Greenheart Travel

Tag: teens

  • Give the Gift of Travel to Your Child

    Give the Gift of Travel to Your Child

    We believe experiences are better than things.

    This holiday season, instead of giving material items to the people we love most, give the chance to make memories that will shape the rest of their lives. 

    Traveling has a profound impact on individuals.  They will have their perspectives challenged, learn to live alongside different cultures, and grow as an independent human. Language camps are the perfect travel gifts to give teens because of the flexible start dates, individual support, and overall structure of the programs.

    So what are the next steps in order for this idea to become a reality? Take a look below at our no-frills guide to gifting a Greenheart experience.

    Choose a Destination

    You can check out this list of our destinations and their details. Choosing a country based on the language your child is learning in school is a good place to start.  Don’t stress too much; if this doesn’t work for your child later, we will adjust the destination. 

    Start the Application Process

     Filling out the initial application will only take you 2-3 minutes. If this is a surprise, DO NOT put your kid’s email.  Please also include the word “Gift” somewhere in their name so we’re in on the secret.

    Read and Sign the Terms and Conditions

    This is your opportunity to read through details thoroughly. The adult gift-giver must sign the terms and conditions (your child will sign later, but for now this just needs to be you). 

    Secure Your Spot

    Reserve your spot via an initial deposit. This is not an extra fee, it is part of the total program fee and can be applied to a different program if you decide the one you’re gifting isn’t really the right destination after all. You must submit your deposit a minimum of 10 business days prior to when your child will open their surprise to receive your package on time! 

    Receive Your Gift Package

    We’ll put a special package in the mail that your child can open on your chosen day of gifting. They’ll receive a Greenheart Travel T-Shirt, Canvas Bag, and a special announcement that lets them know they’re about to embark on a trip of a lifetime!  Note, this is only available for US residents. 

    Celebrate

    Give your gift! Discuss the details and talk about what’s to come.

    Finish the Application

    Once your child has opened their surprise, we’ll send you the last steps of the application to be completed. This will include things like medical history, host family preferences, and other details your child will get to provide. 

    Final Details

    Go through the Pre-Departure process with your Greenheart Travel program manager! We understand that gifting something like this is a big deal, so we are here for you! Please reach out to the program manager at any time to clarify questions/doubts/concerns you might have. 

  • Take 5: High School Abroad in the Netherlands with John Robinson

    Take 5: High School Abroad in the Netherlands with John Robinson

    Take 5 is a Greenheart Travel interview series where we ask alumni five questions about their time abroad. This week, the focus is on John Robinson, who spent part of his high school experience studying abroad in the Netherlands.

    Read on to learn what inspired John to go, his favorite Dutch show, and the friends he made from all over the world.

    1. What inspired you to go to the Netherlands?

    I would say what inspired me to live in the Netherlands most is how little I knew about the culture. Other than hearing about the very generous Dutch people, and the wonders of Amsterdam, I knew so little. I was inspired to learn as much as I could about the Netherlands from nothing. I was inspired by the thought of a fresh start.

    2. What was your favorite way to spend your weekends?

    My favorite way to spend my weekends would have to be traveling as far as I could go in the little time that I had. Although the late Sunday night ventures home were never something I looked forward to, I still desired to be out and about on the weekends. I would just find the cheapest train ticket, and then see what the Netherlands has to offer. Every new adventure was one I cherished.

    3. Favorite Dutch show?

    Favorite Dutch show was Undress for Love. They were always either watching that or some National Geographic special, so I didn’t mind.

    4. Did you make any unlikely friends?

    I did make some unlikely and unexpected friends. It was unlikely because they weren’t even Dutch! Three kids from Italy, two kids from Brazil, one from Mexico, and one from Australia. All of them I saw multiple times throughout my stay here.

    5. What was the best piece of advice you received before going abroad?

    The best piece of advice I received before coming over here was to live MY life. I carried that with me every day and thought about it with every decision I made. It’s my life and nobody else’s so, therefore, I will make what I can of it. I learned to stay happy as can be, and I learned to accept the outcome of my decisions.

    Click the link below to find out how you can study abroad in the Netherlands!