Youth camps
Information and FAQ

All courses include:

• German instruction including teaching materials
• Placement test
• Sports, culture and leisure-time program*
• Accommodation in boarding schools (or hotels for young adults)
• Full board
• Professional supervision
• Internet access
• Two-day trips are included for three-week courses / one day trip for two-week courses
• Airport transfer on arrival and departure
• Medical Insurance

Every course in the young learners program has its own blog during the course:
blog.goethe.de/jugendkurse

Additional costs

• Personal expenses for souvenirs, additional excursions, etc.

* We do not offer activities posing increased risks to individuals or groups or involving potential liability risks for the Goethe-Institut or participants.

Dates
Our youth camps take place only in June, July and August.

Course fees
Prices vary according to course type and duration. The current prices can be found in our online shop.

The course includes:

• German instruction including teaching materials
• Placement test
• Sports, culture and leisure-time program*
• Accommodation in boarding schools (or hotels for young adults)
• Full board
• Professional supervision
• Internet access
• Opportunity to take exam (depending on course location)
• Day excursions**
• Airport transfer on arrival and departure
• Medical Insurance

The following services are not included:

• Exam fees
• Individual expenses for souvenirs, personal items, etc.

* We do not offer activities posing increased risks to individuals or groups or involving potential liability risks for the Goethe-Institut or participants (e.g. theme parks, tobogganing, boulder climbing, rafting, free climbing).
** We reserve the right to organise day trips close to nature in case of high incidence values and possible endangerment of our conservation concept.

Family discount
We have a special offer for families:
If you register two or more siblings at the same time, you will receive a discount of EUR 150 on the course price for the second or each additional child. Please contact us at jugend@goethe.de.

Required information
Please be certain to indicate with each payment the name of the participant and the participant number to ensure that we can credit your payment properly.

The full course fee must be paid before the beginning of the course. Payment in instalments is not possible.

Bank fees are not included in the course price.

Credit card
We will send you the necessary details for a credit card payment along with your preliminary confirmation.

Bank transfer
A foreign money transfer takes approx. 8–10 days. We cannot confirm receipt of your payment until the amount is credited to our account.

In urgent cases: Please send us a copy of the money transfer slip to the Customer Service department by e-mail to ensure that your place on the course is not canceled.

Confirmation
As soon as your payment is credited to our account you will receive a final confirmation by e-mail. The confirmation is to be presented when applying for a visa, and takes the place of the "invitation".

Please note: The Goethe-Institut cannot provide an ‘invitation’.

Changes to course bookings
The first booking change is free of charge. Each additional change is subject to a processing fee of €60.

Cancellation
To save costs, please notify us in a timely manner.

In case of cancellation no later than four weeks prior to the start of the course, only an administrative fee of €160 is charged.

In case of cancellation no later than one week prior to the start of the course, GI will withhold 30% of the course fee, but at least the administrative fee of €160.00.

In case of cancellation up to one day prior to the start of the course, GI will withhold 50% of the course fee, but at least the administrative fee of €160.00.

If a participant does not travel to the course location or withdraws from the course, there is no entitlement to a refund.

For further details, please refer to the terms and conditions.

Please send your notice of cancellation directly to the Customer Service department.

Travel cancellation insurance
We advise participants to take out insurance coverage for costs incurred if they are unable to travel.

Identification/Passport
Your daughter or son must bring identification or a passport. Please obtain information on entry regulations or visa requirements for children, especially minors. The Goethe-Institut in your country will also be happy to help.

Visa requirements
If your country is subject to visa requirements, please enroll your child no later than three months before the start of the course.

Schengen visa
Please note: a Schengen visa, which is valid for a maximum of 90 days, cannot be renewed in Germany. For a longer stay, for example if your child will be visiting friends or relatives for an extended period after the course or taking part in an internship, etc., a visa for Germany may be required.

For information and forms related to entry regulations, visit:
www.auswaertiges-amt.de

Packing checklist
What should your child pack? What should parents get ready for their children?
We have put together a checklist of things to pack and to bear in mind.
  New surroundings
Our advice: Discuss the planned stay in Germany once more with your child. It is important for your child to know that he or she will be spending two to three weeks in new surroundings, learning German and taking part in leisure-time activities with children and teens from other countries – without parents or relatives. If your child plays an active part in this decision, the stay in Germany will be even more enjoyable and successful.

If you have any questions in this regard, please get in touch with us. We'll be happy to advise you.

Transfer service
Most of our young guests arrive unaccompanied by plane. We offer an airport pick-up/transfer service on the official day of arrival between 9 am and 5 pm.

Our service staff picks up all children with arrival times between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the exit of the transit area in the arrivals terminal.

In case of a flight arriving before 9 a.m. or after 5 p.m. we will arrange for an individual transfer service for your child: We have been working for years with hand-picked taxi operators. We arrange for transportation by a taxi driver who knows the destination (the boarding school) and will drive your child there. Please note: a transfer by taxi involves additional costs.

Pick-up
Our service staff are clearly identifiable: They have Goethe-Institut badges and will identify themselves with an ID card or passport. We will notify you of their names before the start of the course. Please give this information to your child.

Arrival at other times
! Important reminder: If the participant cannot arrive on the arrival date, please arrange for arrival on the following day.

We regret that our staff cannot provide a transfer service and accommodation or guarantee care of students before the course begins. There are also no meals available at the school at that time.

Waiting time
Naturally the children and teens will not be alone at the airport during any waiting times that occur. They will be supervised until the transportation departs for the boarding school. Transfers between the airport and the school are scheduled at regular intervals on the arrival and departure days.

Transfer to the school
Your child will travel with the supervisors by bus, van or train to the course location.

Unaccompanied Minors/UM
Most airports offer a service for unaccompanied minors. Children are provided with supervision and care before departure, on the aircraft and after landing. These costs are not included in the course fee.

If your child arrives under the care of this service, the airport staff will check the identity of our service staff before allowing your child to leave with them.

Details of this service vary among airlines. Ask your airline specifically for this service as described, for example, on these websites:
https://www.lufthansa.com/de/en/unaccompanied-minors
https://www.united.com/ual/en/de/fly/travel/special-needs/minors.html

Arriving with parents
If you are planning to take your child to the course location yourself, the ideal arrival time is between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. On the arrival day you are welcome to tour the campus and the accommodation.

What happens on day one
To ensure that your child feel safes and well taken care of, we have organized the first day so that all needs are met right from the time of pick-up at the airport. That means a calm arrival, unpacking, getting to know the school, the grounds, the teachers and the counselors, and starting to get acquainted with the other children and teens.

Once again, here is how the day unfolds:

• arrival
• welcome at the airport
• transfer to course location
• welcome at the boarding school
• moving in to rooms, unpacking
• snacks and beverages
• contacting home to report a safe arrival
• getting to know the school grounds and other course participants
• time to relax
• dinner with the group

Here's what happens on a typical day on a young learners course:
 

8:00 - 9:00	Breakfast with the group
9:00 - 10:30	Classes at various levels, language games, grammar
10:30 - 11:00	Break with refreshments
11:00 - 12:30	Lessons
12:30 - 2:00	Lunch with the group
2:00 - 3:30	Learning through fun and games Learning games and exercises, fun language activities
3:30 - 4:00	Break with refreshments
4:00 - 6:30	Leisure program Sports, creative activities, hiking, short excursions, sightseeing. Flexible breaks with refreshments
2:00 - 6:30	Two days per week Afternoon classes with focus on project work
6:30 - 7:30	Dinner with the group
Starting at 7:30	Evening program Sports, creative activities, movies, disco or free time
	Weekends Leisure program The leisure program also runs at weekends.

Internet at almost every course location
At almost all of our course locations, WIFI access is available to course participants so that they can keep in touch with family and friends.

There is generally no need for participants to bring their own notebook computers.

Internet yes, but not at all times...
Participants can generally use the internet every day, but not for unlimited periods. We ensure age-appropriate internet use.

Contacting home after arrival
After your child arrives at the course location, we will remind him or her to let you know. Participants who do not have their own cell phone with them can write an e-mail.

Telephone contact is possible at all locations
You can call your child at all course locations. The children will be informed of times and telephone numbers on arrival.

You can contact the course management by telephone or e-mail to ask how your child is doing. If your child is in class or taking part in an activity, you are also welcome to leave a message. Your child will then call you back.

Less is more
Contact with your child is a good thing and it is also important. However, our experience has shown us that children and teens adapt more quickly to their new surroundings when parents do not call, visit the school or pick them up for weekends too frequently. This gives the children and teens a chance to spend time with their group without distractions and become even better integrated.

Learning and having fun in an international atmosphere: Our courses are attended by children and teens from all over the world. Every course session brings together 60 to 100 young people from an average of 20 different countries.

Most participants come from Spain, France, Italy, Russia, the USA, Turkey, Switzerland, Greece, Poland and the UK.

The percentages of participants from the various countries varies by course location and session date.

As far as possible, children share their rooms with children from other countries so that they speak as much German together as possible.

Our course leaders have plenty of experience in working with children and teens. On the campus they are responsible for organizing the lessons, the sports, culture and leisure-time program, and also for health and safety.

They are available to the course participants and their parents at all times for any questions and suggestions, and are always ready to help or provide advice. Parents can contact the course leaders by e-mail or telephone.

Our teachers have degrees (generally in "DaF" – teaching German as a foreign language) and plenty of experience with children and teens. The young participants in the Young Learners Program benefit from the expertise and qualifications of our teachers.

Each class has its own class teacher. The lessons, with a maximum class size of 16, are designed with the age group in mind. The activities are varied, with plenty of changes of pace. Classroom activities take the form of a playful, interactive process. Naturally our teachers respond to individual abilities and learning objectives and are pleased to help when learners have special requests.

They are also available outside classroom hours for advice and individual study assistance.

Members of the counselor team are available for the course participants, including at night if needed. They plan the program of sports, culture and leisure-time activities, taking participants' wishes into account whenever possible.

The counselors are available to deal with all everyday questions and concerns that arise during the course. They are handpicked by the Goethe-Institut for these courses and have extensive experience in working with children and teens.

A love of working with children – that is the basic qualification in our extensive hiring process for counselors. All of our counselors have experience in working with young people, a first aid certificate, a DLRG (German Life Saving Society) life saving certificate and a full police background check. Some of them are musicians, music teachers and theater arts instructors.

Depending on the age group, at least one counselor is present for 10 to 15 participants. The younger the participants, the more intensive the support by the counselors. This ensures the best possible leisure-time program and the right level of supervision. The staff are on hand for the children during sports, games and excursions, and are also housed in the same building.

The counselors conduct group discussions with the course participants every evening. Course participants have the opportunity, either in the group discussions or confidentially, to talk about what they like or anything that is bothering them .
 
Please note that it is not possible to provide one-to-one supervision or care for health reasons or otherwise. In such cases we regret that we must request the child's departure from the course.

At every course location the Goethe-Institut team is made up of the course coordinator, a deputy coordinator, teachers (one teacher for 12 to 16 participants) and counselors (one counselor for 10 to 15 course participants).

All meals are included.
Full board means three substantial meals a day with plenty of variety, including a warm meal. It also includes a selection of refreshments and snacks during course breaks and in the afternoon.

To leave enough time for the leisure activities in the evening, the evening meal sometimes takes place relatively early and sometimes takes the form of a cold buffet.

On the arrival day, the meal plan begins with lunch or dinner, and on departure day the final meal is breakfast or lunch, depending on the departure time.

The children and teens have their meals together and afterwards clear the tables.

Vegetarian meals and dishes without pork are available at all mealtimes. We regret that we cannot offer Halal cooking or special mealtimes during Ramadan.

Food allergies and special dietary needs
Please let us know in advance of any special dietary habits (vegetarian meals, no pork, etc.) so that the boarding school kitchen can prepare accordingly and take your child's needs into account – especially in case of serious food allergies, etc.

Supervision and care
The very best of care from arrival until departure: We will provide professional care for your son or daughter at all times: from the arrival in Germany, on every course day, on weekends, and right through to airport check-in for the homebound flight.

Individual care
We regret that it is not possible to provide individual care for health-related or other reasons requiring round-the-clock supervision. In such cases we must ask you to pick up your child at the course location.
 
Safety
The safety and well-being of all course participants is our top priority. To ensure the safety of all course participants, it may be necessary in certain cases and for good cause to conduct night-time room checks.

Experienced teams
Our teachers and the counselor team have years of experience with children and teens, in the classroom and with the organization of the leisure-time program.

Languages
Our German staff can generally speak several languages, so that the children can also communicate with them in their native languages, or at least in English.

Homesickness
If your child feels homesick, please do not worry: We are there for your child at all times.

Facilities geared to young people
The boarding schools we select are geared specifically to young guests and are very child-friendly, from the atmosphere to the furnishings and facilities.

Our advice: Preparation is everything
Please go over the planned stay in Germany with your child once more.It is important for your child to know that he or she will be spending two to four weeks in new surroundings, learning German and taking part in leisure-time activities with children and teens from other countries – without parents or relatives. If your child plays an active part in this decision, the stay in Germany will be even more enjoyable and successful. If you have any questions in this regard, please get in touch with us. We'll be happy to advise you.

Of course a few rules are needed to ensure the peaceful coexistence and safety of all participants. The house rules for the accommodation and the general rules outlined above apply to everyone.

Carry course ID at all times
To ensure participants' safety everywhere and at all times: your child will carry his or her participant ID card at all times, indicating name, address and the telephone number of the course office.

Carry participant ID card at all times
To ensure safety wherever our learners go, your child will carry his or her participant ID card at all times, indicating name, address and the telephone number of the course office.

Your child's health is of paramount importance to us. Consequently, we do all we can to ensure healthy living on the campus.

Inform us
Please notify us by e-mail of any food allergies or other dietary concerns, health restrictions and previous illnesses. This will ensure that the counselors are well informed and can provide a doctor with this important information about your child in case of an emergency. We make inclusion possible. 

Food allergies and special dietary needs
Please let us know in advance of any special dietary habits (vegetarian meals, no pork, etc.) so that the boarding school kitchen can prepare accordingly and take your child's needs into account – especially in case of serious food allergies, etc.

Past illnesses / health restrictions
In case of chronic health conditions (diabetes, allergies), please ask your doctor whether there are additional considerations for your child during his or her stay. Please inform us accordingly before the start of the course.

Please mention these pre-existing conditions. This will ensure that the counselors are well informed and can provide a doctor with this important information about your child in case of an emergency.

Medication
Be sure to give your child a sufficient quantity of medication, including the patient information leaflet in German or English and the doctor's instructions. Please note: Our staff are not permitted to administer medication to course participants unless it has been prescribed for the child.

Vaccinations
Tetanus vaccination: Please inform us if your child is vaccinated. Ask your doctor if you are not sure. Our advice: Please give your child a copy of his/her international vaccination pass if available.

Medical Insurance
Please check that the child's health insurance coverage also applies in Germany before he or she enters the country. EU residents can obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their insurer. Please give this card to your child.

In case of illness
Medical care in Germany is generally very good. At all course locations there are hospitals, doctors on call, general practitioners and specialists relatively nearby.

If a child is ill, our staff will accompany him or her to the doctor's office.