Frequently Asked Questions | Junior Program
The following is a list of the most commonly asked questions we receive from families prior to arriving at the Junior Program. These questions address a wide range of potential concerns from living accommodations and dining options to medical needs and trip selection. If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact our admissions office.
All members of the Exploration community are expected to follow all rules and procedures, and to treat others with honesty, civility, and respect. When students do not live up to these standards, they are confronted directly by a staff member from the Dean’s Office. The Program tries to deal with disciplinary issues fairly, consistently, and as quickly as possible. Drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes are off limits at the Junior Program. Any student found in possession of or using such substances is liable for immediate dismissal. In the spring, a full set of rules and guidelines will be sent to all enrolled students.
Frequently Asked Questions
| General |
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| What is Exploration’s mission?
Exploration Summer Programs creates a dynamic environment of intellectual inquiry, responsible decision making and spirited adventure. Led by enthusiastic teachers, our students are encouraged to respect the differences that make us individuals and to find the common ground that makes us a community. At its heart, Exploration inspires students to challenge themselves, discover the world of people and ideas, and experience the joy of learning. |
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Why is a summer at the Junior Program a good investment?
On so many levels, a summer at the Junior Program exposes children to worlds they might not otherwise experience: children from many different countries and different parts of our own country; courses they would not get to take elsewhere, taught in an exciting, hands on manner; a caring, enthusiastic and well-trained staff all combine to open minds and fuel imaginations. The most frequent comment we receive on our parents’ surveys is that Explo significantly increased their children’s self-confidence – socially and academically. Self confidence, a sense of the world as full of opportunities and possibilities, learning how to learn – these are habits of mind and spirit that are best started early, and all are a focus of the Junior Program. |
| Is Exploration more like a school or a camp?
Learning is central to Exploration’s mission. We believe that learning occurs throughout the entire Exploration day — both inside and outside of the classroom — and our staff strives to create moments of learning for students in all facets of life at the Program. We recognize the value of teaching within a classroom, and intensively train our instructors in curricular design and best practices in teaching. We also recognize that learning occurs outside the classroom — during impromptu conversations in the dorms, on trips, and during a pick-up game of soccer. As such, Exploration is a unique program that combines the best of school and the best of camps, fusing interactive teaching within the classroom with opportunities for fun and social engagement outside of it to create a dynamic environment of learning in all facets of student life. |
| What experience does Exploration have running summer programs?
Exploration has been a leader in educational enrichment for over 30 years now, and our programs have always reflected a dedication to the best practices in education and student life. Founded in 1976, Exploration has expanded to three campuses (one for each program), and senior members of the Exploration leadership are often asked to consult with schools and other organizations on topics from student life to training teachers. |
| Is Exploration the only summer program offered on the campus of St. Mark’s school? There is a music program of fewer than 20 students that meets for two weeks and uses a performing arts space that we do not use. Otherwise, we are the only program at St. Mark's. We have full, exclusive access to dorms, athletic fields, classroom spaces, and the dining hall. |
| How do I get in touch with families who have attended Exploration in the past? Our Admissions office (781.762.7400) has lists of families from the previous years who have agreed to serve as references. Call to get the contact info for a family who will be able to tell you more details about the program. |
| What happens at an informational session? May I enroll while I’m there? At a Junior Program informational session on the St. Mark’s campus, there is a presentation that lasts for about 30 minutes, usually given by the Head of the Program. You will learn more about Exploration's general mission and philosophy, the different aspects to our Program, and the schedule of a typical day. Afterward there is a brief tour of the campus and a chance for questions. If you have paperwork ready, we are happy to take that back to our office. Otherwise we will encourage you to fill out the application on the website. |
| Day Students |
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| What are the hours of the day program?
The "regular" hours of the day program are 8:45am until 4:00pm. However, students may elect to come as early as 7:30am for the Breakfast Club, and can opt to stay as late as 8:45pm every evening for dinner and the Main Event. |
| Is there an additional cost to coming early or staying late?
There is a small charge for breakfast and dinner, but no other cost beyond that unless a student stays late for an evening field trip, in which case there is a charge for the fieldtrip as there is on weekends. |
| Are there opportunities for day students to spend the night on campus? Day students may choose to stay over on one weekend night each week, either Friday or Saturday. They will have a sleepover in the library, separated by gender and supervised by staff members for the night. |
| Can day students participate in evening and weekend trips?
Day students are welcome, even encouraged to come along on any or all of the trips. And most day students take us up on this offer. |
| What is the difference between being a residential student and being a day student? Well, the obvious difference is where one sleeps for the night. But during the day, there would be no way of knowing a day student from a residential student. Day students have full access to all aspects of the program – classes, activities weekend trips and workshops. And they can arrive as early as 7:30 a.m. and stay as late as 8:45 p.m. For residential students, staying overnight with students from all over the country and the world is a very special experience, and most do gain a great deal of confidence from being away from home and learning how to be independent. |
| How is the day program at Exploration different than most day programs?
Perhaps the biggest difference is that they will share classes, sports and activities with students from all over the country and all over the world. That is hard to replicate in a local day camp. Weekend trips, opportunities to stay overnight, and Exploration’s unique curriculum and teaching philosophy all make the day experience with Explo one-of-a-kind. And for the convenience of parents (and the excitement of our day students), we have early drop-off (as early as 7:30a.m.) and late pick up (as late as 8:45p.m.), all without extra fees (except meals). |
| Do day students belong to a group? How does it function?
Yes, every day student has a day group, with students of the same age and gender. Each day group has a day adviser. The day group meets in the mornings outside for attendance and sometimes day group activities and checks in with each other at the numerous assemblies throughout the day. |
| Where do day students go during the day if they don’t have dorms?
Residential students spend very little time in their dorms. During the day, all the students use the campus equally. Day students have lockers in which to store their belongings, and any who choose to stay late have activities with staff while the residential students have quiet time on the floors. |
| How does bus service work at the Junior Program?
Buses are offered from a variety of nearby locations to Southborough, including stops at Wellesley College for students with siblings at the Intermediate Program. Buses run on Monday through Friday, at the regular arrival and departure times. Typically, for two special Main Events each summer there is a special late bus so all students have the option of staying late. For more details on the stops for this summer, contact our Admissions Office at 781.762.7400. |
| What are your policies regarding cell phones and electronics?
Cell phones are not allowed at the Junior Program and should a student have one, we will take it from the student. Most other electronic devices - game boys, laptops, etc. - are also not allowed, as there really is no time for their use. Ipods are allowed for bus rides or for falling asleep during an overnight, but not during the day so as not to hinder social interaction. |
| How do you accommodate special dietary requirements?
We already maintain and require our campus and students to be nut-free during the summer, and have experience dealing with a variety of food allergies and needs. Students with special dietary requirements should call our Norwood office (781.762.7400) before the program starts to make appropriate arrangements. |
| Activities, Trips, + Main Events |
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| What do students do when they are not in class?
Exploration has a full program of classes, activities, workshops, trips, main events, etc. Classes, while important, are only a part of the Exploration experience. At least two periods a day (three for residential students), students choose from a line-up of 8 to 10 activities. Some of these are athletic, like the sport of the day. Others are skill-or craft-based. Other choices might be a discussion group, a chess match, quiet reading or any of dozens or more choices are on hand throughout the summer. |
| How much unstructured time do students have at the Junior Program?
By design, students at the Junior Program have very little unstructured time. The day is fast paced, and participation is required each period. For 7th graders, who are working on developing their social relations at a different level than our younger students, there is something called “Seventh Hour” once or twice per week. This takes place during the Main Event, and 7th grade students are given the choice to have well supervised but unstructured social time in the front quad. |
| Are students required to participate in activities?
Yes, all students must participate in the activities offered for their age group. However, since choice is very important at the Junior Program, the decisions of which activities to take every day are up to the individual student. |
| What athletic options do you have available for students?
There are a number of athletic classes offered as Wednesday Workshops; these offer actual instruction three times throughout the session in a particular athletic discipline. During our varying activities offered daily, there are always some athletic options, including an introduction to a new “Sport of the Day” (which could be anything from lacrosse to non-contact rugby and many others) by our two Athletic Directors. |
| Is there daily free swim?
Weather permitting, an opportunity to use the pool is offered during every activity period during the day. Typically, one of these periods is pool games, and one is free swim. Students are always supervised by staff members who are trained and certified lifeguards. |
| What are evening Main Events?
Most evening Main Events are a performance of some sort that we bring to campus: magicians, fantastic acrobatic jugglers, musicians, and marionettes. Other Main Events include Carnival Night, On-Campus Movie Night, staff improv and competitions, talent shows, and the Final Party. |
| What types of trips do you offer?
One day each weekend is dedicated to more academic trips (e.g.. the Science Museum, New England Aquarium, Battleship Cove, on-campus workshops), while the other day offers more recreational field trips (e.g. Water Country, Canobie Lake Park (amusement park), hiking Mt. Monadnock, the trapeze school, the circus, or a professional theater production in Boston). |
| How and when does trip selection occur?
For residential students, RAs will help students pick three choices for each day on the Monday of each week. Day students will have trip sign-up forms in their paperwork from the start of the session, and the forms are due on the Monday of each week. The choices are entered into our database and trips are assigned accordingly. Students are notified of their trips for the weekend by Thursday. |
| Will my child always get his/her top choice of trips?
Although most trips are available to all interested students, some are limited in size. To ensure that each student has an equal opportunity to attend limited trips, our trip database randomly assigns students to available trips based on their preferences and previous trip assignments. During the summer, these assignments are tracked to ensure no one is consistently assigned his/her third choice. With this system, most Junior Program students do get their top trip choices—though it is unlikely a student will be assigned his/her first choice every time, particularly if s/he signs up for multiple limited or special evening trips. |
| How are trips supervised?
Once students have been assigned to trips, we assign the appropriate number of faculty to chaperone that fieldtrip. All students must wear their Explo lanyards at all times, and staff members all wear bright orange t-shirts so they can be easily spotted. A dual attendance system is used to ensure that all students are properly accounted for when we depart St. Mark's and later when we depart to the trip location. While on the trip, most venues require that students stay with a staff member at all times. At some theme parks, seventh graders are allowed to travel in groups, provided that they check in with a designated staff member every half hour. |
| Health Care + Medical Issues |
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| What medical facilities are on campus?
The Junior Program has its own Health Office right on campus, staffed 24 hours a day. Nurses in the Health Office are available to answer health questions, dispense medication, address medical concerns, and schedule medical, physical therapy, and other types of appointments. In addition these services, our Health Office coordinates with Southborough Pediatrics, which is within a mile of campus, for anything that requires a physician. |
| How are medications distributed to students?
The nurses in our Health Office dispense all medications. Our Health Office is open from 7 a.m. - 11 p.m. daily, and students are brought to the Health Office at the appropriate times to get any necessary medication. With very few exceptions (e.g.. epi-pens), students are not allowed to have any medications, including over-the-counter medications, in their rooms. All students who use prescription medication will need to come to the program with their prescriptions filled by CampMeds. Once a student is accepted into the program, additional information about CampMeds will be sent home. |
| What is the procedure when a student is ill?
If a student doesn’t feel well, he or she would be brought to the Health Center on campus, which is staffed 24 hours a day. The nurse on duty would determine the next steps, which may include bed rest in the Health Center, a trip to the doctor’s office or, in an emergency, a trip to the emergency room. |
| How do you accommodate students with food allergies?
The Junior Program is a nut-free campus. We have children with other food allergies, and we have been able to accommodate their needs as well. Please call the Head of the Program to discuss any food issues that you anticipate. We will make every effort to make sure that all of our children are safe and feel comfortable with the food we serve. |
| Does my child have to be covered by US health insurance?
Yes. We can provide short-term health insurance for any family that needs it at modest cost. |
| How do I enroll with your insurance provider for the summer? What is the cost? Families are able to enroll in Exploration’s insurance policy on the program application for $60 per session. |
| Student Body |
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| What kind of student is a good fit for Exploration?
The Junior Program is proud and happy that we have been able to work with a wide array of students. Despite differences in how our minds and bodies work, the one thing that our students have in common is an intellectual curiosity, a desire to know why things happen and how things work. Good grades in school may or may not be an indicator of a good fit. A lot of Exploration students do very well in school, and many have been called gifted. But some of our other students find that our hands-on, project based classes fit their way of learning better than school, and so find Exploration a more comfortable match than their traditional schools at home. |
| How many students attend the Junior Program each session?
Over the last 10 years, we usually have an enrollment of around 400 students. Approximately half are day students, and the other half are residential. |
| How many students stay for the full 6 weeks?
Most years, the percentage of six-week students has been between 15 to 20%. |
| Geographically, where do most of your students come from?
Because the Junior Program is around 50% day students, many students do come from Massachusetts and the Northeast. But we do have a significant international population of between 15 and 20%, and students come to us from all over the country as well. |
| What is the boy/girl ratio?
Most years, the boy/girl ratio is 50/50. |
| Do most students come to Exploration alone or do they come with a friend?
While some students do come to the Junior Program with friends or siblings, the vast majority come to Explo by themselves, ready to meet new people. |
| Are students at Exploration cliquey? What do you do to ensure that all students feel included? We are told by our students that Explo is a very welcoming place, one that you are free to be who you really are, and that cliques are not really a problem. Each session, around 50% of the students are new to the Program, so there are always new friendships being formed every day. |
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How does your Program approach cultural differences?
Before students arrive, the staff practice solutions to the problems that may arise because of cultural differences. Through scenarios, role-plays, and talks from professionals with experience in schools with diverse student bodies, our staff and administration prepare to gracefully integrate our wide-ranging student body. We have found that creating an atmosphere on campus that emphasizes respect and celebrates differences has been the key to making sure that a wonderful mix of students and staff enjoy their summer. |
| Safety + Supervision |
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| How is safety and security handed at the Junior Program?
The St. Mark's campus is located in quiet, bucolic Southborough. While Exploration is basically the only group using the campus, we still require all students and staff to wear lanyards and IDs. This way, we can keep track of our own and immediately identify someone who is not associated with the program. The dorms and main building all lock at night and only those with pass cards can access the buildings. The Southborough Police and Fire stations are literally next door to St. Mark’s, and their response time is very short. |
| What is the staff to student ratio?
The staff to student ratio is typically 1:5. This does not include our bus drivers, nurses, or the St. Mark's staff in the buildings and dining halls. |
| What is the hiring process for summer staff?
In the fall, we hold info sessions and interviews at a number of top colleges around the country, and students from other institutions are welcome to apply as well. Any prospective staff member must interview with one of the programs. Anyone we hire must have three positive references, as well as undergo criminal and sexual offender registry background checks. |
| How do you ensure that all students receive personal attention?
Because we have a very favorable student to staff ratio of approximately 1 to 5, we have many eyes with which to watch our students. Living groups never have more than 14 students, and more commonly 8 to 12, and have two Residential Advisors living on the floor. Our Day Advisors have a maximum of 8 advisees. Students meet with their advisors many times throughout the day. Advisors really get to know their students well. Class enrollment is capped at 14, and many classes have lower enrollment. |
| What is supervision like around male/female interactions?
While our students are not as interested in the other gender as they will soon become, we are nonetheless careful in how we supervise our boys and girls. All classes, and most activities and workshops are open to both boys and girls. For activities and workshops other than classes, we usually have two staff members of both genders who are leading. In some cases, we may have a sport such as “Basketball for Girls” that is not open to boys. We sometimes offer Activities such as “Boy Talk” or Girl Talk,” where our students get into single gender groups for carefully led discussions. |
| Are students allowed to go wherever they want at the Program?
Students are always carefully supervised at the Program. They may go to the restroom while classes are in session, but in no circumstances would a student be allowed to go, for example, back to his or her dorm room, or to the other campus, or to the Health Center without a staff member escorting him or her. |
| How are trips supervised?
Explo trips are supervised by the same staff that teach in the classrooms, lead activities, live in the dorms or advise day students. Our students are known by the staff. Each staff member is assigned a small group of students for whom they are responsible. For a few special trips, 7th graders are allowed to be in groups without a staff member escorting them, but they must check in with a staff member once every hour. In all other circumstances, our students attend all trips with a staff member present in their group. |
| Residential Students |
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| Where do the students live? What does a student room look like?
Because St. Mark's is a wonderful old school, there is a wide variety in size, shape, and style to the student rooms. All have the same amenities, but there is no one version.
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| How do living groups function?
Every living group has two Residential Advisors (RAs), at least one of whom is on duty at all times. Living groups eat breakfast and dinner together (and lunch if they want to!) and check in during the many assemblies throughout the day. Quiet time on the hall occurs in the hour before dinnertime, and the group often plays and bonds together at 8:45 check-in, before bedtime. The living group is a great starting place to make friends and experience a wide variety of diversity amongst room- and hall-mates. |
| Do boys and girls live in the same dorm?
In the dorm, all floors are single gender, with two staff members of that gender living on the floor with the students. The bathrooms are assigned to only one gender. It would be against the rules for a boy or girl to be on the floor of the other gender. |
| How does the housing roommate situation work at Exploration? Can my child pick a roommate or are they assigned? Students may request one other student (same age, same gender) to be a roommate or be in the same living group. If both students request one another the request is usually granted, but not guaranteed. Most students do not come with a friend or have a specific request, and we use a housing questionnaire to match roommates and create balanced halls. By the design of the Program, students spend most of their time off the halls and out of their rooms, and must only spend time in their room at lights out. |
| How does the laundry service work?
Laundry is sent out Wednesday and returned on Monday. Students are given individual laundry bags and RAs help students fill out a form about what clothing they are sending, so they can check the form when the clothing is returned. Students should bring enough clothing for ten days. |
| This would be my child’s first time away from home. How do you handle homesickness at the Program?
We regard homesickness as normal when a child experiences his or her first time away from home. By design, we keep our students very busy and moving throughout the day, so that there is little time for worrying or feeling lonely. Despite this, most students will feel some homesickness, and our staff is trained to deal with this. We will be in contact with the parents or guardians of any child with whom we feel that homesickness is unusual, so that we can strategize effective ways for the child to be more confident and comfortable. Most children say that homesickness disappeared quickly as they got involved with the program. |
| What are your policies regarding cell phones and calling home?
Because we are trying to build support systems for children on campus, cell phones are not allowed at the program. If a student will be traveling alone and needs a cell phone for that purpose, they may leave it in the Dean's Office safe while at the Program, and it will be returned to them at the end. We have found that limited contact with home and family makes the transition easier, as students are forced to develop their own support network at the Program. Thus, students may not call home during the first week. Starting on the second Monday, students may make short calls home during quiet hour. To make sure you are in place to receive it, the first phone call will be scheduled when students arrive on campus. |
| How can I tell if he/she is ready? What should I do to prepare?
While this is not a science, over the 15 years of the Junior Program, we have found that the vast majority of our students are ready for this experience, often more ready than their parents! Young children are still adult-oriented – they make their needs known with little of the self-consciousness that older adolescents have, and so it is easier to know what they need, and how to provide for them. If a student has expressed interest in going to a sleep away program, then that is a good sign that they are ready. That being said, it’s not unusual that a student would feel both excited and nervous at the same time. |
| Is there internet access for students?
No, there is not. Students may receive email through a form on our summer website (http://www.explo.org/jr_summer/), which we print out and place in their mailbox. They will not have access to computers unless they take a class that involves them. Most admit it was nice to take a break from computers and games and the like. |
| What is the food like at St. Mark’s?
The beautiful dining hall serves food that keeps its customers in mind. Each meal will have three or four hot entrees, from lasagna to chicken fingers, hamburgers to rice pilaf and many things in between. There is a full salad bar, cereal available throughout the day, and beverages from fruit juices to water (but no soft drinks). We regulate how many desserts a student may grab, but generally, all are welcome to return for seconds. In our student surveys, we tend to be rated very highly for our food. |
| How do you accommodate special dietary requirements?
We already maintain and require our campus and students to be nut-free during the summer, and have experience dealing with a variety of food allergies and needs. Students with special dietary requirements should call our Norwood office (781.762.7400) before the program starts to make appropriate arrangements. |
| How do you coordinate travel to and from campus on arrival and departure days?
Most students are dropped off by parents on the opening day of the program, but many also arrive by plane. We send a full complement of staff members to the airport (Logan airport in Boston), where we pick up our students, and bring them to the program. On departure days, parents pick up their children on the final Saturday morning of the program. For those who are flying, we leave at various times during the morning to accommodate the flight times of our students. |
| Does Exploration offer any assistance in planning travel to and from the Program? In order to help families make travel arrangements for their children, Exploration has partnered with Colpitts World Travel. Colpitts is a leader in international travel assistance and is capable of helping families plan safe, full-service travel arrangements to and from Exploration. By booking through Colpitts, you can quickly determine how many other Exploration students are already on a flight and whether the flight arrives during our regular airport pick-up hours. If it does not, Colpitts can book travel between the airport and campus through another Exploration transportation partner, BostonCoach. Colpitts negotiates discounts with the major airlines and therefore, their pricing is very competitive. |
| Is there flexibility around arrival and departure days?
No, there really isn't flexibility around arrival and departure. We do not have the staff to make specialized trips to the airport, and our program and curriculum are designed for the full three weeks. Students who arrive late or leave early are disrupting their classes and living groups and missing out on vital aspects of the program. If you think you have an exception, please contact our office (781.762.7400) and speak to the Head of the Program. |
| Can I visit my child or sign out my child during the Program?
Starting on the second Monday of the Program, students may be signed out by an authorized adult between 4:00pm and 8:45pm. Because we don't want to induce homesickness or sadness amongst the students with families that are not close enough to visit, families need to take their visit off campus and are encouraged to go out to dinner or to make evening plans nearby. |
| For residential students attending both sessions, what happens on the transitional weekend? That weekend, which we commonly refer to as Intersession, there are typically between 15 and 25 residential students staying for the second session. They spend Saturday and Sunday going on a fieldtrip, and doing activities such as ceramics, or bowling and movies, and spend Saturday night have a slumber party in the West Campus dorms. Alternatively, students may be signed out overnight by their families. |
| If parents have any concerns during the summer, who would they contact? How? Students are assigned Residential Directors (RDs) or Day Directors (DDs) who oversee their Living/Day Groups and are part of the Dean's Office. In most cases, they are the best place to start with any concerns or questions, and if necessary they can direct the call elsewhere. |
| International Students |
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| Why have so many international families chosen Exploration over the years? We are told that our long history with international students has made it comfortable for families to trust Exploration. It is exciting for international students to meet students from the United States, as well as from all over the world. At Exploration, students get to practice their English speaking skills in an accepting and helpful atmosphere that immerses students in American culture while also being very open to learning about the cultures of our international students. We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) as a course for all students who want to learn more of the basics of the English language and American Culture. Our weekend trips further expose international students to sites of cultural and historical interest in the Northeast, the birthplace of America. |
| Students at the Junior Program are very young. Is this really a good age to send international students? Yes. In fact, if a student is looking to become fluent in English, there is no better time. Young children are like sponges, and their ability to soak up a new language is better the younger they are. Because we make classes, activities, and trips so much fun, students do not feel like they are in school and are very eager to get involved in the Program. Junior Program students improve their spoken English quite quickly. |
| I understand that the younger a student is in an English immersion setting, the faster their English will improve. But my child is young and not very independent. How will he/she be cared for? We understand that international families are anxious about sending their children far from home. Exploration understands children very well. We know what they are capable of and we have high expectations of them. But we also know where they will struggle. We make sure they change their clothes daily, that they brush their teeth daily, and that they wash their hair and take showers regularly. We take students to meals and make sure they are eating properly. The day is very structured and kind-hearted, caring adults are always nearby. Students tell us that one of their favorite aspects of the program is the staff. Our staff members are very responsible, warm, well rounded people who love children. We train and supervise our staff well, and in turn, they care and supervise students well. |
| Do international students really get to experience authentic American culture at Exploration? Just spending time with American students will give a great taste of American culture. We offer English for Speakers of Other Languages as a course for all students who want to learn more of the basics of the English language and American culture. Our weekend trips further expose international students to sites of cultural and historical interest in the Northeast, the birthplace of America. |
| How many students are international at the Junior Program?
At the Junior Program, usually 20-25% of the residential students are international. In addition, there are some international students who attend as day students. They stay with family members or friends who live in the area, or some international parents choose to stay in a Boston area hotel or apartment while their children attend as day students. |
| Where do your international students come from?
They come from all over. Australia, Brazil, China, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Jordan, Korea, Panama, and Venezuela are just some of the countries the Junior Program has seen represented recently. |
| How does your Program approach cultural differences, either between your students’ home culture and American culture, or two non-American cultures? Before students arrive, the staff practice solutions to the problems that may arise because of cultural differences. Through scenarios, role-plays, and talks from professionals with experience in schools with diverse student bodies, our staff and administration prepare to gracefully integrate our wide-ranging student body. We have found that creating an atmosphere on campus that emphasizes respect and celebrates differences has been the key to making sure that a wonderful mix of students and staff enjoy their summer. |
| What level of English proficiency is necessary to attend Exploration?
Because all of our courses, activities, and correspondence with students are conducted in English, it is important that students have at least an intermediate level of English proficiency. If students are not yet at this level, they can enroll in our Early English Language Learners (EELL) program. |
| Does Exploration offer ESOL classes?
Yes, there are ESOL classes offered for both age groups. Students who enroll in ESOL will also take a second non-ESOL class of their choosing. |
| Does Exploration require international students to take ESOL classes?
No. If a student's English is proficient, the student does not need to take ESOL. Sometimes a student will be switched into ESOL with the family's permission if it is clear the student is struggling with the language in his/her classes. |
| What kind of visa do I need for Exploration?
Students coming to the program only need a B-2 visa, or traveler's visa. Many countries are exempt from this through a visa waiver program. Contact our Admissions Office for more information on which countries require a visa. |
| What if I am unable to obtain a visa? Can I get a full refund?
It is rare for a student who is enrolled in an Exploration Program to have difficulty procuring a visa. Should this happen, Exploration would be happy to provide a full refund upon receipt of evidence showing the student was denied a visa. |
| Will my insurance work in the US? If not, how do I enroll in Exploration’s insurance? International students are required to carry American accident and health coverage, which may be purchased through Exploration. International participants and others without this coverage will be billed each session for a short term accident/health policy. |
| What is the best way to get payment to you?
Payments may be made by check or international wire. Credit cards are accepted for online deposits only, not for final payments. All payments, including deposits, tuition, and cash advances must be made in US funds. We will not accept checks drawn on a foreign bank. Click here for payment information. |
| How do you coordinate travel to and from campus on arrival and departure days? Are there any additional costs? For the Junior Program, we have staff ready to pick up and drop off students at Logan International Airport in Boston. We ask that families find flights that arrive between 1:00pm and 5:00pm on arrival day, and flights that depart between 8:30am and 1:30pm on departure day. Most children fly as Unaccompanied Minors and are met by our staff at the gate, although some parents arrive at Logan with their child and drop him/her off with our staff at a central location to be taken back to campus. Students who fly alone will be sent an Exploration t-shirt so they can be easily spotted by our staff (also wearing Exploration t-shirts). Due to increased security measures, only children flying as Unaccompanied Minors may be met at the gate. There are no additional charges to pick students up at the airport. |