No, applying does not guarantee a spot. All applicants must attend a Selection Activity, where they participate in a “classic CISV educational activity.” The activity gives them a taste of CISV programs and allows volunteers to assess suitability. Most youths proceed, but sometimes it may be recommended to wait another year. In some cases, we may have more applicants than available spots, while in others, we may have extra spots to fill. There are 4 youth spots per program for Village, Youth Meeting, and Step-Up. If we have more suitable applicants than spots, suitable applicants not selected will be placed on a waitlist. 

At a camp, cell phones are placed in secure storage upon arrival. This common practice at overnight camps minimizes homesickness and ensures youth can participate without distractions. Exceptions will be arranged for medical reasons only (i.e., to monitor blood glucose levels). 

However, you can send a note to the leader to be given to your child at a predetermined time, and occasional emails or texts may be sent through the program leader. Typically, leaders are engaged in activities or planning sessions but do have access to their cell phones during downtime. Access to Wi-Fi and data may be limited depending on the camp location.  If you don’t hear back, it likely means your child is adjusting well.

It’s up to the delegation's parents and leader to decide whether or not to allow cell phones during travel to and from camp. 

At CISV, your child will participate in age-appropriate activities that promote cultural understanding and simulate real-world issues, followed by discussions to reflect on their experiences. The schedule balances meaningful activities with recreational ones, including team-building, trust-building, and arts and crafts, ensuring children have fun while developing global awareness and cooperation.

Bookings are made as a group to avoid any issues with changes to the itinerary. At CISV Fredericton, we follow the CISV Canada recommendation to nominate one parent to arrange travel with the help of a travel agent (we can connect you with CISV Canada’s travel coordinator) and we can advise/answer questions in the process.

You are welcome to book travel on your own or reach out to CISV Canada’s travel coordinator for assistance. Sometimes, Seminar participants can arrange to travel with another Canadian participant attending the same program.

No, the cheapest flight is not always the best option. Wherever possible, we recommend booking the most direct flights with reasonable arrival and departure times while balancing costs for the delegates. We also recommend flights with sufficient layover times to ensure that there is enough time for the leader to successfully navigate the airport with the youth.

So are we! CISV prioritizes safety with proactive risk management, thorough screening of staff and hosts, and ongoing training. While parents ultimately decide whether their child participates, CISV ensures safety through local assessments, and canceling programs if risks are too high. Even in countries with higher risks, CISV's local organizers are vigilant and prepared to ensure a secure environment.

Our leaders are trained to handle unforeseen situations as effectively as possible. Each program must have at least one staff member trained in first aid and volunteer health professionals on-call to answer questions. Each chapter and country has trained risk managers to handle crisis situations. Above all, CISV’s top priority is the safety and well-being of all participants.