A unique experience for students
Georgia Hardy Tours original specialization was student travel and today it continues to be our primary focus. Our 34 years of experience have taught us that young adults have very particular requirements, every bit as exacting as adults. We customize tours for schools, student sports teams and orchestras. Because of our connections and expertise, we can offer assistance in arranging venues for performances and matches, transporting equipment and recreational activities around the world.
We consider it vitally important to not only provide an educational and sightseeing experience, but also to offer the opportunity for young people to meet other students their own age in the various countries they are visiting. In this way, they can more fully experience and appreciate the habits, customs and perspectives of other cultures.
Itineraries
Our goal is to create a moving classroom where students can actually experience in reality what they learn in school. We work closely with teachers, department heads and boards of education to cover the curriculum. We can either plan the program to the teacher's specifications or, if desired, design the program to cover the curriculum.
Accommodations
We always use centrally located, first class hotels. This affords not only comfort but safety as well. By providing a safe, comfortable environment and managing any issues as they arise, teachers have the necessary support to allow them to concentrate fully on their students.
Guides
The guides we select are of the highest calibre
The Georgia Hardy Tours Advantage:
Georgia Hardy Tours is the innovator of the overseas summer credit program in Canada with over 34 years of experience taking students overseas. Our experience means we know what elements go into a successful trip: small programs to ensure you get the attention you need to succeed, great teachers who are experienced with students overseas, small classes that average 15 students, a student-to-staff ratio of well below 10:1, program supervisors who are university educated or certified teachers to help you with your school work and who organize fun activities during free time, great food, wonderful centrally located accommodations and trip blogs so your friends and family can follow you while you are away during the summer.
We are a TICO registered (Travel Industry Council of Ontario) company. TICO is responsible for ensuring member companies comply with the Travel Industry Act. TICO encourages consumers to purchase travel services from Ontario registered travel retailers as they must adhere to the requirements under the Act and the Regulation which includes consumer protection legislation. GHT staff have all completed the TICO Education Standards Travel Counsellor Exam thereby ensuring the registration process and pre-departure is seamless.
We partner with public school boards and independent schools who develop the curriculum and from whom you will receive your credit. You won’t ever have to worry about universities questioning the integrity of the credit you earn while away. Next to the safety of our students, our top priority is the academic integrity of the courses. Programs are open to any secondary school student aged 15-19, registered in a public, private or separate school.
We also have Scholarships and Bursaries available. At GHT we appreciate the current difficult economic times. We’ve worked hard with our network of hotels and airlines to bring you the same high standards of quality and comfort for summer 2010 at lower prices, in some cases by as much as $1,000.
What to Expect
Georgia Hardy Tours has been taking students abroad to earn creditslonger than anyone else. We utilize a framework that ensures students have the best chance to succeed in their course. This is how we do it:
The Students
Students typically range in age between 15 and 19 years old and come from across Canada. Our programs attract students who want to succeed both in high school and beyond. They come from public, private, and separate schools and are from all different types of backgrounds.
Preparation
From the moment you sign up on our programs to the minute your flight departs we are dedicated to preparing you for the experience that lies ahead. As course outlines and book lists become available they are posted on our website so students can work ahead to cover as much material pre-departure as possible. We have an orientation meeting in late April or early May where students will meet their teacher, program supervisor and principal. Any questions students may have about the course or travel requirements are addressed promptly.
Program Supervisors
In addition to the teachers on the program who all help students with their work, we utilize program supervisors who are university educated and many of whom are young teachers. Program supervisors provide one-on-one help to students outside of normal class time at no extra cost. They assist with homework, ISP assignments, or any other special needs. Our program supervisors also organize optional activities for students to participate in during free time.
The Credits
GHT is not a school. We partner with the public school boards and independent schools to ensure the credits you earn are from a trustworthy academic institution that universities honour. All courses offered follow curriculum guidelines that are set by the Ontario Ministry of Education. At the end of the summer your mark will be sent to your home and your school to ensure that it is applied to your official transcript.
Classes and School Work
Classes are held both in classrooms and at interesting sites in the cities where we are staying. A typical day will have classes from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm with a break, five days a week. Classes are not always Monday to Friday and depend on the travel itinerary of the program. Students are expected to complete all assignments and school work as well as attend all classes.
Curfew
Each program has specific curfews set for the students. As a general guideline curfew is 11:00 pm on school nights and 12:00 am on nonschool nights. Curfew is administered by way of a sign-in sheet that a
staff member will have and rigorously monitored.
Excursions
Many excursions are included in the program fee and each supervisor will provide optional activities for students in the afternoons when there is free time. All programs have optional excursions (with the exception of Celtic Experience Ireland, which is all-inclusive) that greatly add to the learning experience. A detailed list and description is available on each program page.
Communication
Friends and family can follow each trip’s progress by way of the student blogs located here on our website.
What's Included and What's Not
The program fee includes:
• Round-trip airfare from Toronto
• All transfers via private coach
• Accommodations as specified
• Breakfast and dinner daily (except Saturday dinner)
• Program Tuition
• Supervision
• Orientation tours of the cities you will visit
• Pre-departure briefing and materials
Fee does not include:
• Departure taxes & any fuel surcharges
• Registration fee of $95
• All inclusive travel insurance (cancellation/medical)
• Lunches & Saturday dinners
• Meals during excursions
• Optional excursions
• Textbooks
• Spending money
What a typical weekday looks like:
7:00 am - 8:30 am Breakfast
8:30 am Classes begin
10:30 am 15 minute break
12:30 pm Lunch, organized tours, sports, homework,organized recreation
6:30 pm Dinner
7:30 pm Free time, evening activities, homework
11:00 pm Curfew (back in hotel/residence)
Call or email Georgia Hardy Tours if you have any
questions about our Experience the World Summer Programs
416-483-7533 or
toll-free 1-800-813-4509
Email: dougal[a]ghardytours.com
