You can find all the information you need for your first day on your specific Junior Camp page. The Junior Camp team will tell you where to go when you first arrive.
The package fee includes all entry fees to attractions (activities take place Monday to Friday and a full day on Saturday), your accommodation cost, and a full board meal plan (3 meals per day plus snacks), which are provided by your homestay family or the Residence.
Public transport fees are not included, so students should bring between $22-$28 per week to cover their public transportation to and from the school, and during activities. Students should also bring enough money to cover any personal needs, including shopping for any personal items and/or souvenirs.
Students at UBC and McGill residences MUST bring a $100 cash deposit which they will give to the Junior Camp team when they arrive at the residence. This deposit will be used to cover the replacement of lost keys or any possible damage to the residence and will be returned to the student at the end of the program, provided no property is lost or damaged.
Depending on the length and dates of a student’s program, the most cost-effective option for transit varies greatly. We have found that it is easy and cost-effective for students to purchase transit fares once they arrive. Homestay families and ILSC staff can help students choose the best fare option for their needs.
The program provides a wonderful opportunity to explore a new culture, improve your language skills, and meet other youth from around the world. This exciting opportunity is fun, but it can also be challenging. Once you arrive, you may experience “jetlag” which leaves you feeling a little bit tired for the first few days until your body naturally adjusts to a different time-zone. Eating unfamiliar food might also affect your stomach until you adjust to new food. Be patient, your body will naturally adjust to these new experiences. It is also a good idea tell your host family how you are feeling so that they can support you.
Feeling homesick is very common, especially if it is your first time away from your home, and/or family on your own. Being in a new country, where everyone speaks a different language, can cause a bit of “culture shock,” and be disorienting. The best way to cure homesickness is to talk about your life, experiences and feelings with friends, teachers, and host-family members. Expressing how you feel, and sharing what you love about your home will help you feel better. Writing how you’re feeling in a journal can also help.
ILSC’s English or French Only policy is in place to help you learn the language faster! Although it might feel challenging at first, the people you meet at ILSC will understand your efforts and frustrations and they will help you as much as possible. If you meet a person who does not understand, try not to get upset. They may not know what it is like to learn another language, or they may just be having a bad day. No matter what, keep trying and soon your English or French will be better than ever!
ILSC campuses are in several major cities, which are very safe. Students are accompanied by ILSC staff on all activities and stay with their host family in the evenings, so they are rarely alone. However, students may travel between their homestay and the ILSC campus on their own. Although the cities are safe and residents are usually friendly and helpful, students should still be attentive to their surroundings and should report anything that looks suspicious or makes them feel uncomfortable to either an ILSC staff member, or their homestay family. Even in the safest of cities, students should stay alert and aware of their surroundings after dark, and travel with others if possible.