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How much does
the Summer SAGE Program cost?
Please refer to the Summer page of our website for the most up-to-date information
What kinds of
kids are accepted into the Summer SAGE Program?
SAGE selects students who have a genuine
love of learning and who are curious to
discover more about themselves and about
the world. Many students who participate
in our program are high achievers with excellent
grades, but high marks are not an absolute
prerequisite. So long as an applicant is
serious and passionate about learning, she
will be welcome to participate in the Summer
SAGE Program. SAGE also looks for students
who will be respectful of local people and
fellow participants; who will follow the
guidance of Trip Leaders; who demonstrate
an ability to be flexible and adaptable;
who have a positive attitude; who can thrive
in a new and challenging environment; who
are able to work well with others; and who
will make constructive contributions to
the group. Summer SAGE seeks students who
will take full advantage of this transformational
travel opportunity and who have a sincere
interest in growing intellectually, socially,
and emotionally.
Can I participate
in the Summer SAGE Program if I am a graduating
high school senior?
Yes, graduating high school seniors can
participate in the Summer SAGE Program.
Students who have completed 9th grade and
have not yet entered college are eligible
to participate in the program (typically
ages 15-18).
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Is financial
aid available through the Summer SAGE Program?
SAGE offers financial aid for the Academic
Year/Semester Abroad Program, but we do
not have financial aid available for the
shorter-term Summer SAGE Program. If you
have limited financial resources and want
to join our program, explore creative fundraising
ideas such as: sending solicitation letters
to friends and family members; saving money
from a part-time job; turning a hobby or
skill into a money-making activity (i.e.:
photography, tutoring or coaching a child,
website design, gardening, organizing a
neighbor’s office or garage, etc.);
asking for financial assistance from grandparents,
volunteering time with your church/synagogue
in exchange for a financial donation; organizing
fundraising events like a neighborhood garage
sale or holiday bake sale, etc. Be creative!
You can also explore financial assistance
resources at the following websites:
http://www.netaid.org/global_action_awards/application.html
http://www.globalstudiesfoundation.org/ShowContents.cfm?CategoryID=64
http://www.fastweb.com/
Can I earn
school credit for my participation in Summer
SAGE?
Currently, you cannot earn formal school
credit for participation in the Summer SAGE
Program. SAGE does hope to gain accreditation
in the future. You can, however, earn a
“community service” or “service
learning” certificate from Summer SAGE.
If you would like to earn service credit
for school, we can calculate your service
hours and provide you with a service certificate.
The Summer
SAGE trips all look so great; how should
I go about choosing one?
Each of our Summer SAGE trips is designed
with a unique emphasis and trip theme. Whatever
your passion, there is an exciting Summer
SAGE adventure that will fit your personality
and interests. Try to identify what motivates
you to travel overseas and what you hope
to gain from your SAGE experience, then
read through the trip descriptions on our
website (put live link here) and pinpoint
the trip that is the best match for you.
Should
I pack my things in a suitcase?
No, do not pack your things in a suitcase.
Sidewalks are not common in India, and you
are likely to encounter rough terrain and
to make frequent transitions in and out
of vehicles throughout the trip. A suitcase
would be very cumbersome. Pack all of your
things in a quality travel backpack. Try
to use/purchase a backpack that is roomy,
comfortable, lightweight, and that has a
zip-off daypack feature.
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Should
I pack first-aid items, like antihistamines,
pain killers, or anti-diarrheal medicines?
No, it is not necessary to pack basic first-aid
products, such as ibuprofen, antihistamines,
antacids, bandages, etc. Trip Leaders will
carry fully stocked first-aid kits and students
will have easy access to all of these items.
Plus, these items will be readily available
in many parts of India.
When
I apply for a visa, do I really need to
send my passport in the mail to a U.S. Indian
Consulate office?
Yes, to apply for a visa, it is standard
procedure to send your passport in the mail
to a regional U.S. Indian Consulate office
(do not send a copy of the passport; send
the actual passport). You can also apply
for a visa in person at 5 different regional
Indian Consulate offices, but it is usually
more convenient and efficient to send your
visa application by mail (unless you live
very close to one of the Consulate offices).
To alleviate any apprehension you have about
sending your passport through the mail,
and to ensure that it arrives safely, send
your documents via a traceable method such
as: FedEx, UPS, DHL, or registered mail.
To access an online Indian visa application
form and to find out where your regional
Indian Consulate office is located, go to:
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/.
Follow the visa application instructions
on this site, and when you enter your personal
information (i.e.: state of residence, etc),
the site will create a tailor-made application
form for you and will provide you with the
mailing address for the Indian Consulate
office that is nearest to your home state.
Allow sufficient time for processing your
visa application, especially if you are
applying by mail. Visa applications sent
by mail take about 5 business days to process
from the date of receipt.
Do
I need an onward airline ticket in order
to obtain a visa?
No, you do not need to send an onward airline
ticket/proof of an onward airline ticket
in with your visa application. Go ahead
and apply for your visa and don’t worry
about whether airline tickets have already
been purchased.
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How do
I apply for a passport?
To find out how to apply for a passport,
visit the Department of State's Bureau of
Consular Affairs, Office of Passport Services:
http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html.
Follow the instructions on this site. The
U.S. Department of State has over 9,000
passport acceptance facilities around the
country (post offices, clerks of court,
public libraries and other state, county,
township, and municipal government offices).
To find the passport acceptance facility
nearest to your home, enter your zipcode
and search for a local acceptance facility
on the following Department of State webpage:
http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/.
Can
I bring my laptop, cell phone, or iPod with
me on a Summer SAGE trip?
No, yes, and yes. Please do not bring a
laptop computer. You will encounter rugged
conditions while on your trip, so bringing
a laptop is not advisable or allowed. Electricity
is not always available in remote areas,
and the electrical currency is different
in India than it is in the U.S. Moreover,
displaying expensive electronic devices
makes foreigners vulnerable to theft, and
therefore, SAGE generally discourages bringing
electronics on your trip. You may bring
a cell phone with you on the trip, but note
that your cell phone will probably not work
in India and that in order to reduce distractions
and maintain a high quality experience,
there will be limitations on cell phone
usage. A cell phone might be most useful
to communicate with Trip Leaders and family
members in U.S. airports. You may bring
an iPod, MP3 player, or portable music device.
Music players are helpful for passing time
and allowing some comfort during long flights
and bus rides, but there will be times when
using music devices will not be appropriate.
Trip Leaders will advise students about
when it is/is not appropriate to use portable
music players.
How
much money should I bring on the trip?
Major expenses will be covered by SAGE (food,
accommodations, transportation, etc), but
you will need some walking-around money
to purchase items in India (snacks, trinkets,
gifts, phone calls, etc) and also some money
to purchase items in U.S. airports (snacks,
meals, airplane reading, etc). We recommend
students bring about $200 in pocket money.
If you want to buy a special/more expensive
item (i.e.: fancy sari for mom), then bring
more money, but otherwise, $200 should be
sufficient for basic purchases. Students
should carry $100 in cash, and any remaining
money in traveler’s checks. It is often
inconvenient to pay with traveler’s
checks in most locations. It will be easiest
for participants to carry smaller cash denominations
to pay for things on the street and in small
kiosks. Mid-way through the trip, students
can cash traveler’s checks and have
additional cash. We do not recommend converting
U.S. money to Indian rupees here in the
U.S. before departure because the exchange
rate in considerably more expensive here
than in India. The group will convert money
at the airport upon arrival in India. Up
until that point, everyone should carry
U.S. cash.
Which
vaccinations should I get before departure?
The Summer SAGE Program follows vaccination
recommendations that are listed on the U.S.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) website: http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/destinationIndia.aspx.
Please visit the CDC website to view a list
of recommended vaccinations for travel to
India. On this website page, you can search
for travel medicine clinics in your area
and read useful health information to prepare
for your trip. The vaccinations listed on
the CDC website are recommended, but not
required, and you and your doctor will make
the final decision about which vaccinations
you will receive prior to departure. Please
note, however, that anti-malaria medication
is absolutely required for participation
in the Summer SAGE Program. Malaria is a
risk in India, and you should have an adequate
supply of anti-malaria medication. Malaria
medication is usually taken weeks before
departure, so consult with your doctor and
begin taking your medication at the prescribed
pre-departure time. We recommend the use
of the anti-malarial drug Malarone. We do
not recommend the use of Chloroquine, as
it has been shown to be ineffective, nor
do we recommend Mefloquine (also known as
Lariam) as it can have some very serious
side-effects.
How
should American girls dress in India?
Indian males typically dress in a style
that we are used to seeing in the western
hemisphere (i.e.: trousers, with a light-weight,
respectable shirt), while females dress
in a more traditional “Indian”
style. To be respectful of local culture,
SAGE girls will be expected to dress according
to local custom. Boys can wear clothing
that they ordinarily wear at home in the
U.S., but girls are required to dress more
modestly than is typical in the U.S. In
order to be respectful of Indian norms and
to avoid unwanted attention, girls should
not wear: see-through or tight clothing,
low-cut shirts or pants, bikinis, sleeveless
or spaghetti-strap shirts, short skirts,
shorts, and low-rise jeans. Instead, girls
should cover their upper arms and legs,
and wear loose-fit clothing, long skirts,
Capri pants, and light-weight pants.
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What's
the weather going to be like while I'm in
India?
Generally speaking, the climate in India
is hot and tropical, but because India is
a vast country, there are great variations
in weather from region to region. In most
regions, between the months of June to September,
it is the monsoon season and you can expect
rainfall with humidity. In July, the weather
is typically not as hot as it is during
the summer months of May and June. It can
still be hot and humid at lower elevations,
but is more cool and rainy in the mountains.
All Summer SAGE trips will have a mixture
of hot/humid and cool/wet weather. Visit
the following websites for more detailed
information about regional temperatures
and rainfall: http://www.india-weather-guide.com/,
http://www.worldtravelguide.net/country/120/climate/Indian-Subcontinent/India.html
Will
I live with a host family in India?
On SAGE trips, students experience a wide
range of accommodations. On most trips,
participants stay overnight at hotels, motels,
and guest houses. On the “Nomads of
the Himalayas” trip, students spend
some time staying in nomadic villages, camping
overnight in tents. On the “Community
Service in Eastern India” trip, SAGE
participants do have the opportunity to
live with local host families for about
a week.
Will
I be able to communicate with my family
and friends back home during the trip?
Yes, you will be able to communicate with
family and friends during your journey.
Summer SAGE students have periodic access
to the Internet and can email loved ones
back home. They can also use public pay
phones to make occasional phone calls to
the U.S. And, of course, students can communicate
home the old fashioned way—by sending
letters in the mail! Trip Leaders ensure
that students have opportunities to connect
with friends and family back home, but because
travel conditions may be unpredictable at
times (i.e.: Internet access is down due
to heavy rains), SAGE cannot guarantee definite
dates and times for students to contact
home. In order to prevent frequent disruptions
during the program, we do not encourage
parents and family members in the U.S. to
contact students in India. Parents are given
emergency phone numbers for SAGE administrative
staff in the event that they need to urgently
get in touch with a student.
Who
makes airline travel arrangements for Summer
SAGE students?
SAGE administrative staff members make travel
arrangements for Summer SAGE students. Through
experience, we have learned that this approach
is the most efficient and effective. Our
travel specialist books all flight reservations,
both domestic and international, for your
journey. SAGE works with each family to
make convenient and cost-effective travel
arrangements and purchases airline tickets
prior to departure.
What
kind of medical care do Summer SAGE students
have access to in India?
India’s top-rated education system
turns out up to 30,000 doctors and nurses
each year, and because of its excellent
medical professionals and facilities, India
is considered the leading country in promoting
international medical tourism. Unlike the
vast majority of India’s poor who do
not have access to health care, foreigners
have access to top-notch health care in
India and can readily receive medical treatment.
SAGE provides each student with extensive
medical insurance while they are in India
so that they have full access to emergency
care. The insurance is in effect for the
full length of the trip and is effective
24 hours a day worldwide. Some of the insurance
plan benefits include: 100% of routine doctor
or hospital visits, costs incurred for a
medical evacuation, flight costs for a family
member to travel for a bedside visit, etc.
SAGE sends families a detailed description
of the full medical insurance plan prior
to departure.
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How
does SAGE keep students safe during the
trip?
The Summer SAGE Program takes student safety
very seriously. There are inherent risks
that exist in life and in travel, whether
at home or overseas, but SAGE goes to great
lengths to minimize risk. When designing
overseas adventures, SAGE takes numerous
planning precautions to reduce potential
safety risks. For more detailed information
about our risk management strategy, please
read our safety
information document.
How
does SAGE keep students healthy during the
trip?
When the group arrives in India, Trip Leaders
teach all Summer SAGE students about health
precautions during a thorough orientation
workshop. They cover topics such as: staying
hydrated and drinking uncontaminated water;
avoiding street food and uncooked fruits
and vegetables; sanitary hand-washing practices;
taking malaria medication; avoiding mosquito
bites; etc. Trip Leaders also participate
in their own training orientation where
they learn how to prevent student health
risks and how to access medical care services
in India. All Trip Leaders are required
to have certification in CPR and First Aid,
and often have Advanced First Aid or Wilderness
First Responder Certification. SAGE provides
each student with extensive medical insurance
while they are in India so that they have
full access to emergency care.
What
types of people to you hire as Summer SAGE
Trip Leaders?
Our Trip Leaders are seasoned travelers,
have extensive experience with teenage youth,
and have substantial experience in India.
Summer SAGE Trip Leaders are often educators,
former Peace Corps volunteers, or international
aid workers. All of our Trip Leaders are
certified in CPR and First Aid and undergo
a safety background check. SAGE conducts
in-depth interviews with Trip Leader candidates
and selects mature leaders who have sound
judgment, who are competent and responsible,
and who have a proven track record of managing
challenging situations. We also seek leaders
who have strong people skills, are excellent
communicators, have a good sense of humor,
have a passion for travel, and who have
specific expertise in a trip theme or content
area. We have great confidence in our rigorous
selection process and are proud of our exceptional
Trip Leaders.
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