Summer Camps & Programs

Program Description

Center for Cultural Interchange

Discovery Abroad
Destinations throughout Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico

		Program Description Program Overview Visit Web Site Get Free Info See Photos

For More Information, Contact
Travel Abroad Department
Center for Cultural Interchange
746 North LaSalle Drive
Chicago, Illinois 60610
312-944-2544 (in Chicago area)
866-684-9675 (toll-free)
Fax: 312-944-0383
http://www.cci-exchange.com
E-mail: info@cci-exchange.com

Type of Program: Language School Programs (homestay), Independent Homestay Programs, and High School Abroad (homestay)
Participants: Coeducational, ages 14–18
Enrollment: Approximately 150 outbound students
Program Dates: Two-, three-, and four-week programs available year-round; three-, five-, and ten-month programs available beginning in the fall and winter
Head of Program: Juliet Jones, Travel Abroad Programs Director

Location

The Center for Cultural Interchange (CCI) offers American youth the chance to experience the life and language of many countries around the world. Eligible participants can take part in homestay, high school, or language programs in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Denmark, Ecuador, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan.

Background and Philosophy

The Center for Cultural Interchange is a nonprofit student exchange organization founded in 1985. CCI’s goals are to promote cultural understanding, academic development, and world peace. CCI focuses primarily on the homestay experience, as it is by far the best way for participants to get a firsthand understanding of another culture. By becoming a member of a family in another country, participants are given the opportunity to share in meals, conversation, and the daily life and traditions of the country visited.
    CCI organizes academic-year, semester, and short-term homestay programs for Americans abroad as well as academic-year, semester, and short-term homestay programs for international students in the United States. More than 1,300 American students and host families participate in CCI programs each year. CCI welcomes participants and hosts of every race, nationality, creed, and religion.
    CCI is listed by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) and is designated by the USIA as a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Sponsor. CCI is also a member of the Federation of International Youth Travel Organizations (FIYTO).

Program Offerings

CCI offers a wide range of summer, semester, and academic-year programs in Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Mexico. CCI provides each student with comprehensive orientation materials, full medical insurance coverage, and a well-structured network of support in the U.S. and abroad. Students may choose from Language School Programs, Independent Homestay Programs, or High School Abroad in many parts of the world.
Language School Programs For students who want to live with a host family while participating in fun language classes and activities, CCI offers a variety of Language School Programs. All Language School Programs emphasize language study and provide the opportunity to participate in planned cultural/sport activities while sharing in the daily life of a host family. Junior Language School Programs in Costa Rica, Germany, Italy, Mexico, Spain, and France cater specifically to students ages 14–16.
Independent Homestay Programs CCI’s Independent Homestay Programs focus exclusively on the homestay experience. Welcoming host families provide room and board and consider participants full members of the family. This program is perfect for the mature student who desires full immersion in the culture and language.
Summer Group Programs CCI also coordinates group homestay programs to exciting destinations around the globe. Students may travel with a group organized from their own school or can join a CCI group with other students from around the United States. Group programs are escorted by a trained adult American leader and vary in length from ten days to four weeks.
High School Abroad CCI’s High School Abroad focuses on the importance of complete linguistic and cultural immersion. Participants attend high schools abroad, make new international friends, share time with host families, and learn a great deal about themselves during this three-, five-, or ten-month program.

Enrollment

More than 1,300 American and international students participate in CCI programs each year. Language requirements vary by destination and program length; in some cases, there is no language requirement.

Extra Opportunities and Activities

Many of CCI’s programs offer optional activities that the student can choose to participate in for an extra fee. These activities may be weekend excursions to historical sites, sports activities, or local cultural events.

Staff

The CCI National Office is located in Chicago, Illinois. The national office staff is composed of caring individuals with extensive experience in student exchange, most of whom are former homestay participants themselves. CCI also maintains a network of nine regional offices across the United States. These regional offices are responsible for the screening, recruitment, and orientation of American students and host families and provide ongoing support. The CCI Board of Directors is composed of volunteer educational professionals who maintain the direction for CCI’s mission of global cross-cultural understanding.

Medical Care

All programs include comprehensive medical insurance for the duration of the program.

Costs

The 2008 program fees for CCI short-term programs (two weeks to three months) began at $690 and varied depending on the length of stay, country, and type of program. The 2008 program fees for long-term programs (three, five, or ten months) began at $4000.
    All CCI programs include orientation materials, the support of the CCI U.S. National Office and partner offices abroad, support of a local representative while abroad, housing, airport transfers, and comprehensive medical insurance. Program fees do not include international airfare, optional activities, passport/visa fees, or spending money.

Financial Aid

The Center for Cultural Interchange prides itself on providing interesting and affordable opportunities to all American students interested in cultural exchange. To that end, CCI offers several possibilities for students to offset the cost of participating in a cultural exchange program.
    Applicants for the High School Abroad program may apply for a $1000 scholarship.
    CCI also encourages U.S. host family members to expand on their cultural experience by participating in the Host Family Circle, a program that provides partial scholarships to host family members interested in studying abroad.
    CCI also offers an annual essay contest to its academic-year or semester host brothers and sisters (14–17 years) through which they can win a free program abroad.

Transportation

International airfare arrangements are generally the responsibility of the participants, but CCI is happy to provide assistance, if necessary. Transfers to and from the major airport nearest the host family are included in most teen program fees.

Application Timetable

U.S. students interested in applying are required to submit a complete application with a $250 deposit for short-term programs and a $500 deposit for High School Abroad programs. Applications for short-term programs are due no later than six weeks prior to departure. High School Abroad applications are due no later than April 15 for the fall semester and September 15 for the spring semester.