anyone familiar with the People to People organization?

[RazBerryBeret]

my son has been invited to travel with them for the second year in a row, last summer I declined, he's only in sixth grade and never traveled by himself. This year they are going to England and France, what a great opportunity, but I'm still not too sure about it. Wondering if anyone here had some first hand experience? I'm going to check them out online, but wanted to check here first.

[Mnemosyne]

1. My nephew was invited. They attended a meeting last week. Expensive.

He, age 11, needs to raise most of the $7000 cost himself.

It is a great opportunity if you/child can raise that kind of money. Whew!

Good luck! :hi:

[RazBerryBeret]

4. OUCH! $7,000 is a little much...

guess that's why they wait till the meeting to tell you that!

[Mnemosyne]

13. Yeah, he was so disappointed. And we were stunned. How

would an 11yo earn nearly $7000?! That's my entire income for crying out loud!

Sorry to have been the bearer of disappointing news.

[rucky]

2. I went in High School

it was an incredible experience. Not sure if a 13 year old would get as much out of the tourism aspect of it, but the homestays are a really great way to immerse yourself in a culture. I had very warm and friendly families in Germany and Denmark. England was okay, too - though they were kinda stiff.

[RazBerryBeret]

5. yep, I think it would be better

for high schoolers, my son is only 11.

[McCCain4retirment]

3. My cousin went this summer

I think he is a sophmore now in HS,he went to spain and france,and said it was a blast.even though he said he didn't like his host family becuase they were "boring".

but he said it was a good organization.

[RazBerryBeret]

6. Thank you for that info...

so maybe if I decline again this year, he can still be invited again in a couple years...I'm hoping. I don't think I could send him across the world without me right now....

[Native]

7. I'm sure he'll get invited again . . .

both of my kids get invites almost annually. And not just People to People - it seems like once your kids start getting nominated for this stuff it just snowballs.

[low_phreaq]

8. DANGER DANGER!!! - please read this about People to People

My son got an invitation so I decided to do some research. Found this info:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/travel/people_to_people.html

There are letters from people sharing their unpleasant and sometimes dangerous experiences with the program.

One the right side of the page is a link to an investigative report:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/11/people_to_people_intro.html
• P2P: Ambassadors or Tourists?
• P2P CEO "Mortified"
• Parents Object to Student Lists
• Not Everyone's Happy with People to People Trips
• Fast Facts About People to People International
• Update 12/06: It Happens Again
• Deceased Cat Invited to be Student Ambassador
---
News about P2P
• Feds Asked to Probe Student's Death on People to People Tour
• Student 'Ambassador' Dies Neglected & Alone
• People to People Invites Dead Girl ... Again
• People to People Executive Sentenced to Prison
• People to People "Clarifies" Its Invitation Policy
• Student Travel Service Still Misleading Parents
• Student Travel Service Agrees To Modify Marketing

I believe I also read somewhere that they had misrepresented their connection with President Eisenhower, but I can't remember where I saw that.

[RazBerryBeret]

10. ok...wow...

thanks for that link....
that's an eye-opener!

[low_phreaq]

11. You're welcome n/t

[Puregonzo1188]

9. When I was in High School, I wrote an article for the newspaper about someone who want on People

to People trip to China. I don't remember that much about it, but he seemed to enjoy the trip. And nothing bad happened to him.

[Photovoltaic]

12. Sounds like you've already made up your mind

Your son is much too young to participate in this program. The People to People Organization, which has been operating for only 50 years, had no idea what they were doing when they invited your son. It is filled with generally incompetent people, who don't really know the appropriate age for travel, or whether or not they can handle children your son's age. And trust me, their staff definitely wouldn't know how to handle an 11 year old. And on top of that, England and France are VERY dangerous places.

Wouldn't do it. Nope nope. You definitely making the right decision in choosing to shelter your child from the dangers and vagaries of the world.

[RazBerryBeret]

16. Thank you Photovoltaic....

maybe when he's a "mature" high schooler (hee hee!),
but for now I'd be much too nervous....

and I think he would be too, he's trying to figure out his first year in Middle School, leaving things in his locker, leaving his saxophone on the bus, the first entire week of school he didn't go to the bathroom all day cause he was afraid it would make him late for his next class!!! ahhh...to be 11 again!

thanks again 4 your insight!

[RainDog]

18. england and france are very dangerous places?!?!?

wtf. they're no more dangerous than the U.S. - it all depends on where you are and what time of day it is and what you are doing. actually, I've always felt safer in a large European city, as long as I didn't go hang out on the streets with prostitutes in the windows.

where did you get your information about p2p? Only operating for 50 years? that's a pretty good track record for an organization that tries to give U.S. students a taste of what life is like elsewhere.

As I noted below, in lots and lots of places in northern Europe, children take ski vacations with their classes when they are 11 and 12. The teachers are the ones who serve as the "chaperones" on these trips. The trips are a tradition and kids are not considered too young to participate - all kids do it.

so your absolute certainty about travel at various ages reveals more about you than any child. I wouldn't have my kids travel in a group at that age, but my kids have traveled to Europe at least a half dozen times since they were toddlers and it was a great experience. In their cases, we were also visiting family members, but different kids are different.

When I was nine I went on a 40 mile horse trip w/o my parents and I was thrilled. I think travel is one of THE best experiences for kids. How you do it.. with them, with them in a group - that's up to each family to figure out.

[Justice]

14. My child traveled to England and France with P2P at age 12

It is expensive yes.

The key is who are the particular leaders of the delegation your child would travel with. Forget about the people in Spokane or MO -- the "organization", and focus solely on who you are turning over your child's safety to. If you are not more than 100% confident in the leaders, don't send your child. Period.

Our child had fantastic leaders who we completely trusted. Our child had an amazing experience - and the course of our child's life is changed as a result. Much more interested in world events, news and politics. Much more aware and responsible - grades in school are very strong. Very confident about right and wrong, and willing to stand up for others and to call out others for bad behavior.

The group also went to Normandy and the memorials - which was very sobering for them.

[RazBerryBeret]

15. Justice, that sounds like an amazing experience...

and that is exactly what I would want my child to take away from a trip like that.
and it makes sense that it is very dependent on the leader of the individual trip, just as a teacher can make a huge difference in a classroom! thanks!

[RainDog]

17. I went on a People to People trip when I was in high school.

along with a dozen other people I knew. about a dozen more I knew went the year before I did. This was years and years ago.

It was the best experience of my life up until that time and it absolutely changed me forever in a good way. I have nothing but compliments for the organization.

I had the opportunity to go to the Soviet Union and meet kids there b/c of P2P - as well as a lot of other places. Living in homes of people wasn't all that great for me, but one of my friends got to go to a rock concert in Copenhagen b/c of the teenagers where she stayed.

We were all between the ages of 16 and 18 when we went overseas. I don't know what it would be like for younger kids.

I married a guy from Belgium (probably b/c I discovered how much I liked those euro-guys... ;) and we lived there for a while. Kids there go on ski trips to Switzerland as class vacation trips all the time - it's considered totally normal for elementary and middle school kids to travel with teachers and their class for fun.