Talk:People to People Student Ambassador Program/ReDraft
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The People to People Student Ambassador Program is a student travel service, that offers educational international travel to elementary, middle, and high school students. The program is administered by Ambassadors Group Inc, a publicly traded corporation[1] as a licensed program of People to People International which is a non-profit organization.[2] The group that administers the program's SEC filing states the group was founded in 1967 and reincorporated in 1995 [3].
The typical length of programs for high school age participants is three weeks, and two weeks for middle school travelers. People to People Student ambassador programs are geared for students age 10 through age 18.[4] Student Ambassador delegations are composed of approximately 30 to 40 students.[5] Fees vary for domestic and international programs. Prices include all travel expenses, as well as lodging, meals, and activities and these arrangements are made and managed by Ambassadors Group, Inc. (NASDAQ EPAX). The cost varies by program, but has been reported at approximately $5,000-$7,000 for a high-school program in a foreign country and approximately $2,000-$3,000 for a domestic program.[6] The tuition cost does not include items such as passport costs, potential fuel surcharges, emergency funds, or souvenirs. The student:teacher ratio is typically no greater than 10:1, and is often much lower.[7]
Some examples of countries where students have visited include Germany, France, Australia, New Zealand, China, Italy, Greece, Fiji, Ireland, England and Russia. Experienced alumni students looking to participate in the program again are given the ability to choose more exotic destinations for their next trip such as South Africa, or Antarctica.
The coordinator of the People to People program reports that more than 344,000 students, adults and athletes have participated in the ambassador programs since 1983. In recent years, the company has had legal issues and controversy regarding its marketing practices and the general safety of the program. [7]