Program Reference – V-2020-045 (female)
Take a peek at Village life…
A camp-based program for 11-year-olds lasting 28 days
The first Village, our original program, was held in 1951. CISV Villages are international camps that inspire 11-year-old children to imagine a more just and peaceful world. The children come together from many different countries to take part in a variety of educational, cultural, and fun activities. Each Village welcomes delegations from 10-12 countries. Each delegation has two boys and two girls, accompanied by an adult leader. The camp is coordinated by adult staff, supported by Junior Counselors (age 16-17). A Village creates a safe, fun setting in which your child will learn, with children from around the world, about each other’s lives and cultures and how to communicate, cooperate, and live together. The Village learning experiences, and the friendships made, will last your child a lifetime.
What happens at a Village?
Junior Counselors travel to their Village destination and upon arrival are greeted by local CISV chapter volunteers. The Junior Counselor is taken to the Village site for orientation and final Village preparations with the other eleven leaders, five other Junior Counselors, and four to five Staff members. After a two day home-stay, the forty-eight Village delegates from twelve different countries arrive at the Village site.
Every day consists of morning flag time, breakfast, work groups (chores), one to two activity periods, lunch, siesta (quiet time), two activities with a snack in between, free time, delegation time (JCs meet as a delegation with their assigned Staff member), dinner, evening activities (including National Nights from each country), evening flag time, lullabies, and bedtime.
At some point, there is a time that Villagers schedule to trade items with one another, if they have not already started the process during free time, siesta (quiet time), or just before or after sleeping. Usually at about the two-week mark, an Open Day is held where the local community is invited to get a glimpse of a typical Village day.
Halfway through the Village, after mid-camp evaluation for both the youth and the leader group (JCs are part of the leader group), delegates once again go for home-stays with local CISV chapter families, but this time they are accompanied by new friends from other delegations in their Village while the staff, leaders, and Junior Counselors review progress, make plans for the last two weeks, and re-energize. After this second 2-day home stay, everyone comes back to Village and continues actively learning about one another and one another’s cultures and traditions through hands-on, activities and energizers.
Through the course of the program, the entire Village group will take two to three excursions into the local area for theme-based experiences, shopping, and fun. As the Village comes to an end, Villagers are given the opportunity to reflect, galvanize their experiences, and prepare to bring their learning home. There is typically a Gala Night where everyone dresses up and makes a wonderful night of dinner, friends, music, and games.
The last day and night of camp is generally an emotional time as everyone realizes their time with new friends is coming to a close. Everyone spends the last night singing, viewing a slideshow of Village events, writing notes to their new friends, talking about what their experience has meant personally, making plans for future visits, and laughing and hugging through the tears and smiles.
The next morning CISV chapter volunteers pick up Junior Counselors and delegations and shuttle them to the local airport(s), bus, or train stations as they make their way back home to their awaiting families. Within a week or two of returning home, it is a great idea for Junior Counselors to gather with their chapter’s returning Village delegation(s) to listen to and share stories and memories of their Village experiences.
Want to know approximate costs?
Because CISV is a non-profit, volunteer organization, program and administrative costs are reasonable compared to similar programs. Total participation costs vary according to the particular program and location. Costs include, but are not limited to, program fees and travel expenses. Interchange Program participants incur the additional cost of hosting a partner in their home. Generally speaking, CISV program costs are comparable to those incurred when sending a child to a typical summer camp for three or four weeks. We have limited financial assistance available based on need. Costs vary from year to year, program to program, but the estimate below gives an approximate idea of what’s involved monetarily.
Junior Counselor (16-17 year-olds) – DOMESTIC
$2650-$3150 – APPROXIMATE TOTAL PROGRAM COST
- $1900 – Program Fee – local, national, international (includes 3 years of Family membership)
- $250-$500 – Junior Counselor’s Airfare
- $200-$300 – Spending Money
- $250 – Emergency Money – will be returned if no emergencies arise
- $50-$200 – Staff Gifts, Items for Trading, Items for Goody Bags, National Night Booklets
Junior Counselor (16-17 year-olds) – INTERNATIONAL
$3620-$4420 – APPROXIMATE TOTAL PROGRAM COST
- $1950 – Program Fee – local, national, international (includes 3 years of Family membership)
- $1000-$1500 – Junior Counselor’s Airfare
- $200-$300 – Spending Money
- $250 – Emergency Money – will be returned if no emergencies arise
- $105 – Passport & Passport Photo
- $65-$115 – Visa & Visa Photo (if necessary)
- $50-$200 – Staff Gifts, Items for Trading, Items for Goody Bags, National Night Booklets
Applying to be a Junior Counselor and need to find application material?
- Click here to Apply – must be age 16-17 on the first day of program
Selected as a Junior Counselor and need to find forms?
- Click here for Forms – Child Travelling Alone Legal Form & Health Form
- Junior Counselors must attend both Local & National Leadership Training
CISV Travel Policy
- Section 1 – Village, Step Up, Youth Meeting, and Interchange delegations shall travel to and from the site of the approved CISV activity as a group. Travel shall be direct and continuous to and from the CISV activity site. No side trips shall be permitted. No layover in excess of 24 hours shall be permitted unless common carrier schedules require otherwise. Delegation itineraries must be approved by the local Chapter.
- Section 2 – Penalties-Violations of Section 1 will result in action against the Chapter or Steering Committee pursuant to the complaint procedure (83-BOT-2) of CISV, Inc.
- Section 3 – Individual travel (as in the case of Junior Counselors, individual Youth Meeting, or Seminar Camp participants) other than to and from the site of an approved CISV activity shall be deemed non-CISV travel. CISV assumes no responsibility or liability for an individual while on side trip or layover in excess of 24 hours.
Parent Resources – Post-Selection
- Parent Handbook
- Village Program Guide
Junior Counselor Resources – Post-Selection
- Village Program Guide
- Village Junior Counselor Information Form – VJCIF
- Travel Information Form – TIF
What to do before Village?
- Get involved with the Junior Branch.
- Attend Local Leadership Training in March.
- Attend Chapter Development Workshop in March (optional).
- Attend National Mini Camp in May – Memorial Day Weekend (optional).
- Attend National Leadership Training in April, May, or June (whichever site is closest).
What to do after Village?
- Get together with Atlanta Village delegation(s) within one to two weeks of return.
- Attend Welcome Back Party in August.
- Attend Southern Regional Mini Camp in September – Labor Day Weekend.
- Attend CISV Motion Conference in October.
- Stay involved with the Junior Branch.
- Parent(s) and Adult Leaders-Staff volunteer for a Board, Chair, or Committee position.