Summer Camps & Programs

Program Description

Westcoast Connection Travel

Summer Travel Programs
United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, Belize, Costa Rica, and Africa

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

For More Information, Contact
United States
Westcoast Connection
154 East Boston Post Road
Mamaroneck, New York 10543
914-835-0699
800-767-0227 (toll-free outside New York State)
Fax: 914-835-0798
http://www.westcoastconnection.com or http://360studenttravel.com
Canada
Westcoast Connection
5585 Monkland, Suite 140
Montreal H4A 1E1
Canada
514-488-8920
E-mail: info@westcoastconnection.com

Type of Program: Teen travel experiences, including touring groups, adventures, sports programs (including golf, skiing, snowboarding, and scuba diving), community service, language study, pre-college enrichment and a tour of baseball stadiums
Participants: Coeducational, ages 13–18 (grouped compatibly by age); separate group for those 17 and older
Enrollment: Adventure and service groups are 10–22 students; touring and language groups are usually 35–50 students
Program Dates: Vary from eight to forty days from the end of June to August
Heads of Program: Mark Segal, Stan Browman, Mitch Lerner, Ira Solomon, and Jason Tanner, Directors

Background and Philosophy

Westcoast Connection is in its twenty-seventh year. Westcoast Connection and 360 Student Travel programs give students the opportunity to discover new and exciting places; to develop greater self-confidence, a respect for others, and new skills; and to make new friends.
    No prior experience is necessary, just the desire to participate. On all adventures, the experienced staff ensures that everyone is comfortable and welcome right from day one.

Program Offerings

Programs explore many regions of the United States, Canada, and Europe as well as Australia, Belize, Costa Rica, and South Africa and generally run for one to six weeks.
    On the East Coast, programs are in New England, Florida, the Mid-Atlantic, Quebec, and Ontario. In the southwestern United States, participants travel to California, Arizona, Nevada, and Utah. In the Pacific Northwest, locations offered are in Washington and Oregon, along with the Canadian Rockies and Whistler. Other locations include Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Hawaii, and Alaska.
    Trip settings encompass many of the most naturally beautiful locations in the world. Some of the spectacular national parks visited include Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Banff, and Jasper. Other natural settings are in the San Juan Islands and overseas in the Swiss Alps or at Australia’s Great Barrier Reef.
Community Service Teens participate in life-changing experiences by combining volunteering and travel in Alaska, Arizona, California, Costa Rica, Hawaii, or Africa.
Spanish and French Language Programs These unique programs integrate language study and travel within a country so students can really experience the country visited.
Pre-College Enrichment Get a sneak peek at college life while being immersed in the culture and excitement of Barcelona. 360 Student Travel has teamed up with The Princeton Review to bring students exciting courses from Creative Writing & International Business to Spanish Language and SAT Prep.
Adventures offer an increased emphasis on challenging oneself, developing skills, and gaining a sense of accomplishment. Activities include surfing, rafting, sailing, scuba diving, snow skiing, snowboarding, rock climbing, mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, ropes courses, caving, and hiking. Smaller groups enable students to form a unique trust and a tight bond with their peers. Professional guides instruct and lead specialty activities.
Active Tours Trips combine the natural wonders of the great outdoors with the attractions of major cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle in North America. Students participate in recreational activities, including surfing, rafting, snowboarding, snow skiing, horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. Evenings include baseball games, dance clubs, comedy clubs, and more. These trips combine stays at hotels, resorts, and college dorms, and some tours include campsites.
European Programs Countries visited include France, Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, and England. Trips balance sightseeing and touring in major cities, along with recreation and entertainment as well as outdoor activities such as rafting and skiing/snowboarding in the Alps. Restful beach stays on the French and Adriatic Rivieras help relax the pace and enable students to enjoy a truly special experience in Europe.
Australia This action-packed trip includes scuba diving at the Great Barrier Reef, learning from the Aborigines in the outback, surfing lessons, touring Sydney, hiking in the rain forest, petting koalas and kangaroos, and an optional fantastic final stop in Hawaii.
On Tour These programs are for students completing grades 11 and 12 and provide older participants with more independence within a group program.
Florida and California Swing Junior Touring Golf Camps For golf enthusiasts, these trips feature play on top-rated courses, instructional clinics, and exciting touring highlights.
Skiing and Snowboarding at Mt. Hood and Whistler This program offers professional instruction and touring in the Pacific Northwest.
Major League Baseball Tour For baseball fanatics, this tour combines up to fifteen professional games, twelve stadium visits, and the Hall of Fame induction ceremony with other touring highlights.

Enrollment

One outstanding aspect of Westcoast Connection’s enrollment is its international flavor and geographic diversity. Approximately 85 percent of the students come from different regions of the United States, and 15 percent are from Canada and overseas. International participants have come from Aruba, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, China, Colombia, England, France, Honduras, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Peru, Russia, South Africa, and Venezuela. This diversity ensures a well-balanced geographic mix and helps prevent cliques.

Facilities

All accommodations are selected for safety, cleanliness, facilities, and location. They include college dorms, hotels, resorts, chalets, inns, and, on some trips, campsites. (A few adventure trips are mostly camping.) The Hawaiian, European, and Australian tours and the sports programs feature all-indoor stays. Private campsites have indoor washrooms with hot water, private showers, flush toilets, and electricity and recreational facilities. Camping is on mats in spacious tents. On the Active Tours, camping cots are also provided. On indoor stays, every student has an individual bed. Special dietary requests (including vegetarian, food allergies, and religious) are accommodated.

Staff

Experienced, fun, exciting, patient, and sensitive leaders are selected for their ability to relate to, care for, and support teenagers. Directors and staff members complete CPR and first aid training and are committed first and foremost to the health and safety of their students. All staff members are personally interviewed. Leaders participate in several pretrip orientation sessions and workshops to ensure the highest level of preparation in student travel.
    Directors are generally teachers, social workers, coaches, or graduate students. All directors and staff members are nonsmokers.

Medical Care

Westcoast Connection’s number-one priority is the health and safety of every participant. Each trip director is equipped with an extensive listing of local hospitals and clinics to visit as needed.

Costs

Tuition ranges from $2199 to $10,099. Fees include all activities, accommodations, gratuities, taxes, and most meals, depending on the trip. Airfare is not included.

Application Timetable

Enrollment is on a rolling basis; initial inquiries are welcome at any time. Brochures and DVDs are available in October. Early enrollment is advised to secure trip preference. Discounts are available for early enrollment and siblings.