Global Irish Summer Camp

The programme is being organised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland. The programme will take place across the island of Ireland, with programme participants primarily resident in the Institute of Study Abroad Ireland Campus in Bundoran, Co. Donegal.

The Summer Camp programme will include classes and workshops on Irish history, language and culture followed by relevant field trips to important sites across the island. While the programme will have a strong educational focus, it will also include interaction will all facets of Irish society and culture as well as lots of team building activities, day trips and outdoor adventures.

A full programme will be available on this site in the coming weeks.

Participants will have all in-country costs covered while in Ireland, including accommodation, meals and transport for the duration of the programme. However they will be responsible for covering the costs of their travel to and from Ireland.

Programme participants will be required to arrive in Dublin Airport on the morning of Wednesday, 20 July to begin the programme. All flights must be direct to Dublin from a US hub. Some limited financial assistance may be provided on a case by case basis for those who do not have the financial means to cover flights.

In addition, parents/guardians will be required to pay a security deposit of $500, refundable on completion of the programme. Participants will also be required to provide proof of adequate travel insurance for the duration of the trip.
Prior to departure, participants will be provided with material to assist in their preparation for the trip along with a recommended reading list and a full programme of events.

Following the conclusion of the residential summer programme, participants will be invited to stay involved in the programme through a series of follow up projects and activities.

Criteria
Applications are sought from students who fit the following criteria:
Students of Irish descent
Currently enrolled in a US high school
Aged between 15 and 17
Who have never visited Ireland.

Participants will be selected on the basis of a creative and personal submission which reflects the objectives of the programme.

Pre-departure information
Participants will also be required to provide proof of adequate travel insurance for the duration of the trip.

Prior to departure, participants will be provided with material to assist in their preparation for the trip along with a recommended reading list and a full programme of events.

Alumni engagement
Following the conclusion of the residential summer programme, participants will be invited to stay involved in the programme through a series of follow up projects and activities.

Important Dates
20 April 2016 Deadline for applications
May/Early June 2016 Applicants notified
25 June 2016 Deadline for financial assistance requests
20 July 2016 Global Irish Summer Camp commences
4 August 2016 Global Irish Summer Camp ends

Application Process
Applications are sought from students for 20 places on this structured visit to Ireland which, it is hoped, will form the basis of a deeper engagement with the country of their ancestors.

Application to the programme is by way of a completed application form and current photo. Application form can be downloaded on the website. www.globalirishsummercamp.com

Please note, all applications must be accompanied by a letter of recommendation from the student’s high school guidance counselor in order to be considered. The application form consists of the applicant’s personal and parent/guardian information along with a statement of interest in the programme which may take the form of one of the following:
A written composition of not more than 1250 words in total.
A short video of not more than 3 minutes.
Further details regarding the application form are provided below.

Final entries must be submitted via email to globalirishsummercamp@dfa.ie on or before Wednesday, 20th April 2016.
Please see the Application Checklist below for a list of requirements for each eligible entry.

After the closing date, applications will be assessed and 20 applicants will then be chosen to participate in the programme which will take place from 20 July – 4 August 2016. Successful applicants will be notified by end-May.

Rules
The competition is open to US High School Students aged between 15 and 17. Applicants must be within the applicable age range on the deadline for receipt of applications, 8 April 2016.
Applicants must be of Irish descent and must not have visited Ireland prior to participating in the programme.
The entry, in written or video form, must be the work of the individual student only.
Entries will not be deemed eligible if they include obscene material, drug or alcohol use, nudity, profanity, derogatory comments or information, or any other conduct, language or context deemed inappropriate by the selection committee.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has the right to publish or otherwise duplicate any entries to the contest, along with the author’s name.
No copyrighted materials (music, images, etc.) may be used for programme applications unless the copyright is owned by the entrant, or if the entrant has a license to use the material for this contest. Written permission must be obtained and provided upon request for all copyrighted materials.
Applicants must provide signed parental/guardian permission as part of the completed application form. Any further requirements will be communicated to competition winners in mid-2016.

Application Checklist:
Completed Application Form
A recent photo of student (passport size)
Written reference from your high school guidance counsellor