lots of times in a Refugio there will be what we call a chicken coop. Basically, all the beds would be lined up next to each other and you would have bunk beds.
What were the other students in your program like and how were the relationships that you formed? I felt like our group bonded very well in that we were all working and socializing together. Everyone had a shared goal which was to have the most enjoyable time in Europe.
What kinds of activities, social events, and trips were organized for the students? Every day we would have circle meetings which took place before breakfast, and after dinner. Also, throughout the trip our guide leaders had us play fun group games like the human knot and birdy on the perch.
If you had academic classes or homework, how many hours a day did you spend on schoolwork? No homework or schoolwork.
About how much of your own money do you think you spent on gifts, food, transportation and other things not provided by the program? About $200 (mostly on souvenirs)
Did you have a curfew? If so, what time? I got to be in bed by 10 pm
How organized was the program? How much flexibility was there with the agendas? How much of a say did the students have in this? Well there was a set schedule for the trip to happen. As for flexibility, when doing a trip, the schedule had to have flexibility because things may not always go as planned. Often after the main activity of the day ended, our guide leaders would give us the option to go on additional hikes or go swimming in glacier water lakes (very cold). In addition, we would have a leader of the day which means each person from the group would lead for a day. This means waking up everybody in the morning, leading the group when hiking, and knowing where you are going on a hike. Of course, the guide leaders are there to help you if you get lost.
How was the food? Rate from 1-5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best): 4
What is at least one thing you would do to improve the program? I want Adventures Cross Country to offer trips to Australia where maybe we could scuba dive ect...
Who would you recommend this program to? Who would this program not be best suited to? I would recommend this program to people who love to travel and are willing to make new friends or meet new people. You have to be fit to some degree to do some of the activities. Although, on the trip we had a few girls who had bad knees and they were real troopers getting through the backpacking sections. Also, you have to have some degree of tolerance for foreign cultures and trying new foods.
Rate your overall experience (from 1 to 5): 5 (life-changing), 4 (great experience)
Other comments: I think my biggest takeaway was hiking 52 miles in the Alps. I remember standing at the border between Italy and Switzerland staring at the huge mountain before me. I had a wonderful time. I think Adventures Cross Country is one of the best outdoor programs available to go on trips around the world.


Rustic Pathways


Anna Shepard
Class of: 2013
Name of Program: Rustic Pathways
When you did the program: Summer 2012
Location: Ghana and Morocco
Type of Program: Travel, Home stay, Community Service
Short Summary: An existential and enlightening cultural experience that will change the way you view your country, other cultures and your own life. It was the most fun I have had in a while and you will make amazing memories.
About how many kids were in the program? 14
Who were the adults and what role did they play in your experience? There were young adults working with us. They were like friends who kept us safe.
How much free time did you have and what did you do with it? We had a reasonable amount of free time, which I spent running.
Did you have room and board or a home stay in another country? If so, what was your experience like? Yes there was room and board. It varied... it was pretty rural and Africa-y or somewhat posh.
What were the other students in your program like and how were the relationships that you formed? The students were very diverse and I formed really good friendships.
What kinds of activities, social events, and trips were organized for the students? We did everything from sitting on a crocodile, touring the largest markets and mosques, riding a camel into the Sahara desert, seeing giant African elephants, sand boarding, community service, and playing soccer. 
If you had academic classes or homework, how many hours a day did you spend on schoolwork? There was no academic work!
About how much of your own money do you think you spent on gifts, food, transportation and other things not provided by the program? About $300
Did you have a curfew? If so, what time? It depended on where we were but it’s generally not a good idea to walk around at night or independently in a foreign country where you don’t know the language.
How organized was the program? How much flexibility was there with the agendas? How much of a say did the students have in this? The program was pretty relaxed and we got to give a lot of input.
How was the food? Rate from 1-5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best): 3
What is at least one thing you would do to improve the program? Have better food.
Who would you recommend this program to? Who would this program not be best suited to?
I would recommend it to anybody who wants an adventure of a lifetime.
Rate your overall experience (from 1 to 5): 5 (life-changing)
Other comments: Go to Africa. You won’t regret it. The nicest people live there. Seriously. You will learn how to be happy independently of societal-defined success. 

Rassias Summer Language Program


Zachary Heller
Class of: 2014
Name of Program: Rassias Summer Language Program
When they did the program: Last Summer
Location: Cities in the South of Spain
Type of Program: Travel, Homestay, Spanish
Short Summary: The program consisted of lot of traveling and seeing tourist sites. It was fun for a while, but I got tired of seeing cathedral after cathedral.  By the second week we could explore the cities by ourselves, but we did not spend more than 2 to 4 days in each city. It was a fun Spanish Immersion program, but I did not learn very much actual Spanish; the classes were not taught very well and no one actually wanted to learn. Your experience is mainly defined by how active of a homestay family you get (mine never went anywhere, and we only saw each other at meals) and who the group is composed of.
About how many kids were in the summer program? 18
Who were the adults and what role did they play in your experience? There were two teachers who traveled with us, and the leader of the program who sometimes came in and talked.  We also had home stay parents.
How much free time did you have and what did you do with it? We did not have any free time at the beginning of the program, and too much free time at the end with the homestays. There were no activities in the cities besides bowling and watching movies in Spanish.
Did you have room and board or a home stay in another country? If so, what was your experience like? Yes, it was boring in the house, so I would walk around Segovia.
What were the other students in your program like and how were the relationships that you formed? A lot of them were cliquey and I did not know half of them because they would disappear into their small groups. I had about 3 really good friends and some good friends in the large group.
What kinds of activities, social events, and trips were organized for the students? Some activities we did were kayaking, movies, and a scavenger hunt.
If you had academic classes or homework, how many hours a day did you spend on schoolwork? There was a three hour program every morning during the last two weeks. The only homework that we had to do was to Google the paintings that we were going to see at museums.
About how much of your own money do you think you spent on gifts, food, transportation and other things not provided by the program? $200
Did you have a curfew? If so, what time? The curfew was 12:00, but many people stayed out later. Some even stayed out until 4 AM, but the leader of the program got really mad at them.
Did you have internet access? If so, how much time did you spend using it? Not at home, but when we were in hotels or in cafes we did.
How organized was the program? How much flexibility was there with the agendas? How much of a say did the students have in this? The program was very organized.
How was the food? Rate from 1-5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best) 3
What is at least one thing you would do to improve the program? I wish there was less scheduling and people who wanted to learn and not be disruptive.
Who would you recommend this program to? Who would this program not be best suited to?
I would recommend this program to people who want to have a good time in Spain and practice conversational Spanish. This is not a hardcore Spanish training program.
Rate your overall experience (from 1 to 5): 3 (average)

Joffrey West Dance Program


Kaiya Holtzman
Class of: 2014
Name of Program: Joffrey West Dance Program
When they did the program: July 2012
Location: Los Angeles, California
Type of Program: Dance
Short Summary: It was one of the best experiences I could have asked for. The program was inspiring, self-motivating, and helped me prepare for the future. My teachers and choreographers were incredible and I would absolutely recommend it to anyone who wants to dance professionally.
About how many kids were in the summer program? About 200
Who were the adults and what role did they play in your experience? The teachers were my motivation and my inspiration. My favorite teacher was Mia Michaels from the show So You Think You Can Dance because she made me grow as a person and as a dancer. It was more than I could have asked for.
How much free time did you have and what did you do with it? I had my Saturday and Sunday free. My dorm had field trips planned every weekend and if we didn’t do that, we would go shopping. After classes we would watch movies and stretch or sew Pointe shoes.
Did you have room and board or a home stay in another country? If so, what was your experience like? We stayed in college dorms and there were two meals provided for us a day.
What were the other students in your program like and how were the relationships that you formed? Most of the other students were overly competitive and maybe even rude, but I made about 6 friends that I would consider some of my closest friends ever!
What kinds of activities, social events, and trips were organized for the students? We went to Universal studios, we went on a tour of Hollywood, we went shopping, and we went to the beach.
About how much of your own money do you think you spent on gifts, food, transportation and other things not provided by the program? I spent about $200 of my own money on groceries or clothing/gifts to bring home.
Did you have a curfew? If so, what time? We had to be in the dorms by 9:00 on weeknights and 10:00 on weekends but we had to be inside our rooms by 11:00-12:00.
Did you have internet access? If so, how much time did you spend using it? We had internet access but most of the time spent on the computer was to watch a movie at night with my friends.
How organized was the program? How much flexibility was there with the agendas? How much of a say did the students have in this? The program was very organized and the agendas were strict with time and place. The students had almost no say, but the program was in preparation for being in a professional company so it was understandable.
How was the food? Rate from 1-5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best) 3 or 4
What is at least one thing you would do to improve the program? The studio and dorms should be closer to one another.
What was your biggest takeaway from the experience/what will you most remember? I cannot say just one thing that I took away from my experience, but overall I think I learned to really be myself in everything that I do.
Who would you recommend this program to? Who would this program not be best suited to?
This program is good for very serious dancers who plan on dancing well into their future.
Rate your overall experience (from 1 to 5): 5 (life-changing)

Phillips Academy Andover Summer Session


Your Name: Anni Wen
Class of: 2014
Program: Phillips Academy Andover Summer Session
When you did the program: Summer of 2012

Summary: Phillips Academy Andover Summer Session is a five-week summer program in which students take two core classes of their choice (I took Writing for Success as well as a class on International Relations). In addition to these two classes. Students can take an optional SAT Prep course.
In the afternoons, students interact through sports. Throughout the five weeks, the dorms on campus house more than 600 students from 50 different countries. On weekends, students can take trips to Boston, which is less than an hour away by bus or train. On Wednesdays, students have the option to visit different colleges in Massachusetts, Connecticut, or Rhode Island.
About how many kids were in your summer program?  more than 600
Who were the adults and what role did they play in your experience? The adults are your house counselors and teachers. House counselors played the role of your friends who made sure you are having fun and adapting to the new environment away from home.
How much free time did you have and what did you do with it? Classes were only in the morning, so in the afternoon, there were optional college counseling program which I was actively involved in. On weekends, I went to Boston with friends or stayed on campus Saturday nights to attend dances. There is an 11 PM curfew on Saturdays and 9:30PM curfew on Sunday-Friday.
Did you have room and board or a home stay in another country? If so, what was your experience like? I lived in on-campus dorms and had an awesome roommate from another country. We became best friends and would tell each other about everything that happened. My neighbors also came from different parts of the world, but despite our differences, we had a great time and even chatted through the night!
What were the other students in your program like and how were the relationships that you formed? Students in my program were from all over the world! Imagine living in an environment so diverse that you hear multiple different languages being spoken at once. We learned from each other and everyone brought a piece of their culture to share.
What kinds of activities, social events, and trips were organized for the students? Boston trips, water parks, beach hang-outs, movies, shopping mall, college visits, Saturday night dances, game shows, and many more were offered!
If you had academic classes or homework, how many hours a day did you spend on schoolwork? 3-4 hours per night. Every minute you spend in class is equal to the amount of the homework you'll receive that night. That's the summer session policy.
About how much of your own money do you think you spent on gifts, food, transportation and other things not provided by the program? $400, mainly on weekend trips.
Did you have a curfew? If so, what time? 11PM on Saturdays. 9:30PM from Sun-Fri.
Did you have internet access? If so, how much time did you spend using it? Yes, but it shuts down at 12PM to make sure students get enough sleep.
How organized was the program? How much flexibility was there with the agendas? How much of a say did the students have in this? Very organized, but students did not have much say in the program since it was all organized before we got there. We did get to take class surveys.
How was the food? Rate from 1-5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best) 5
What is at least one thing you would do to improve the program? I think that classes should be mixed grades.
What was your biggest take away from the experience/what will you most remember? I learned to appreciate other people's differences and experienced what life is like away from home.
Who would you recommend this program to? Who would this program not be best suited to? I would recommend this program for anyone that is interested in challenging themselves with 3-4 hours of homework per night during the summer. I would also recommend this program to those who are looking for diverse place to learn. This program would not be best suited for those who want to get a home stay or community service experience.
Rate your overall experience: 5 (life-changing)


Blue Bridge Project


WHO:  High School Students
WHAT:  Live abroad program involving community service.
WHERE: Nicaragua, Madagascar or Peru
WHEN:  Summer
APPLICATION DEADLINE:  Spring
FOR MORE INFO www.bluebridgeproject.com

EMAIL FOR INFOinfo@bluebridgeproject.com

FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE: Yes

NAME OF PROGRAM:  Blue Bridge Project
SHORT SUMMARY OF PROGRAM:  Blue Bridge Project is the only high school volunteer abroad program that exposes students to global development issues through hands-on service and post-trip reflection. After the summer volunteer program, we help students apply their experiences through individualized guidance and support them on their journey to become the leaders of tomorrow.

California State Summer School of the Arts


Rebecca King
Class of: 2014
Name of Program: California State Summer School of the Arts
When they did the program: July 14th- August 10th 2012
Location: California Institute of the Arts in Valencia, Los Angeles
Type of Program: Arts
Short Summary: Highly intensive visual arts program in which high school students took advantage of workshops, famous artists/talented professors, and majors/minors of their choice for college credit. Students refined their skills as fine artists and learned the craft of new instruments to expand their repertoire. I highly recommend it. 

Overland Summers


Your Name: Amalia Maric
Class of: 2015
Name of Program: Overland Summers
When you did the program: Summers of 2010, 2011, 2012
Location: Worldwide (office based in New England)
Link: http://www.overlandsummers.com/

Summary: Overland offers hiking, biking, community service, language immersion, and writing programs all around the world for people ages 10-18.  There are different trips for different grades/ages and challenge level. I have done 3 biking trips with overland and they have been the most incredible and rewarding experiences I have ever had. Each trip has 2-4 different sections, and is compromised of 12 kids (a 6:6, 7:5, or 8:4 ratio between boys and girls) and two college-aged leaders, always one male and one female. Through Overland, I have met some of the best friends I have ever had, challenged myself, and develop leadership skills and learn more about myself. I encourage anyone who either wants to physically or mentally challenge themselves, or broaden their horizons and knowledge of the world to go on an Overland trip next summer!

About how many kids were in your summer program?  12
Who were the adults and what role did they play in your experience? There are two leaders; one male and one female. In my experience on the biking trips, the leaders play a vital role in encouraging everyone to stay positive and not to let challenges (biking up a huge hill, excessive amounts of rain) to defeat us. These two 21 year old leaders are in charge of the safety of 12 teenagers.
How much free time did you have and what did you do with it? It depends. On the more difficult Overland trips (all trips are rated between a 1-10, ten being the hardest), there is less free time, but on the easier trips (i.e biking trips that don't do more than 45 miles a day), there is more free time because you can get to your next campsite earlier and have more free time there
Did you have room and board or a home stay in another country? If so, what was your experience like? On the biking and hiking trips, no. The hiking and biking trips camp out in tents, and are fully self-contained (no van support- you carry everything you bring + group gear and food on your back/bike) The community service and language immersion trips stay in dorms (I believe the language trips in Spain and France home stay with a family).   Overland trips take place world wide- there are trips in the US, Europe, Central and South America, Africa, and Asia.

What were the other students in your program like and how were the relationships that you formed? Each trip, I have made some of the best friends I ever had in my entire life just by spending 2-4 weeks (each trip is a different length, depending on the trips difficulty level) with them. Since the groups are so small and everyone is working together (teamwork and selflessness is required of all Overland participants) you become a "family" with your group
What kinds of activities, social events, and trips were organized for the students? There is always a celebratory dinner at a restaurant at the end of each trip.

If you had academic classes or homework, how many hours a day did you spend on schoolwork? I believe that the writing and language immersion programs do their academic work in the morning, and after lunch go on hikes and spend time outdoors
About how much of your own money do you think you spent on gifts, food, transportation and other things not provided by the program? Overland says $25/ a week. Another thing about Overland: Since it is a group experience, we weren’t allowed to buy your own food, and you pretty much are doing your own transportation as a group. Most people bring money to mail letters home, get more toiletries, and souveniers)
Did you have a curfew? If so, what time? Depends on the trip; for instance, if you are on the American Challenge (the hardest trip, biking 3,000 miles from Georgia to LA in 6 weeks, averaging 80 miles a day), you pretty much wake up at 5 in the morning at go to bed at 6:30 at night.... but most trips wake up around 7 and bed time is closer to 10-11 at night

Did you have internet access? If so, how much time did you spend using it? No technology is permitted at Overland and it is often unaccesable.

How organized was the program? How much flexibility was there with the agendas? How much of a say did the students have in this? The trips are very organized and goal-oriented- you can't be that flexible if you have to bike 70 miles to your next campsite before it gets dark- again, the agendas depend on the difficulty level of the trip- easier trips allow for more free time. But then again, the more challenging trips are extremely rewarding and fun.

How was the food? Rate from 1-5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best) 3
What is at least one thing you would do to improve the program?

What was your biggest takeaway from the experience/what will you most remember? Being able to bike from Seattle to San Francisco. It was the most physically and mentally challenging experiences I have ever had, but it is my greatest accomplishment (so far) and the lessons I learned on the trip helped shape my character.

Who would you recommend this program to? Who would this program not be best suited to? I recommend Overland to anyone that wants to physically and or mentally challenge themselves, or wants to broaden their horizons and knowledge of the world. Overland is best suited for people that are healthy and fit, open-minded, and want to venture out of their comfort zone.

Rate your overall experience: 4.5
Any last thoughts: Registration starts in November- most trips fill up by the end of January so sign up soon! You can request a catalog online, or like their Facebook page for more information