Directory of Online Resources
 

Programs by Academic Subject Area
(click on a chart below)

• Summer Science Programs
• Summer Art History Programs
• Summer Community Service Programs
• Summer English Literature Programs
• Summer History Programs
• Summer Language Programs
• Summer Math Programs
• Summer Music Programs
• Summer Drama Programs
• Summer Art Programs

Robert Kennedy's Private School Guide
http://privatexchool.about.com/mbody.htm

College Admission Guide
a great source to learn about college admissions
Click here for the website

International Student
www.internationalstudent.com

Institute of International Education
This site offers a basic fact handbook on international travel.
www.iie.org/svcs/bfacts
 

National Registration Center for Study Abroad
Study abroad programs for teens are ranked and evaluated.
www.nrcsa.com
 

Peterson’s – Study Abroad Channel
Resources for U.S. students wishing to study abroad.  Includes detailed information on summer study programs.
www.petersons.com/summerop/
 

Study Abroad
A database for finding information on international study programs for high school students.
www.studyabroad.com/high_school_menu.html
 

Study Abroad Handbook
A guide book for parents and students on how to evaluate and select quality programs abroad.
www.studyabroad.com/handbook/handbook.html
 

Transitions Abroad
Transitions Abroad publishes a travel magazine for students and also has a Web site which offers a special selection of study and travel programs for high school students.
www.transabroad.com

Health and Safety Abroad
The sites below give up to date information on safety, travel warnings and medical issues facing students and U.S. citizens traveling overseas.
http://travel.state.gov/acs.html
http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html

The publications and web sites listed represent a sampling of resources that will provide a good start to your summer program search.  Please note that by using the keywords “Summer Programs for high school students” you will find additional helpful sites. 

Publications
 

Advisory List of International Educational Travel & Exchange Programs
This is a publication put out by The Council on Standards for International Education Travel CSIET).  The Advisory List includes only those programs that have been evaluated and found to be in compliance with CSIET Standards (published annually, $15). Telephone for order: 703-739-9050 
 

The High-School Student’s Guide to Study, Travel, & Adventure Abroad.
St. Martin’s Press New York

Published by the Council on International Educational Exchange. CIEE is one of the foremost organizations focusing on international education and student travel programs.

 

Peterson’s Summer Opportunities for Kids and Teenagers
Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s  Guides
A large comprehensive book covering all types of summer opportunities for high school students. Specialized directories in the back of the book make it easy to locate areas of interest.
 

Peterson’s Summer Fun Travel & International Programs
Princeton, NJ: Peterson’s Guides.
This guide focuses on travel programs in the U.S. and abroad. 

Schwebel, Sara
Yale Daily News Guide to Summer Programs
New York: Simon & Schuster, 2000.
Includes detailed information on more than 500 programs. Especially helpful is the index in the back which lists programs by subject area, cost of program, location of program and duration of program. 

Topaz, Muriel and Carole Everett, The Princeton Review Guide to Performing Arts Programs.  New York: Random House, Inc.
Carol Everett, is the former Director of Admissions to the Juilliard School and  Muriel Topaz is the Senior Editor of Dance Magazine.  Their information on summer arts programs and how to apply for them is extremely detailed and helpful.

Most summer programs publish brochures and maintain web sites that answer many of the questions listed below.  However, do not hesitate to ask directors to explain those questions for which the answers are not clear. 

Important Questions To Ask Directors of Summer Programs
 

About students
 

	How many students are there in the program?
	What is the ratio of boys to girls ( generally summer programs have more girls than boys)
	What is the age range of participants and how are the students grouped according to age?
	How many foreign students are in the program and where do they come from?
	What parts of the U.S. do participants come from?
	Are the students screened in any way?  (Is a teacher recommendation or essay required?)
	How can you contact previous participants? (Many programs publish lists of participants in their brochures)

About the staff

	How many adults and group leaders?
	What is the student/ leader ratio?
	If your program is in a foreign country, how many of the leaders speak the language of that country?
	What are the credentials of the chaperons group leaders and/or teachers?  (Many programs publish the resumes of their staff).
	How old are the group leaders and other staff members (They should be at least college graduates in order to have the maturity to supervise teen-agers).

About Supervision
 

	What kind of supervision is provided in the living quarters?
	What are the rules and how are they enforced? (Be sure to ask how many students are sent home each year for breaking rules. Then ask what rules were broken. You need to understand the reasons for student dismissals and this varies greatly with each program. You don’t want a program that is too permissive, but you may not want a program that is totally inflexible and rigid).
	Are there room checks? When? By whom?
	How is free time handled?

About traveling programs or ones in foreign countries
 

	How far does the group travel in any one day?
	How does the group travel from one site to another? (bus, car, train, plane, bicycles)
	What kinds of living accommodations are used: hotels, tents, dorms, youth hostels, or homestays?
	If homestays are involved, is the family paid to do this?
	How are homestay families screened?

About the Program Director
 

	How long has the program director had that position?
	Who is ultimately in charge of all decisions made?
	How can you contact the program director?
	Is the program director always available to his/her staff during the duration of the summer program? (Some directors are not available to their staff and you need to know this answer)
	If the program director is not available, what is the chain of command?

About Communication
 

	How can you communicate with your child?
	Are there restrictions on calls?
	Is Email possible?
	How will your child call home? Calling card, pre-paid phone card or collect?
	For trips in more remote locations, what kind of communication is setup to handle emergencies?
	Do group leaders have cell phones and is there someone in charge at the main office to give advice?

About Money
 

	How much spending money?
	What is best? Traveler’s checks, cash, ATM card or credit card?
	What if the student runs out of money (or loses money or is robbed?)
	What are regulations on how money is spent?

About Medical Emergencies
 

	How are medical emergencies are handled – especially in more remote areas.
	How are hospitals and doctors selected in foreign countries?
	Find out how your personal insurance covers your traveling student.
	Will parents be notified if an emergency arises?
	Can a student rejoin the group if he/she needs to leave the group for several days due to a medical injury and how will this be handled?

Always try to talk directly to the program director of the summer program you have selected. A program director should be willing to talk to you! The director is the one who can give you the most accurate answers to questions. It is extremely important to invest the time in checking out the program you have selected. You can not rely on glossy brochures and videos of programs. You also need to call previous participants and their parents and ask a lot of questions before you sign up for the program.

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Resources for Educators              Resource Guide for Students and Parents