Visions Service Adventures Program Leaders
www.visionsserviceadventures.com

Location: British Virgin Islands, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guadeloupe, Nicaragua, United States (Alaska, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana), Vietnam

Duration: 6, 7, 8, or 10 weeks (June-August)

The Experience: Visions offers international community service projects for groups of 17-25 teenagers. The team spends about half of the program time working, either in construction or in other service endeavors. Each program has four to six staff, including the program director who is usually a veteran of at least one full summer (two programs).

Financial Info: Airfare to and from the program site, housing, meals, all program activities, stipend (based on program length; pay starts at $1,550 for the 6-week program)

Eligibility: Minimum age 23 years, certified in Basic First Aid and CPR. Some sites require Wilderness First Aid and/or Water Safety certifications. The Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua sites require fluency in Spanish; Guadeloupe requires French fluency. Advanced wilderness safety certifications, carpentry or masonry skills, experience living in different cultures are not essential but are pluses in considering applicants’ qualifications.

FYI: Each staff member gets one day and one night off per week.

Requirements: Program Leaders must attend a 3-day orientation in mid-June in Pennsylvania; Program Leaders cover travel expenses to the orientation.

To Apply: Application, 3 references, in-person or phone interview

Application Deadline: Rolling

Contact:
Visions Service Adventures
PO Box 220
100 N. 2nd St
Newport, PA 17074
Phone: 717.567.7852
Fax: 717.567.7853
info@visionsserviceadventures.com

Fund for Teachers Fellows
www.fundforteachers.org

Location: Worldwide

Duration: Open

The Experience: The Fund awards almost every type of professional development imaginable, anywhere in the world, including travel, language study, counterpart shadowing, and attending professional development courses (see website to see examples of what past Fellows have done). However, there are a few exceptions. The Fund will not provide monies for student travel, the completion of post baccalaureate degrees, on-site (or campus) professional development, compensation for substitutes, or stipends.

Financial Info: Applicants may apply individually for up to $5,000 or as a team for up to $10,000.

Eligibility: Teach in a Pre-K through 12th grade classroom (as a full-time teacher spending at least 50 percent of the time in the classroom or classroom-like setting), minimum of three years classroom teaching experience, must have intention of returning to teaching in the same district following the fellowship, employed by a school/district in an eligible geographic area (see map of eligible areas in 42 states at www.fundforteachers.org/apply.html).

FYI: The Fund awards almost every type of professional development imaginable. However, there are a few exceptions. The Fund will not provide monies for student travel, the completion of post baccalaureate degrees, onsite (or campus) professional development, compensation for substitutes, or stipends. More than 3,500 teachers from across the United States have studied and traveled in 110 countries on all seven continents as Fellows.

Requirements: Upon completion of their fellowship, Fellows must submit a budget summary, an overview of the experience, and complete a survey

To Apply: Proposal detailing how the fellowship will make the applicant a better teacher and how improved skills are to be implemented in the classroom, benefiting students, curricula and school. Fellowships are awarded based on application quality and merit as judged by a committee (see website for the application scoring rubric).

Application Deadline: January 30, 2009

Contact:
Fund For Teachers
2000 Post Oak Boulevard, Suite 100
Houston, TX 77056
Phone: 713.296.6127
Fax: 713.296.6134
info@fundforteachers.org

ActionQuest Instructors
www.actionquest.com

Location: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Dutch West Indies, Ecuador, France, French Polynesia, French West Indies, Italy, Monaco, St. Kitts and Nevis

Duration: Two-, three-, five-, and six-week programs June-August

The Experience: ActionQuest hires experienced Marine Biology Instructors, SCUBA Instructors, and First Aid Instructors to staff its summer sailing and diving programs for teenagers. All Instructors live aboard the sailing vessel with the group and are responsible for instruction as well as leadership training and daily tasks, such as meal preparation.

Financial Info: Stipend (based on trip length and staff position), staff uniform, shipboard housing, meals, all program activities, and airfare to and from the program site.

Eligibility: Guidelines vary significantly by position; see website for comprehensive details. All staff must have teaching experience. Experience in sailing and SCUBA diving is recommended for applicants for all positions.

Requirements: All staff members must attend a pre-departure orientation for one week in the British Virgin Islands in June. Airfare, housing, and meals during orientation are provided.

FYI: Each summer ActionQuest serves 450 teenagers from all over the world.

To Apply: Cover letter, resume, references, and a phone or in-person interview.

Deadline to Apply: Rolling. Most Trip Leaders are hired by March.

Contact:
ActionQuest
P.O. Box 5517
Sarasota, FL 34277 USA
Phone: 800.317.6789 or 941.924.6789
Fax: 941.924.6075
info@actionquest.com