Description

Aloha from the islands of Hawai'i!! Teens are you ready for an intense mentoring program? Well this is it. A full week of working hands on with homeless children. Guiding them through their scheduled activities to help with their self-esteem while teaching you the mentoring skills that will help you develop leadership skills as well.

This camp session is a portion of our full 4-week program, but designed to provide you the opportunity to earn 120 community service hours. So, if you are ready to make a difference in the lives of homeless children over your summer break, immerse your self in the Hawaiian culture and make new friends to last a lifetime all in 2 weeks, then this is perfect for you!
We have only 4 spots open for this session and matching scholarships for those who need.

Here is an overview of our camp!!
Once you arrive on the island of Hawai'i you will have orientation and get ready to meet your camp buddies (homeless children). The second day we head up to the beautiful mountain retreat for the week long sleepover camp with the little one's. Here your days will start off with breakfast teaching the children proper manners, social skills and hygiene practices. Then our daily rotations of activities, exercises and special guests. Lunch will be our almost half way point and then the continuing of activities. To start the finish our day we will enjoy dinner together before getting ready for bed. An activity all in itself. Teens will help the children get ready for bed, teach hygiene and then read stories, play games, or watch our scheduled movie. Tucking them in around 8 p.m. and then "hiding" in their own cabins....lol.

Some of our activities include science day, theater, music, summer olympics, monster movie night, water wars, play presentation, Hawaiian games, glamour night and more!!

Well, we really don't expect teens to work all day and all evening with these children. That would be too much to ask. So, of course, with their hearts and souls in mind, we take them on excursions to some of the most beautiful places on the islands, including sacred lands that even the tourist don't have access too.

The teens will explore the waterfalls, swim and even jump off the rope into the pools below the falls. Other exploration will take the teens to Waipio Valley, not like you see on t.v. or other have visited, but past the gates, and down the slops to the hidden sacred lands and black sand beaches. Teens will spend the afternoon hiking and swimming in a land not available to just anyone. Those who visit must be accompanied by native Hawaiians with ancestors from the Waipio Valley, which in our case we are lucky to have them on our board of directors.

Teens will also visit the Paniolo Country (Hawaiian Cowboy Country) and visit the local Starbucks, because by now, the will need one....lol.

After our week at Camp Kalopa National Park, we will see our camp buddies off with their parents and then head out to the West side of the island for fun in the sun and relaxation. Teens will embark the dolphin cruise and swim with the turtles on turtle beach. They will sunbathe and swim at the "teens voted" best beach on the islands, watch night movies on the lawn and enjoy bbq at the condo resort in Waikaloa. We will explore the famous Ali'i Drive and night entertainment that varies from beach volley ball, live bands, presentations, and more.

After our weekend break teens will return to yet another place of the island and situate themselves briefly at a beach front hotel in Hilo. They will spend their time getting ready for the their presentation of an Authentic Lu'au showing off their new found talents of Hula, Ukulele playing and make their own hula skirts from ti' leaf. Teens will learn the art of making authentic lau lau from generational receipts and present their lu'au to the families of their camp buddies. Teens will be able to give their buddies and their siblings their new backpacks filled with school supplies, new outfits, and shoes at the graduation lu'au as well.

Now, last chance to be a teen in Hawai'i, as we board the plane to island hop over to the island of O'ahu where we will spend our remaining day on the sands of Waikiki Beach. Walk along the infamous tiki torch lite paths to our karaoke on the beach farewell party! Teens will have a once in a lifetime experience as they say ALOHA to all their new found friends, and then say good night before departing our islands and our 'ohana (family).

Highlights

So many highlights in just a few weeks time:
* Earn 120 community service hours working hands on with homeless children
* Build self-esteem, leadership and mentoring skills
* Learn the Hawaiian Culture from Native Hawaiians
* Explore the island of Hawiai'i and O'ahu
* Visit Native and Sacred Lands
* Learn to Hula and make your own hula skirt
* Swim with dolphins, turtles and your new found friends
* Did I forget to mention you are doing all this in Hawai'i??
* Oops almost forgot to mention....this is tax-deductible!! Yes, that is right, your parents can write this off on their taxes!! How great is that?

Travel Types

• Dancing
• Eco Tours
• Environmental Studies
• Hiking
• Heritage Tourism
• Kayaking (Sea)
• Off Road / 4X4 Driving
• Nature Tours
• Native Culture Studies
• Overland Tours
• Sailing
• Snorkeling
• RainForest Tours
• Sports
• Student Tours
• Tours
• Volunteering
• Summer Camp
• Climbing

Qualifications

* Teens are required to fill out an application to apply. Teens are accepted based on their GPA of 3.2 or higher, and two recommendation letters as specified. Teens will also need a sports or release from the doctor of good health.
* Open to High School Students and class of 2012. Teens must be between the ages of 14-19.
* This is a hands-on program working with young children, so we require that teens enjoy working with children and had some experience with children rather it be younger siblings, or babysitting, working at the youth group, etc.

Type of Programs

• High School Study Abroad
• Adventure Travel
• Community Service / Volunteerism
• Cultural Exploration
• Student Tours

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD3,950 with USD500.00 match scholarships availble

Cost Includes:

• Travel while in host country
• Housing
• Food
• Excursions
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Written materials pre-departure
• Written materials abroad

Program Fees Include:

This is an all exclusive tour. Once your teen lands on the directed island, the rest is on us. We even provide basic hygiene, camp t-shirts, memory books, all snacks, meals, travel between islands, of course 24/7 staff, and everything we feel the teen needs to be comfortable in the new climate and environment. The only thing you provide is the spending money for their "extra's" and souvenirs they wish to purchase.

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

yes

We expect the teens to have worked with young children in some sort of environment. Teens will be spending half their time with the little one's and need to enjoy being around children in general

Volunteer Types

This Program is open to

American, European, Canadian, Australian and Asian Participants.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Group living
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

in Groups of 4-24

Application Process Involves

• Written Application
• Letters of Reference
• Phone/Video Interview
• Physical Exam/Health Records
• Transcript
• Other
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

2 days after application rec.

Project Hawai'i with Cultural Institute of America's Mission Statement

Our mission is to empower teens to make a difference in their tomorrow while making changes in present through interactive solutions. Providing the teens leadership skills to enhance the lives of homeless children and helping to end the cycle of poverty in America. While learning about and exploring the Cultural aspects from true Hawaiians and Fostering Cultural Exchange, awareness and acceptance.

Year Founded

1990