Event Details
After the October 7 attacks, Israelis have united around a collective volunteering effort in support of the displaced border communities. Teens will get hands-on experience helping the people in these communities through a series of meaningful service opportunities. Stand in solidarity with Israel by helping them renew what was lost and reminding Israelis that we are a global Jewish community.
HOW IS VOLUNTEER ISRAEL DIFFERENT? Unlike our other Israel travel programs, Volunteer Israel gives teens a way to directly impact Israeli communities affected by the October 7 attacks. A majority of our time will be spent participating in service projects. This experience is open to all teens, but will be less focused on touring and more on the impact we can make.
LAND COST: $2,820
All payments are due by 04/03/2024. Airfare cost to and from Israel is not included. Flight information will become available in the spring.
Deposit Amount: $250.00
FAQs
How will my teen travel to the program?
BBYO requires all North American participants to fly on the group supervised flight for this program. Flight costs are not included in the program’s land cost. BBYO will purchase a ticket for each traveler and charge the family directly. The flight cost for programs with supervised flight options will be announced, along with the flight details for all programs, in the spring. Supervised flights for our programs will depart from the New York City area, typically Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) or John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Learn more about flying to the program here.
How is the program staffed?
Each group is accompanied by a team of madrichim (counselors) and a local guide. Senior field staff also circulate between our groups for extra support. Staff names are sent out approximately 2–3 weeks prior to your departure as part of the pre-trip preparation emails. Madrichim will make welcome calls to teens before departure.
How do you approach security?
Since 1956, BBYO has organized teen programs with a fundamental commitment to providing a safe and meaningful experience. Our programs adhere to Israel’s comprehensive security policies and are centrally monitored by Israel’s Situation Room. Our itineraries are designed with caution in mind and our policies are calibrated to local conditions. Finally, each group is accompanied by trained staff and a licensed armed guard accompanies all touring-based activities. Learn more about our organization’s approach to safety and security as well as more specific details about our Israel policies. Learn more about 2024 approach to safety here.
What's the typical group size?
Group size varies depending on the date of the program. Our average group size ranges between 30-40 teens. In some cases, multiple groups will travel on a similar path, although each group has its own dedicated staff and tour guide. Bus groups can sometimes include groups of teens from a summer camp or a previous BBYO summer program.
What is your approach to teen health and wellness?
Parents should include any/all teen allergies, medications, dietary restrictions, and any relevant information regarding their mental, emotional, and social health on the health forms in the registration process. This information will be flagged for the program staff prior to departure, and you may review the details together with your teen’s Field Director prior to departure. Important note: Throughout travel, teens are responsible for handling and administering their own medications. All medications must be in their original containers and prescriptions must include the teen’s name on the label. Some trips will also have a designated wellness specialist that travels with the group.
Can I purchase travel insurance?
BBYO has partnered with a licensed travel insurance agent to offer travel insurance through Travel Insured International. They provide a cost-effective solution for student groups with important benefits like trip cancellation, trip interruption, missed connection, trip delay and baggage delay. Families are encouraged to purchase travel insurance to protect their investment and plan for the unexpected. More information on specific insurance plans, costs, and purchasing can be found here. If you are a resident of Canada, you will need to purchase an individual plan at Teen Travel Insurance. Residents of the Province of Quebec are not eligible for this insurance plan. NOTE: Benefits such as “Cancel for Any Reason” and the pre-existing conditions waiver are ONLY available within 14 days of your first trip payment/deposit. "If you live in New York State and want to obtain "Cancel for Any Reason" coverage, you will need to purchase an individual travel insurance policy within 21 days of your initial trip payment."
What if my question is not answered above?
For a full list of FAQs, please visit our website. We encourage families to review our Pre-Trip Guides that cover all topics in depth. You always contact us at [email protected] to discuss any further questions you may have.
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Mazel Tov!
You have taken the first step in registering for an unforgettable travel experience with BBYO Passport. This life changing experience will allow your teen to explore the world, meet new friends, develop their Jewish identity, and grow in their independence. Your decision to send your teen away from home is not taken lightly. We want you to know the safety, security and well-being of your teen is our top priority. Thank you for trusting your teen in our care.
Over the next few months, you will receive important communications from our team via phone, email, and text messages. We recommend that you create a folder in your inbox to track all email communications about this experience. While we encourage you to add our deadlines to your personal calendar, our team will send you several email reminders along the way. We recommend you double check to confirm that all family members are receiving emails from BBYO and have not previously opted out of BBYO communications. Please check your spam, junk, promotions, and/or trash folders for our communications. If you have unsubscribed from our mailing list, please email [email protected] to opt back in.
You may log into your account at any time to review a record of your registration, including dates, cost, payments, forms, and more. You can also reference our website and our Pre-Trip Guides to learn more specific information about your teen’s program. Please know, your registration is not complete until all forms are signed, and the trip balance has been paid in full.
We are so excited to have your teen join us this summer, and we look forward to getting to know you better over the coming months! In the meantime, we will be doing the work we love to do—putting together an incredible itinerary, hiring the best staff, booking exciting activities and so much more—all so that we can provide your teen with a meaningful, inspiring, and safe experience.
Below is some important information regarding program timelines and how to start preparing for the trip. In the meantime, if you have questions, please email [email protected] or call 202-537-8091.
Warmly,
Marni Heller
Associate Vice President, BBYO Passport
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
A $250 program deposit is due with registration and required to secure your spot.
· First Payment: $750 is due by January 30, 2024
· Second Payment: An additional $750 is due by February 27, 2024*
· Third Payment: The full balance of payment is due by April 3, 2024**
*$25 fee will be incurred for late payment.
**$75 fee will be incurred for late payment.
METHOD OF PAYMENT
Payment is accepted by e-check/ACH, check, or credit card. Should you wish to pay by credit card, a non-refundable convenience fee of 3% will be assessed for all payments. All prices are in US Dollars.
CANCELLATION POLICY
February 27, 2024 is the last day to cancel and receive a full refund of land cost. From February 28 – April 2, families may cancel their registration with a $250 cancellation fee. Beginning April 3, 2024, all programs are non-transferrable and non-refundable. All cancellations must be made in writing via email to [email protected]. Participants are highly encouraged to purchase a travel insurance policy. You can either purchase our group travel protection plan or an independent travel insurance policy.
Due to the popularity of our Summer Experiences and to prevent disruption to program planning late in the season, no refunds will be issued beginning April 3rd, 2024. This policy applies to cases of homesickness, dismissal, medical or voluntary withdrawal, and other extenuating circumstances.
Disclaimer: outside of core program land costs, other sources of funding and/or expenses may have unique terms. This may include scholarships, grants, travel arrangements, and traveler’s insurance.
TERMS OF ACCEPTANCE
Acceptance to the program is conditioned upon the receipt of a full application including a physical examination of the applicant within 12 months of the program start date that demonstrates their physical and mental fitness and ability to participate in all aspects of the program, as well as adherence to our Immunization Policy. The traveler must also have proper documentation to travel to the program. If a teen does not submit payment in full and/or has not properly completed all forms and documentation by April 3, 2024, BBYO reserves the right to cancel the teen without providing a refund. This program is for teens who identify as Jewish and are in the current grades as posted on our website. Receipt of deposit and application form does not guarantee acceptance into the program. BBYO reserves the right to deny acceptance at its sole discretion.
BBYO reserves the right to consolidate and/or cancel specific programs and/or program dates at its sole discretion. Confirmed program offerings and dates will be finalized by March 4th, 2024. Notwithstanding the previous sentence, by registering for a program you understand and agree that BBYO reserves the right to consolidate and/or cancel specific programs and/or trip dates, at its sole discretion, without prior notice.
THINGS TO START PREPARING
Passport Documentation: All travelers should have a valid passport to travel on international travel-based programs. A Traveler’s passport cannot expire within six months of the program start date. If a traveler’s passport needs to be renewed, or you need to apply for a first-time passport, please do so as soon as possible. Please be advised that delays in meeting a BBYO deadline for passport information may delay or jeopardize a teen’s ability to travel with BBYO this summer.
CampDoc (Health Forms): BBYO partners with CampDoc, the leading electronic health record system for camps, designed by camp doctors, nurses and directors. The secure, easy-to-use web-based solution helps our staff better manage health forms, medications/allergies, and health logging throughout the BBYO programming year. You will complete and update your teen's medical information in their CampDoc profile. To attend a BBYO Passport experience, your teen(s) Camp Doc profile must be completed at 100%. Note: Camp Doc will email each email address associated with your teens account to notify you to setup or login. Please add [email protected] to your safe senders list for this email notification. Have questions? Email [email protected].
Medical Records: We require teens to have an updated immunization record and physician’s medical form signed by your doctor which clears them to participate in all activities during the program. If you need to make an appointment with your doctor, please do so before your traveler’s forms are due. BBYO requires a physical examination of the applicant within 12 months of the program start date. BBYO requires teens to be up to date with most vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Please review our Immunization Policy.
Travel Plans: Please do not purchase any travel for your teen until BBYO provides flight information for your teen’s group. BBYO requires all participants to fly on the group supervised flight and purchase a ticket through BBYO if your teen’s trip offers a group flight. Flight costs are not included in the program’s land cost. BBYO will purchase a ticket for each traveler and charge the family directly. The flight cost for programs with supervised flight options will be announced, along with the flight details for all programs, in the spring. Families are responsible for purchasing and arranging the domestic transportation for their teen(s) to meet the group at their departure airport. Each airline has its own rules and separate age thresholds for mandatory “unaccompanied minors,” and additional fees may apply with the airline, outside of your registration fees. You can learn more about our flights and unaccompanied minors’ policy here. Airline tickets will not be purchased on a participant’s behalf until their account balance is paid.
*Per airline policy, group tickets are not eligible for any refunds, vouchers, or credits. If your teen is unable to join the group flight after the ticket has been booked, no refund will be issued. This includes if you withdraw from the program or cannot join due a medical reason. Families may incur “No Show” fees if your teen cannot join the group flight and BBYO is not informed in advance.
Travel Insurance: BBYO has partnered with a licensed travel insurance agent to offer travel insurance through Travel Insured International. They provide a cost-effective solution for student groups with important benefits like trip cancellation, trip interruption, missed connection, trip delay and baggage delay. Families should consider purchasing travel insurance to protect their investment and plan for the unexpected. More information on specific insurance plans, costs, and purchasing can be found here. If you are a resident of Canada, you will need to purchase an individual plan at Teen Travel Insurance. Residents of the Province of Quebec are not eligible for this insurance plan. NOTE: Benefits such as “Cancel for Any Reason” and the pre-existing conditions waiver are ONLY available within 14 days of your first trip payment/deposit. Scholarships, including the RootOne travel voucher, are used to cover program costs on your behalf. As such, those funds are considered a recipient’s financial obligation to BBYO. Each scholarship has its own policy regarding the recipient’s financial obligation to the funder in the event a teen cancels their participation beyond the refund deadline or leaves the trip early. For this reason, we encourage you to review the policies related to your scholarship and to consider purchasing travel insurance that covers the combined cost of your direct program/travel costs and the RootOne voucher or any other outside scholarship funding.