Flight Chaperone
From AFSWiki
The flight chaperone will accompany participants to their destination and will participate in the Gateway Orientation for flights departing the U.S. The flight chaperone is a volunteer position whose primary responsibility is the welfare of participants traveling on international and domestic flights. In addition, the individual is an official representative of AFS-USA to airline, airport and government personnel.
Please read the Flight Chaperone Manual for the complete list of responsibilities.
If you have this opportunity, don't just take the next flight home. Spend a little time getting to know the other country - you will then have that valuable experience to share with future AFS applicants.
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Application Overview 2012
As many of you may be aware, each year AFS-USA offers volunteers and staff members the opportunity to chaperone our returning and departing sending program participants to and from the US. Being selected as a chaperone is an opportunity for AFS-USA volunteers to be honored by their fellow volunteers for their service and dedication to the organization.
The primary responsibility of the flight chaperone is the welfare of the participants traveling on these international and domestic flights. Chaperoning can add an even greater benefit for the volunteer - an opportunity to travel abroad, at little cost, to interact with some of our participants, and to learn about the culture of that country. All departing flight chaperones (from USA) are required to participate in the Gateway Orientation.Chaperones for flights returning from outside the USA will not generally be involved prior to the actual flight check-in at the airport. Some opportunities have other special requirements. Selected chaperones will be kept on the list for all opportunities during the year. Applicants will be removed from the list of potential chaperones if two flights are turned down due to country offered. Applicants can turn down flights due to scheduling or time of year issues.
At Outbound Sponsored Programs orientations, you will be responsible for students and (attending) as well as participating in, sessions from approximately 8:00 am until 11:00 pm each day. As a group leader you will be asked to fully engage with orientations. We ask that you do not try to balance other work responsibilities with being a group leader. While this requirement may seem unnecessary at first, experience has demonstrated that it is not possible to balance work responsibilities and attention on our students. Students and other group leaders need a staff of people who are fully focused on them in order to fully prepare them for the exchange experience.
The chaperone flights offered vary each year and some have additional requirements. The chaperone flights may include:
- Core program flights
- Sponsored program flights
- Flights with additional requirements including orientation participation
- Special flights
- Flights of an emergency nature
Eligibility 2012
- Have been a registered AFS-USA volunteer for at least two years
- Currently registered as an AFS-USA Volunteer
- Have not participated in any international travel sponsored by AFS within the past 2 years
- Be at least 25 years old
- Have a current, valid passport
- Be available to remain in the country for the 7 day minimum
- Have experience as a chaperone or in a related role
- Have international travel experience
- Have ability to relate to teens
- Have skills in problem solving, organizing and flexibility
- Be open to new experience
- Be available to travel
Additional information to consider:
- Chaperones need to be physically able to transport own luggage and travel on long or overnight flights
- Chaperones are not permitted to bring any family members or friends under 18 on chaperone flight or anyone needing special assistance
- Chaperones are responsible for all costs for family members or friends traveling with them
- The flight itinerary is set by AFS and no routing changes will be allowed
- For return flights the chaperone is responsible for meeting group in partner country and all costs related to this such as train/taxi to airport or orientation site, overnight lodging for day before flight)
- Chaperones are not to drink alcohol on their chaperone flight or while supervising students
Flights Available to Volunteers in 2012
There are approximately 5 core and 11 NSLI and YES flights anticipated to be available to award to volunteers in 2012. Countries are expected to include Argentina, China, France, Ghana, Indonesia, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, Thailand, and Turkey. Flights are between June and September 2012.
How to Apply 2012
Anyone interested in a chaperone flight for 2012 will first be required to fill out a pre-application. The pre-application will be reviewed by the volunteer recognition committee to make sure the applicant is eligible to receive a chaperone flight.(see above- eligibility requirements) The deadline to submit a pre-application will be January 16, 2012.
The link to the pre-application is: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SQLPB66
Once eligibility has been confirmed the applicant will then be contacted by the volunteer recognition committee and asked to submit a chaperone application and two references by January 28, 2012. One reference is to be from an AFS volunteer and the other can be from a non-AFS individual who knows your qualifications related to being a flight chaperone for AFS-USA. References must not be related to the applicant. Please note incomplete applications will automatically be disqualified so please make sure your application is complete with references before it is submitted. Please list applicant name on the subject line for applications and references.
Submit applications to and questions to: FlightChaperon@afsusa.org
Chaperone flight priority lists will be developed based on evaluation of applicants at least twice a year. Chaperone flights are determined based on the needs of AFS-USA and are not predictable each year.
Applicants will be notified of status the week of March 15, 2012.
Timeline
January 16th. 2012: Pre-application deadline
January 28th, 2012: Full application deadline including references
March 15th, 2012: Applicants will be notified on or before this date of their selection
How Flights are determined
- Paula McGrath, Director of Travel and Logistics, determines which groups need chaperones based on participant numbers.
- The chaperone flights are then divided between volunteers and staff.
- Jim Laden coordinates the staff opportunities. Staff apply and, if qualified, are selected by a combination of seniority and time since their last international opportunity.
- The National Council has a recognition committee (National Volunteer Recognition Committee) that selects volunteers for flights.
Best Practices
- Contact former AFSers in the country to see if you can visit them while you are there. I had the opportunity to be the flight chaperone for the summer programs to Costa Rica. I contacted a former hosted AFS student who had been placed with our chapter to see if we could meet while I was there. I was invited to stay in her home for a week. Her mom did not speak English, and I did not speak Spanish, so it was a bit like being a week-long exchange student. I participated in the arrival orientation in Costa Rica, went on a small mini-bus with the students going to that city, and met my "host mom and sister" there like everyone else. Getting immersed in the language was a tremendous experience and I was actually able to watch the local TV shows by the end of the week and follow the plot in a different language! (from Al Russell)
