Does anyone know anything about the People to People Student Ambassador Program??

[lvs_eeyore]

A few weeks ago we were informed that our eldest son 11 was nominated as a Student Ambassador and we have to attend a meeting on the 11th to learn all about it. What I know from the letter is he will fly to three different European countries for a total of 20 days and there is a tuition involved in it. It does not say who nominated him for this. Has anyone heard of this program before? Had any experience with it? Know where they get their chaparones from? I just have a really weird feeling about it and would like to know if its "for real" before we go to this meeting.

 

[powellrj]

Do a search and you can find several threads about this. My DS has gotten letters the past couple of years and while I think its a great trip, its veryyyyyyy expensive.

 

[Pam]

Both of my kids got these letters for years. The cost is *extremely* expensive - we're talking $4-5,000. IMO, not worth it.
My kids didn't do it.

 

[paras4ri]

My kids have also gotten invitations but I know of nobody who has participated. I wasn't too sure it was a valid program

 

[Puffy2]

I wouldn't send my kid off with strangers to a foreign country....and I most certainly wouldn't PAY for it.

 

[lvs_eeyore]

Thank you for recommending the search. The more I read the more it sounded like a Kids Travel Agency where they get to do a few things more than they can if we took a family trip. Which for what the posts were quoting for one child could probably pay for a nice trip for the four of us. I was also extremely uncomfortable about sending my child to a Europe with strangers and thought I would check into possibly being a chaperone which from reading the posts is NOT an option. I also learned that this is no special honor as it is made out to be in the letter. I had originally planned to go to the meeting to find out about it but dont think we will go now.

 

[Buckalew11]

I have not allowed my DD to go for many of the resons above but I know of several kids who have gone and loved their trips. I think it is very legit but also expensive. DD has a friend who is supposed to go to DC in the Spring. We chose to opt out and all go on a trip there soon. However, they do seem like their on the up and up.

 

[pfishgirl]

My DS (15) got the same letter, it says a "teacher" recommended him.. We never did go to the meeting. A Teacher friend of ours said it has nothing to do with the child's school. I was also told it is around $5,000 to go.

I think it is on the borderline of a scam

 

[Buckalew11]

I can't speak for all teachers and all schools but Hunter's History teacher told me she turned her name in for the DC trip which said a teacher recommended her. England trip & Australia trip didn't say teacher recommended.

 

[DoeWDW]

My son traveled last year with People to People. The chaperones were all teachers from local school districts. Over the course of the 9 months prior to the trip, we got to know the teachers and the other kids in his group.

He had also gotten the letters for years. I felt he was not mature enough. Last year he was 16 years old and had an avid interest in Australia and New Zealand. They traveled in both countries for 3 weeks.

He very much enjoyed the trip. It definitely was not cheap, but it was a good experience for him.

 

[tar heel]

Our neighbor, who is 11, went to Australia on the program last summer. He did one of those obnoxious letters to friends and neighbors as part of his fund-raising. Athough I think a lot of the boy, I wasn't wild about writing our check b/c I felt like I was paying for a vacation for a kid whose family income is likely three times ours.

I think these kinds of programs can have some small, but positive, world understanding effects if the ambassador is an adult or even teen who has some things to share, but I think 11 is way too young for anyone other than the child to benefit. I wouldn't even remotely consider sending my 11-year-old on such a jaunt.

 

[webprinter]

My daughter (14) received one that said her teacher recommended her. I know that part is true because her teacher told us she sent in a recommendation. I was wondering also if it is a scam and am not sure I want a 15 year old which is what she will be when it happens traveling with a bunch of kids and staying with people I don't know. But, if it is on the up and up, it would be a great experience. Debby