We've answered some of the most common questions about our Summer Experiences below. Program-specific FAQs are located within the description of each program. If you do not find the answer to your particular question, contact us and we will be happy to help!
ABOUT US
BBYO Passport is a program of BBYO representing our groundbreaking initiative for Jewish travel and service-learning experiences. As a leading educational travel provider, BBYO Passport combines the best of informal education and travel expertise for today’s teens. Learn more about us. Learn more about us.
Passionate and caring staff are at the heart of all BBYO Passport experiences. Our programs are staffed by a highly selective group of educators, community professionals, logistical managers, and madrichim (counselors) -- all of whom are backed up by our year-round leadership team. 90% of our staff works with teens year-round and 52% of our staff are repeat staffers. Learn more about our staff.
“My madrich was hands-on the entire trip! When we needed someone to be a little more strict, he never strayed, and when we needed someone to lighten the mood, he always jumped in to make us laugh! He was such an important part of my whole experience!” – Amanda C., Past Summer Participant
The exact number of staff on an individual program differs according to the size of the group, the age of the participants, and the type of experience. The staff to teen ratio is 1:9.
Our programs are staffed by a team of professional staff and madrichim (counselors). Once selected through a multi-tiered application process, BBYO Passport staff members attend a multi-day staff training program. During this in-person training, our staff receives comprehensive training resources and have the opportunity to learn from returning staff who typically compromise over half our team in any given summer season.
As an organization that has been serving teens for almost 100 years, and teen travel programs to Israel since 1956, our philosophy is to treat each and every BBYO Passport participant as a member of our own family. As such, the safety and well-being of our groups will always be our guiding consideration. This means that we plan our itineraries to avoid areas of concern, limit opportunities for free time, generally use accommodations outside of city centers, and in certain countries, we travel with a security/medical escort. And while safety is our guiding priority, we are equally committed to providing you with a meaningful and entirely fun experience. Learn more about our approach to safety.
JEWISH APPROACH
Exploring new destinations is inherently enriching, and traveling with a group of Jewish peers can be uniquely powerful. No matter your background, we strive to create a sense of community on the road where everyone feels welcome and part of something bigger. Connecting through our shared identity and learning about our rich history will ensure that you not only have a great experience but a meaningful one, too.
BBYO Passport organizes summer experiences for Jewish teens of all backgrounds. Our travel programs are infused with the Jewish values of tikkun olam (service), kehillah (community), and derech eretz (ethical living). Although our destinations are diverse, we always learn about the Jewish history of where we travel and incorporate Shabbat experiences in local communities.
As a travel-based program, our meals take a variety of forms and may include hotel buffets, restaurants, specially catered meals and allowance funds for participants to purchase a meal on their own. All food provided by BBYO Passport experiences in Israel and Poland is kosher. Some meals that we provide outside of Israel and Poland may be certified kosher, but most meals are not. When a meal is served in a public buffet format (e.g. hotel breakfast), we will always ensure that there are vegetarian or pescatarian options available, but we will also not restrict teens from eating the food of their choice. Some meals may be provided via an allowance system whereby teens will be given cash to purchase the food of their choice. Such meals are typically arranged in an area where there are multiple restaurant options, and teens can choose the food of their liking. In situations where time is of the essence, staff may choose to facilitate meal orders on behalf of teens using their allowance funds, including non-kosher orders. When the group eats at non-kosher restaurants with a pre-ordered menu, the options will only consist of vegetarian or pescatarian dishes.
Participants with special dietary needs (i.e. lactose intolerance, gluten-free, kosher, etc.) should review our dietary restrictions commitment document and contact us in advance to be sure we can accommodate your needs during the program.
Shabbat is a special time, and it can be an amazing opportunity for rest and reflection. Friday nights and Saturdays will include prayer, informal discussions, and various Shabbat programming. Where possible, we try to include visits to local synagogues to give participants a glimpse of how Judaism is observed locally. Often times our best or only option is a traditional Orthodox service. Even if this is not part of your tradition, it is an opportunity for a meaningful cultural experience.
We strive to provide a number of alternative options for celebrating Shabbat, and participants are encouraged to take a leadership role in how the experience is shared with the group. As a program, we do not drive on Shabbat and we do not oblige or encourage participants to break the rules of Shabbat which they observe. At the same time, what participants do during the non-programmed time on Shabbat is their own personal decision. We only ask that everyone be mindful and considerate of each other’s practices.
Our approach is best described as "pluralistic," meaning we plan our programs in a way that teens from diverse Jewish backgrounds feel comfortable traveling with us. Experience has taught us that forming a community on the road comprised of many different kinds of Jewish teens is especially rewarding and powerful.
BBYO strives to welcome all Jewish teens, regardless of background, denominational affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status; including those with a range of intellectual, emotional, and physical abilities. BBYO reserves the right to deny or revoke acceptance, in its sole discretion, at any point. Reasonable accommodations are not always possible in all experiences, environments, and circumstances. Click here for more information.
GROUP COMPOSITION
BBYO Passport experiences are open to BBYO members and non-members alike, and no prior involvement with BBYO is necessary*. The ratio of members to non-members tends to be about 50/50, and our staff makes great efforts to create a welcoming community for all teens.
*ILSI is designed primarily for BBYO members as a leadership experience.
Group size varies depending on the nature of the experience and the dates of the program. See the program-specific FAQ for the individual program sizes.
BBYO Passport experiences attract Jewish teens from all over North America and around the world. On any given year, we host Jewish teens from a wide spectrum of the world—representing communities in the United States (39 states), Canada (5 provinces), and 15 countries.
During the registration process, you will have an opportunity to let us know with whom you'd like to travel. While we try to honor these requests for bus assignments, please note that we cannot guarantee friend requests for rooming, see above (except ILSI).
Some teens choose to sign up together with a friend or two, while most teens choose to come on their own. Either way, our participants will have the opportunity to meet a diverse group of peers from many different locations, which makes exploring a new place together even more exciting.
When booking our accommodations, we request for each teen to have their own sleeping accommodations in a shared living space. Bathrooms are, in most cases, private to the shared living space. We try to rotate rooming assignments each time we move to new accommodations in order to give all participants the chance to get to know different members of the group. Please understand that, while some teens come with friends, others come alone; this plan ensures an inclusive and comfortable experience. Travel companions listed within your application are not guaranteed to room with one another. Each year, many parents make requests to keep friends together in the same room. As wonderful as it may sound, keeping friends together is not always beneficial. We believe that teens need to learn to branch out and make new friends, and this skill is hindered when there are groups of friends in the same room. This also leads to the development of social cliques which causes exclusion and can potentially lead to negative behavior. In addition, we have found that teens become more distracted when close friends are placed together. They have plenty of time to socialize outside of their rooms.
HOW WE TRAVEL
If either of your parents is an Israeli citizen, or if you have ever lived in Israel, it is your responsibility to make sure your status with the Israeli Defense Forces is worked out and clear. Moreover, you may still have obligations to the State of Israel that must be resolved prior to your trip, even if you do not have an Israeli passport. These matters must be taken care of before you arrive in Israel.
Note: If you hold an Israeli passport, you must enter Israel with your Israeli passport.
If you do not take care of these matters prior to your trip, you may be obligated to stay in Israel by the State of Israel until resolution. If this applies to you, you will be solely responsible for your own situation and any costs involved. Again, we highly recommend you be extremely cautious about these matters and contact one of the regional Israeli consulate offices if you have any questions.
Our all-inclusive approach provides the comfort of knowing your full costs upfront. The tuition for each program cover accommodations, meals, programming, local transportation, and any staff gratuities. All programs outside of the United States also cover basic medical insurance (excluding pre-existing conditions). Laundry is included for programs exceeding two weeks in length.
There are so many ways to extend a summer of learning, exploration, and fun this summer by combining two experiences! The type of connection varies by program. Learn more about connected programs.
All North American teens will be required to travel on our group supervised flight for all Summer Experiences except Stand UP Washington DC and Western USA Trek. This flight will depart from the New York City area. Supervised flight details are released in the spring. Learn more about flying to the program.
Parents should include any/all teen allergies and medications on the health forms in the registration process. This information will be flagged for the program staff prior to departure, and you may review the details together with the staff prior to departure. We suggest that both parents and teens participate in this phone call.
Important note: Throughout travel, teens are responsible for their own medications. All medications must be in their original containers and prescriptions must include the teen’s name on the label.
Safety and inclusion are top priorities at BBYO Passport. With this in mind, your teen’s staff will:
- Train in the use of epinephrine and the protocol for administering
- Understand an emergency plan for each participant’s medical situations. Staff will be able to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction and know what actions to take if the reaction occurs
- Have the required authorization and appropriate medication to use in the event of contact with an allergen
We ask that families take the following precautions when preparing for departure:
- Please check all medications for expiration dates, replace any expired, unsealed, or previously used medication before packing.
- Supply an extra week of medication to be kept separately during the trip in case medication is misplaced.
- Provide a full set of auto-injectors, as prescribed by the physician, in the original packing, clearly labeled with the teen’s name.
- Teens should be educated about their food allergies, symptoms of a reaction, and precautions.
- Teens should understand the importance of open communication with their staff: Teens are to tell an adult if they might be experiencing an allergic reaction - even if there is no visible appearance of allergic response - and to never leave the group if symptoms are beginning.
NOTE: BBYO Passport will follow an action plan that is agreed upon with the family, based on the full disclosure of the family. BBYO Passport will not assume responsibility and liability for the approach used.
Due to the nature of travel experiences, meals are provided through vendors and third parties. This means that BBYO Passport does not have full control over what food will be available and served in each of our destinations. Our staff can be available to support teens to ask the right questions when ordering their food. However, we cannot take responsibility for individual food allergies or ensure that food requests will be fulfilled. Families need to make decisions about their teens’ safety when food allergies are a consideration. Safety and inclusion are top priorities at BBYO Passport. Your teen’s staff will:
- Make requests for food modifications when possible
- Train in the use of epinephrine and the protocol for administering
- Understand an emergency plan for each participant’s medical situations. Staff will be able to recognize the symptoms of an allergic reaction and know what actions to take if the reaction occurs
- Have the required authorization and appropriate medication to use in the event of contact with an allergen
We ask that families take the following precautions when preparing for departure:
- Please check all medications for expiration dates, replace any expired, unsealed, or previously used medication before packing.
- Supply an extra week of medication to be kept separately during the trip in case medication is misplaced.
- Provide a full set of auto-injectors, as prescribed by a physician, in the original packing, clearly labeled with the teen’s name.
- Teens should be educated about their food allergies, symptoms of a reaction and precautions.
- Teens should understand the importance of open communication with their staff: Teens are to tell an adult if they might be experiencing an allergic reaction - even if there is no visible appearance of allergic response - and to never leave the group if symptoms are beginning.
We have a detailed pre-trip preparation manual for each experience, including a packing list, money tips, and emergency contact numbers. If you have any specific questions that you would like to answer in advance, please contact us.
BBYO Passport requires its participants to be up-to-date with most vaccines recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. You can check our immunization policy. There are no additional immunizations required aside from regularly mandated routine immunizations. However, vaccine guidelines vary by country and are continually evolving. We recommend that you consult with your teen’s physician as well as the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.
BBYO Passport tuition includes basic local health insurance coverage for all non-pre-existing conditions. Full policy details are available on request. Additionally, teens are required to travel with their own valid medical insurance, which is also provided as part of most travel insurance policies.
Any such arrangements need to be coordinated in advance with our staff and planned for non-programmed time. Participants cannot leave the group under any circumstances. (details are available in each pre-trip preparation manual).
ENROLLMENT & SCHOLARSHIPS
In keeping with BBYO Passport's mission to share the experience of Israel with as many Jewish teens as possible, BBYO has established need-based scholarship funds for all summer experiences that include Israel travel.
Additionally, a $3,000 voucher is available to teens traveling on a BBYO Passport experience in Israel care of RootOne – regardless of need. New York residents can apply for the New York Teen Initiative scholarship for any of our worldwide programs. Finally, many Jewish communities throughout North America have created special Israel travel funds.
One Happy Camper offers a scholarship for teens participating in their first Jewish overnight program in the USA.
Learn more about scholarship opportunities.
There’s no time better than now! Most programs will fill up, and prices are subject to change without advance notice. Plan in advance! BBYO Passport offers commitment-free registration for early planners. Sign up now to lock in your spot, and the $250 program deposit will be fully refundable through March 1, 2022. View our Registration Terms for more details.
Yes, we have teen and parent references who are ready to share feedback and tips with you about their BBYO Passport experience. Contact us, and we’ll make the connection.
Please have the organization that will be financially supporting your program experience send us a letter or email of how much scholarship money you’ll be receiving, and the date of when we should expect to receive it.
NOTE: Let us know if you are from Cincinnati and you are expecting to receive the Israel Travel Grants.
We can set up a payment plan for your family, if necessary. If you need a payment plan, contact us with a proposed payment plan. All balances must be paid before your departure date.
While we do encourage you to guarantee your spot (and take advantage of our commitment-free registration), if you need more time to decide, you can always sign up to learn more and/or request a brochure on our contact us page.
Program participation is governed by your current grade in school. The grade ranges we have established are based on the demands of the individual program and the expected level of maturity required of the teens. Exceptions to these rules are made on very rare occasions.
Families are encouraged to consider purchasing a travel insurance policy in order to protect their investment and plan for the unexpected. BBYO Passport has partnered with Travel Insured International to provide a group travel protection option for students. The cost of the travel protection plan is based on the total cost of the program and other domestic travel expenses. Review travel protection plan coverage and costs in advance. The plan is selected within your registration account.
If your family resides outside of North America and you are interested in attending a Summer Leadership Experience, please review the Summer 2022: Overview Global Communities Teens & Families document and complete the Global Intention Form.
PROGRAM EXPECTATIONS
BBYO is a teen leadership organization, and as such, we place great trust and responsibility in our participants. The basic program rules include treating fellow teens and staff with respect and decency, staying with the group at all times, no weapons, no possession, purchase, or consumption of drugs, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and no new tattoos or piercings during the program. By agreeing to participate in the program, you are agreeing to abide by the terms of our Release Form and the BBYO Code of Conduct.
While the itineraries are quite intensive, we do set aside time for relaxation, shopping, and personal exploration. Because we take your safety and security so seriously, there will understandably be some limits on personal exploration time, especially when we are traveling in major cities. With the exception of the optional home hospitality weekend in Israel, under no circumstances can a teen leave the group.
Our program does allow for the use of cell phones/smartphones during non-programmed time only. But since your teen will be busy exploring, we promise to keep friends and family up-to-date with plenty of postings and pictures from the road. For more information on phone plans, click here.
You are welcome to call or email the BBYO Passport office with any questions during the summer. In order to ensure that our program staff keeps the maximum focus on the teens, we do not permit parents to communicate directly with staff on the ground. Rest assured, you will be provided with an emergency phone number that one of our office staff will be connected to for use during the program.
