Belo Tours
From AFSWiki
Belo USA Travel is an American travel operator based in Chicago that specializes in cultural, educational, and tourist trips for international exchange students. Belo Tours has contracted with other AFS Partners and other exchange organizations for more than 11 years with positive results.
Belo USA has designed trips specifically for AFS students that will incorporate our mission and the idea of intercultural education. Tours will include cross-cultural learning opportunities in each city. Belo USA has a great appreciation for the mission of AFS and the desire for our students to participate in activities that follow these values.
Because AFS USA believes in the value of Belo Tours as an enhancement to our programs, the AFS USA National Council has voted to amend the AFS Independent Travel Policy in regard to Belo Tours:
- Travel waivers will be required for all trips.
- Host siblings will be invited to join the trips.
- AFS USA will recruit chaperons for these opportunities. All AFS volunteers will have the opportunity to apply for one of these trips. Additional information to follow.
- Belo will continue to provide a trip coordinator and monitors for each trip.
- Student travel must be approved by the host family; the host school if any school will be missed, as well as the natural parents and AFS-USA via the travel waiver. Students should not purchase tickets until they have the approval from all the concerned parties.
- With the approval of the host family, natural family, host school, and AFS-USA, students would be allowed to miss up to 5 days of school to attend a Belo Tour.
However, as these are not AFS sponsored trips, they do not excuse students from attending any mandatory orientation. If there is a conflict of dates, the the mandatory orientation takes precedence. Therefore, do not sign up for a Belo tour that conflicts with any mandatory orientation.
If you have any questions about this program or registering through the website, please contact Belo USA at 866-924-8215 or afs@belousa.com.
For any other questions regarding AFS- specific travel and program policies, please contact your Regional Office Support Team at 800-876-2377.
2011-2012 Hosting Season
AFS-USA and Belo USA Travel are pleased to once again offer optional cultural trips around the U.S. for AFS participants. Details can be found below in the documents sent to participants, with specific program and pricing information in the student letter.
- Belo Tours Announcement to Volunteers
- Letter to Students
- AFS Chaperone Applications
- Student authorization
- Letter to Host Families
Best Practice from Heartland AT
Heartland Team uses the following form for students to 'apply' for a Belo tour. Dianna says, "Heartland came up with a request form for our students to use and have approved by the Support Coordinators before they can sign up for a trip. We had some issues last year concerning getting to and from airport and students not talking this out with host families before hand. So we decided we needed to do something that will hopefully take care of any issues."
Here is the form they used: AT Belo Request Form 2009
Greater West Metro has decided, that this year, we will have several key volunteers work to obtain the school approval signature for the Belo trips. In the last 2 years, we had a couple students (who weren't doing all too well academically) tell their school that it was an official AFS trip and how would the school know any differently? So volunteers will obtain the school approval. The other upside to this is that by talking to the school to get the approval, it can be used as one of our required quarterly school contacts.
Information for Chaperone Applicants
Chaperone Applications are due no later than midnight on January 16, 2012. Applicants will be notified of decisions by January 20. Please note that there are some physical requirements for chaperones, including walking, sightseeing, and sitting on a bus for 8 - 10 hours at a time with minimal breaks. You will be required to disclose information regarding physical restrictions, impairments, allergies, dietary restrictions, and medical impairments. Please see application for full details.
