People to People Student Ambassador Program?????
Norma
I've been receiving a bunch of phone calls lately from folks who have
received letters announcing that their homeschooled child has been
selected to be a Student Ambassador to such-and-such a place (all
different places in different letters). The letter states that a
teacher usually recommends these students for this "honor." Folks
called me because I maintain my state teaching certification just so
I can do home ed portfolio assessments for those who choose that as
their annual assessment method. They wondered if I had sent in their
child's name.
I had never heard of this program. I looked them up online and found
this URL for the main web site: http://www.studentambassadors.org/
And I found a whole bunch of side sites for Art Ambassadors, Sports
Ambassadors, all kinds of ambassadors. This seems to be a real wide
attack advertising blitz program. I also found something about loans
for Student Ambassadors, but only found one site that talked about
four $500 scholarships available each year.
This has me very curious. Does anyone know anything about this
program? Has anyone else received these kinds of letters promoting
these programs? Or indicating that their child has been chosen? Has
anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Or known someone who has? I
would like to find some real information about this to put out to
folks in our home ed community before they spend thousands of dollars
to send their kids off to another country on one of these programs.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
Norma
received letters announcing that their homeschooled child has been
selected to be a Student Ambassador to such-and-such a place (all
different places in different letters). The letter states that a
teacher usually recommends these students for this "honor." Folks
called me because I maintain my state teaching certification just so
I can do home ed portfolio assessments for those who choose that as
their annual assessment method. They wondered if I had sent in their
child's name.
I had never heard of this program. I looked them up online and found
this URL for the main web site: http://www.studentambassadors.org/
And I found a whole bunch of side sites for Art Ambassadors, Sports
Ambassadors, all kinds of ambassadors. This seems to be a real wide
attack advertising blitz program. I also found something about loans
for Student Ambassadors, but only found one site that talked about
four $500 scholarships available each year.
This has me very curious. Does anyone know anything about this
program? Has anyone else received these kinds of letters promoting
these programs? Or indicating that their child has been chosen? Has
anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Or known someone who has? I
would like to find some real information about this to put out to
folks in our home ed community before they spend thousands of dollars
to send their kids off to another country on one of these programs.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
Norma
[email protected]
Norma,
We know some people who o have gone on these trips. They seem to be good but
expensive. They are fairly well structured and supervised. At least I have
heard good reports from the two families that I used to know who sent their
kids (this was a while back when my older son was in PS) We have never been
able to afford this kind of experience.
Beth
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
We know some people who o have gone on these trips. They seem to be good but
expensive. They are fairly well structured and supervised. At least I have
heard good reports from the two families that I used to know who sent their
kids (this was a while back when my older son was in PS) We have never been
able to afford this kind of experience.
Beth
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Norma
--- In [email protected], Quiltsixer@a... wrote:
It did look very expensive to me, too. But if folks have the money
to spend and most folks have good reports on their child's experience
then it is up to them how they spend their money. I know that when
we took a family trip to Europe when my daughter was younger it only
cost us about $4,000 for all three of us to go, to stay with hosts in
Servas host homes (a world peace traveler and host program). And
that included airfare, Eurailpass, other train and bus travel in
Switzerland and France, Museum Pass in Paris, Metro passes in Paris,
and food. But if cost is not a problem then this looks like a good
program. Anyone else have any experience with this?
Norma
> Norma,be good but
> We know some people who o have gone on these trips. They seem to
> expensive. They are fairly well structured and supervised. Atleast I have
> heard good reports from the two families that I used to know whosent their
> kids (this was a while back when my older son was in PS) We havenever been
> able to afford this kind of experience.Beth:
> Beth
It did look very expensive to me, too. But if folks have the money
to spend and most folks have good reports on their child's experience
then it is up to them how they spend their money. I know that when
we took a family trip to Europe when my daughter was younger it only
cost us about $4,000 for all three of us to go, to stay with hosts in
Servas host homes (a world peace traveler and host program). And
that included airfare, Eurailpass, other train and bus travel in
Switzerland and France, Museum Pass in Paris, Metro passes in Paris,
and food. But if cost is not a problem then this looks like a good
program. Anyone else have any experience with this?
Norma
Gary & Lisa Williams
Yes, Norma! I received one of these for my daughter. Trip to Australia. I
looked up the website but as I'm always leery of these types of things, I
didn't put too much thought into it. I told my dh that my dd wasn't going
to get to go to Australia without us anyway!!
I'll be curious to hear what this is all about...
Lisa
looked up the website but as I'm always leery of these types of things, I
didn't put too much thought into it. I told my dh that my dd wasn't going
to get to go to Australia without us anyway!!
I'll be curious to hear what this is all about...
Lisa
> Date: Mon, 08 Sep 2003 12:59:23 -0000
> From: "Norma" <tessimal@...>
> I've been receiving a bunch of phone calls lately from folks who have
> received letters announcing that their homeschooled child has been
> selected to be a Student Ambassador to such-and-such a place (all
> different places in different letters). The letter states that a
> teacher usually recommends these students for this "honor." Folks
> called me because I maintain my state teaching certification just so
> I can do home ed portfolio assessments for those who choose that as
> their annual assessment method. They wondered if I had sent in their
> child's name.
>
> I had never heard of this program. I looked them up online and found
> this URL for the main web site: http://www.studentambassadors.org/
> And I found a whole bunch of side sites for Art Ambassadors, Sports
> Ambassadors, all kinds of ambassadors. This seems to be a real wide
> attack advertising blitz program. I also found something about loans
> for Student Ambassadors, but only found one site that talked about
> four $500 scholarships available each year.
>
> This has me very curious. Does anyone know anything about this
> program? Has anyone else received these kinds of letters promoting
> these programs? Or indicating that their child has been chosen? Has
> anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Or known someone who has? I
> would like to find some real information about this to put out to
> folks in our home ed community before they spend thousands of dollars
> to send their kids off to another country on one of these programs.
> Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
>
> Norma
[email protected]
**It did look very expensive to me, too. But if folks have the money
to spend and most folks have good reports on their child's experience
then it is up to them how they spend their money.**
The programs can help the families with information on soliciting
sponsorships and fund raising to help pay the costs. If a lot of kids in one area are
trying to go it can make it hard to get sponsors but easier to do things like
spaghetti dinners and such.
A schooled youngster from my working class town just came back from Australia
on the People to People program. He was able to raise enough money from
fundraisers and sponsors that his family could afford to send him.
Deborah in IL
to spend and most folks have good reports on their child's experience
then it is up to them how they spend their money.**
The programs can help the families with information on soliciting
sponsorships and fund raising to help pay the costs. If a lot of kids in one area are
trying to go it can make it hard to get sponsors but easier to do things like
spaghetti dinners and such.
A schooled youngster from my working class town just came back from Australia
on the People to People program. He was able to raise enough money from
fundraisers and sponsors that his family could afford to send him.
Deborah in IL
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/8/2003 9:03:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
tessimal@... writes:
This has me very curious. Does anyone know anything about this
program? Has anyone else received these kinds of letters promoting
these programs? Or indicating that their child has been chosen? Has
anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Or known someone who has? I
would like to find some real information about this to put out to
folks in our home ed community before they spend thousands of dollars
to send their kids off to another country on one of these programs.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
My now 15 year old son, Cameron, went to Australia three years ago with
People to People as a Student Ambassador. It was a GREAT experience!
I think that it was a bit "exclusive" for many years, but since the terrorist
attacks, I'm guessing that interest is down. They are probably looking for
other outlets---thus, homeschooling. We were VERY vocal (surprise, surprise!
<G>) about Cameron's homeschool status, so maybe they are specifically targetting
homeschoolers. ???
I'd be more than happy to discuss our experience with P2P with you. I can't
say enough about it!
~Kelly (with only 500 e-mails to wade through after the week-long
Vermont/Pennsylvania/New York trip!)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tessimal@... writes:
This has me very curious. Does anyone know anything about this
program? Has anyone else received these kinds of letters promoting
these programs? Or indicating that their child has been chosen? Has
anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Or known someone who has? I
would like to find some real information about this to put out to
folks in our home ed community before they spend thousands of dollars
to send their kids off to another country on one of these programs.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
My now 15 year old son, Cameron, went to Australia three years ago with
People to People as a Student Ambassador. It was a GREAT experience!
I think that it was a bit "exclusive" for many years, but since the terrorist
attacks, I'm guessing that interest is down. They are probably looking for
other outlets---thus, homeschooling. We were VERY vocal (surprise, surprise!
<G>) about Cameron's homeschool status, so maybe they are specifically targetting
homeschoolers. ???
I'd be more than happy to discuss our experience with P2P with you. I can't
say enough about it!
~Kelly (with only 500 e-mails to wade through after the week-long
Vermont/Pennsylvania/New York trip!)
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[email protected]
In a message dated 9/8/2003 9:03:04 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
tessimal@... writes:
This has me very curious. Does anyone know anything about this
program? Has anyone else received these kinds of letters promoting
these programs? Or indicating that their child has been chosen? Has
anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Or known someone who has? I
would like to find some real information about this to put out to
folks in our home ed community before they spend thousands of dollars
to send their kids off to another country on one of these programs.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
I never saw my response to this---but yahoo seems bound and determined to be
messing with me lately. I'll post it again, just in case.
My now 15 year old son, Cameron, went to Australia with People to People as a
Student Ambassador three years ago. It was an incredible experience, and he
says the highlight of his life so far. They were treated royally and got to see
the whole east coast of Australia with snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef,
an opera in the Opera House, a farm-stay and a home-stay among MANY other
experiences. He made life-long friendships and is truly happy for the opportunity.
I'm thinking that, due to the terrorists attacks, the program may be
suffering a bit. Folks aren't keen on sending their children overseas right now. That
may be why they're specifically targetting homeschoolers. Also, I was VERY
outspoken (odd---me, outspoken! <G>) about homeschooling when Cameron was
interviewing and applying. They also got another dose of me later the next year. I
guess Cameron and the other homeschoolers they had that year were "acceptable"
enough to start considering! <BWG>
As parents, we can't say enough about the program---it's outstanding.
Expensive, but out-standing! <G> And worth every penny! I'd be happy to talk to you
more at length if you have specific questions.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
tessimal@... writes:
This has me very curious. Does anyone know anything about this
program? Has anyone else received these kinds of letters promoting
these programs? Or indicating that their child has been chosen? Has
anyone ever gone on one of these trips? Or known someone who has? I
would like to find some real information about this to put out to
folks in our home ed community before they spend thousands of dollars
to send their kids off to another country on one of these programs.
Any info would be appreciated. Thanks.
I never saw my response to this---but yahoo seems bound and determined to be
messing with me lately. I'll post it again, just in case.
My now 15 year old son, Cameron, went to Australia with People to People as a
Student Ambassador three years ago. It was an incredible experience, and he
says the highlight of his life so far. They were treated royally and got to see
the whole east coast of Australia with snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef,
an opera in the Opera House, a farm-stay and a home-stay among MANY other
experiences. He made life-long friendships and is truly happy for the opportunity.
I'm thinking that, due to the terrorists attacks, the program may be
suffering a bit. Folks aren't keen on sending their children overseas right now. That
may be why they're specifically targetting homeschoolers. Also, I was VERY
outspoken (odd---me, outspoken! <G>) about homeschooling when Cameron was
interviewing and applying. They also got another dose of me later the next year. I
guess Cameron and the other homeschoolers they had that year were "acceptable"
enough to start considering! <BWG>
As parents, we can't say enough about the program---it's outstanding.
Expensive, but out-standing! <G> And worth every penny! I'd be happy to talk to you
more at length if you have specific questions.
~Kelly
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Norma
On a whim I just looked up the IFYE Program for travel to Japan that
is sponsored by Ohio State's 4-H International Opportunities
program. They not only have a wide variety of programs available for
travel to Japan, but at about half the cost of the Student Ambassador
Program. And in Ohio you do not have to be a 4-H club member to take
part in these programs.
Here's the web site for the Ohio program:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/4-H/fguide00/4h_29.html
And here is the link for the larger organization, IFYE and all its
different programs:
http://www.ifyeusa.org/home.html
And then there are the YFU (Youth For Understanding) exchange
programs: http://www.yfu-usa.org/
Their prices are high too, I think, but they are for a summer, or a
semester, or an academic year, or a full year, not just three weeks.
And they have been around a long time, too. Their exchange programs
are with many different nations, not just English speaking ones for a
real opportunity to experience a different culture.
The AFS is another program that has been around forever and that has
many different programs in dozens of different countries. Prices are
steep, but comparable to YFU's prices, and for longer time periods
than the Student Ambassador Programs.
And last, but not least, many churches, religious organizations, and
other youth groups sponsor foreign travel opportunities for youth.
These can be for various purposes. Some are religious and some are
community service type trips, and some are strictly educational. But
any of these would be worth investigating. Local universities often
have well-organized trips, too, with college credit. I mean, if
you're going to spend the big bucks up front you might as well go for
the college credit, too.
Here are some other groups to check out: American Youth Hostels, The
Friendship Force, Amnesty International, the Sierra Club, American
Friends Service Committee, Planned Parenthood.
But the die-hard unschooler, like my daughter, will probably prefer
to do-it-herself, planning her own trip and staying where she wants
to stay. She will use Servas, hostels and a couple other travel
networks we belong to through organizations to link up with hosts in
different countries. These kinds of groups cut the costs down to
half or less what the more organized programs cost, allow for much
more freedom to decide where you want to go, what you want to see,
and when, and the flexibility to change things if the weather or
political circumstances change suddenly.
http://www.usservas.org/
Norma
is sponsored by Ohio State's 4-H International Opportunities
program. They not only have a wide variety of programs available for
travel to Japan, but at about half the cost of the Student Ambassador
Program. And in Ohio you do not have to be a 4-H club member to take
part in these programs.
Here's the web site for the Ohio program:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/4-H/fguide00/4h_29.html
And here is the link for the larger organization, IFYE and all its
different programs:
http://www.ifyeusa.org/home.html
And then there are the YFU (Youth For Understanding) exchange
programs: http://www.yfu-usa.org/
Their prices are high too, I think, but they are for a summer, or a
semester, or an academic year, or a full year, not just three weeks.
And they have been around a long time, too. Their exchange programs
are with many different nations, not just English speaking ones for a
real opportunity to experience a different culture.
The AFS is another program that has been around forever and that has
many different programs in dozens of different countries. Prices are
steep, but comparable to YFU's prices, and for longer time periods
than the Student Ambassador Programs.
And last, but not least, many churches, religious organizations, and
other youth groups sponsor foreign travel opportunities for youth.
These can be for various purposes. Some are religious and some are
community service type trips, and some are strictly educational. But
any of these would be worth investigating. Local universities often
have well-organized trips, too, with college credit. I mean, if
you're going to spend the big bucks up front you might as well go for
the college credit, too.
Here are some other groups to check out: American Youth Hostels, The
Friendship Force, Amnesty International, the Sierra Club, American
Friends Service Committee, Planned Parenthood.
But the die-hard unschooler, like my daughter, will probably prefer
to do-it-herself, planning her own trip and staying where she wants
to stay. She will use Servas, hostels and a couple other travel
networks we belong to through organizations to link up with hosts in
different countries. These kinds of groups cut the costs down to
half or less what the more organized programs cost, allow for much
more freedom to decide where you want to go, what you want to see,
and when, and the flexibility to change things if the weather or
political circumstances change suddenly.
http://www.usservas.org/
Norma