Summer Resources

BBYO Passport represents BBYO’s groundbreaking initiative for Jewish travel and service learning experiences. Organized in partnership with Authentic Israel, a leading educational travel provider, BBYO Passport combines the best of informal education and travel expertise for today’s teens.

Israel: BBYO does Israel like none other! We offer experiences focused on leadership, adventure and discovery. Each program connects teens with their Jewish history, promotes modern Israeli culture and fosters a sense of community using the Land of Israel as our classroom and playground.

Ambassadors: These experiences are unique opportunities for teens to travel with their peers from the program’s host country and build a global network of friends. Combining touring, service and cross-cultural exploration, Ambassadors programs offer a highly immersive summer experience.

Stand UP: Located in dynamic destinations in America and around the world, Stand UP experiences are perfect for teens who are seeking a rewarding summer full of meaningful service projects, enrichment and exploration.

Trek: Active travel experiences are the perfect way to get to know the lay of a new land and challenge yourself in the great outdoors! Hiking, kayaking, and horseback riding are a few of the adventures that await on a Trek summer program.

Discovery: Experience a summer of cultural travel in Europe – full of landmark cities, world heritage sites and horizon-broadening experiences. Teens can look forward to an exceptional summer as they gain a new appreciation for the achievements of Western Civilization, discover new aspects of their Jewish heritage, and expand their horizons together with a group of new friends.

Leadership: Intended primarily for BBYO members, Leadership experiences combine educational touring, leadership training, interactive seminars and meaningful community service. These programs emphasize development of leadership skills applicable to their BBYO involvement at home and to their community at-large.

On Campus: BBYO’s On Campus initiative introduces teens to a pre-college campus experience that is intellectually stimulating, socially enriching, and infused with Jewish values.

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

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.

“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!”  – Summer 2017 Participant Learn more about our staff.

Our programs are staffed by a team of professional staff and madrichim (counselors). 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.

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 over 90 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. You can learn more about our approach to safety and security on our Safety page.

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 travels 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 is kosher. Some meals that we provide outside of Israel 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 situations (i.e. lactose intolerance, gluten-free, Kosher, etc.) should contact us in advance to be sure we can accommodate your needs during the program.

Shabbat is a special time, and 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 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 circumstance. Click here for more information (PDF).

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 an inclusive community.

*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. Last year we hosted Jewish teens from a wide spectrum of the world – representing communities in the United States (36 states), Canada (6 provinces), Argentina, England, Switzerland, Spain, Israel, France, Italy, Mexico, Singapore, Bulgaria, Latvia, Turkey and Ecuador.

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 change rooming assignments each time we move to a new location in order to give all participants the chance to get to know new members of the group. Please understand, that while some teens come with friends, others come alone; this plan ensures an inclusive and comfortable experience.

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, please note that we cannot guarantee friend requests.

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.

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.

A supervised flight from North America (most typically from NYC) is available for summer experiences in Asia, Central America, Europe, Israel, South Africa, and South America. Programs in the USA usually do not have supervised flights. Exact flight details are released in the spring. Learn more about flying to the program. Learn more about flying to the program.

Medications:
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 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 physician, in original packing, clearly labeled with the teen’s name.
• Teens should be educated about his/her food allergies, symptoms of a reaction and precautions.
• Teens should understand the importance of open communication with his/her staff: Teens are to tell an adult if they might be experiencing an allergic reaction – even if there is no visible appearance of an allergic response – and to never leave the group if symptoms are beginning.

Please 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. With this in mind, families need to make decisions about their teens’ safety when food allergies are a consideration. Safety and inclusion are top priorities at BBYO Passport. With this in mind, 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 allergen
• Trek West USA #1 is launching a new dietary accomodation initiative for summer 2019. View the trip page for more information.

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 physician, in original packing, clearly labeled with the teen’s name.
• Teens should be educated about his/her food allergies, symptoms of a reaction and precautions.
• Teens should understand the importance of open communication with his/her staff: Teens are to tell an adult if they might be experiencing an allergic reaction – even if there is no visible appearance of an allergic response – and to never leave the group if symptoms are beginning.

A couple weeks prior to the start of the program, we will post a detailed pre-trip preparation manual for each experience, including packing tips, money tips, and emergency contact numbers. If you have any specific questions that you would like answered in advance, please contact us.

BBYO Passport requires its participants to be up-to- date with most vaccines recommended by the American Academic of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control. Additionally, vaccine guidelines vary by country and are continually evolving. We recommend consulting with your physician as well as the latest Center for Disease Control guidelines.

BBYO Passport tuition includes a 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 are also provided as part of most travel insurance policies.

Meeting up with friends/family during the summer is allowed with a few caveats. Any such arrangements needs to be coordinated in advance with our staff and planned for non-programmed time, Participants cannot leave the group under any circumstances. All of our experiences in Israel do include an optional home hospitality weekend which provides the opportunity for teens to spend time with loved ones in Israel (more details will be available tin the pre-trip prep guide).

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 February 28, 2019. Check out our Enrollment page 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.

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. Jewish communities throughout North America have created special Israel travel funds as well. One Happy Camper offers a scholarship for teens participating in their first Jewish overnight program in the USA. New York residents also have the opportunity to apply for the New York Teen Initiative scholarship for any of our worldwide programs. Learn more about scholarship opportunities.

Please have the organization that will be financially supporting your program experience by having them 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. 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.

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 in very rare occasions.

Families are highly encouraged to sign-up for travel insurance in order to protect their investment and plan for the unexpected. BBYO Passport has partnered with Travel Insured International to provide a discounted group travel insurance option specially designed for teen travel. The policy provides benefits which include cancelation, delayed flights, missed connections, trip interruption, baggage loss/delay, and medical insurance. Learn more about our group travel insurance option. Only available to USA residents. Contact us directly if you are an international resident and are interested in travel insurance. Note: travel insurance is only valid for registrations paid in full.

BBYO is a teen leadership organization, and as such, we place great trust and responsibility on 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/smart phones 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.

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 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.

A supervised flight is offered separately from program land costs. Ticket costs vary greatly by destination and dates and are available on individual program pages. NOTE: Following April 4, 2018 space and rates on group flights can no longer be guaranteed. Contact us for additional details.

Most supervised flights depart from JFK Airport in New York City. In some cases, a supervised flight may also depart from Newark, Atlanta, Boston, or Miami. We strongly recommend participants book their connecting flights after the supervised flight details are announced.

Our programs fly a range of reputable international air carriers. Airlines vary by year and are selected according to schedule, availability, and cost. In some cases, we will use a combinations of airlines for programs that involve multiple countries.

All connecting flights are included in the supervised flight for programs that connect Europe and Israel or connect within Europe. For teens connecting programs within the United States, families are responsible for making their own connecting travel arrangements based on guidance we will provide in the spring.

Participants are able to book their own tickets that mimic the supervised flight itinerary or book separate flight itineraries entirely. Once supervised flight information is announced, you will be able to confirm a ticket with us for a limited time, or you can choose to make your own arrangements and forgo the supervised flight option.

• All airline meals are pre-reserved as kosher, when available. If you want a special meal (vegetarian, etc.) note this in your registration account. Special meal requests may not also be kosher.
• Seating is pre-assigned by the airline on our supervised flights, and special requests can be made at check-in but not ahead of time.
• If desired, participants are responsible for obtaining reward points via the airline using the ticket information obtained at check-in.

Detailed airport arrival and departure instructions will be sent well in advance. For the departure day, there is a designated meeting spot for each supervised flight where participants will meet our staff. For participants traveling to the supervised flight airport via a connecting flight, be advised that staff are not able to escort participants from/to their domestic gates.
NOTE: For Trek Alaska, Stand UP DC and Stand UP Chicago where a supervised flight is not included, separate instructions apply (details will be provided in a specific flight document).

If you plan on extending your ticket beyond the end of the supervised program for personal travel, you can modify your plane reservation via our office. Although the rules vary, the deviation fees generally range between $250-$600. Keep in mind that availability on return flights may be limited, and there are often airline-imposed limitations on how many participants may extend their tickets. Booking a last-minute extension may be impossible or may result in large changes in fare. Please plan ahead.

Once your supervised flight details are confirmed, you can request an extension by sending an email to info@bbyopassort.org

Each airline has their own rules and separate age thresholds for mandatory “unaccompanied minors,” and additional fees may apply. For families booking a flight, refer to your chosen airline for information, and contact us well in advance if special arrangements need to be made with our staff. Last minute requests for staff supervision of “accompanied minors” cannot be guaranteed.

For families who book their own flights to/from our destination airport, we will coordinate a mutually agreeable plan for meeting and returning your teen. Additional airport transfer costs may apply for flights booked outside of a pre-specified arrival/departure window (to be announced in the spring).

Each airline has their own rules and separate age thresholds for mandatory “unaccompanied minors,” and additional fees may apply. For families booking a flight, refer to your chosen airline for information, and contact us well in advance if special arrangements need to be made with our staff. Last minute requests for staff supervision of “accompanied minors” cannot be guaranteed.