Program Components

The program has three components:

• AT HOME:
  In the months leading up to Vancouver, each boy will identify and engage in a service learning project in his local community in partnership with a local agency. The project should involve face-to-face contact, requiring at least 4-6 hours of commitment each month.
• ONLINE:
  Beginning in March, 2016, boys will engage in a monthly on-line curriculum, inviting them to reflect on readings, video and audio materials that explore service learning, citizenship and leadership. The curriculum has been designed by the Directors of the IBSC Student Forum and their team. Boys will be required to create and post responses through a variety of on-line media. Each monthly exercise will take about one hour to complete. In local service and as a member of this on-line community, the boys will consider the needs of their local communities, research and strategize about how to raise funds, increase awareness, and change perspectives about the issues they are studying.
• IN VANCOUVER:
  From Friday, June 24 to Wednesday June 29, 2016, the boys will convene in Vancouver to participate in a program of activities centered around developing their identities as, and knowledge of their rights and responsibilities involved in being Global Citizens. The Forum will involve workshops, out-trips, key-note speakers, and the collaborative development of an initiative/program to take back to their schools and communities associated with their learning at The Forum. For additional Vancouver schedule details, consult Student Forum Logistics .

Accommodation

Room and board will be provided in a combinations of Homestay and Boarding House situations. During their stay in Vancouver, they will be supervised by the leadership team for the Student Forum, assisted by the Mentors. For full housing details, consult Student Forum Logistics .

Candidates

Boys from IBSC schools across our global community will be selected to participate in the IBSC Student Forum. Boys will be in their penultimate grade of high school beginning in January/February. Each schoolmust also designate a School Mentor to provide support and to accompany the student to and from Vancouver in June. Review the Student Nomination and Application Forms .

Ideal candidates for the IBSC Student Forum are boys who:

• Are (or will be) in their penultimate year of high school as of January/February 2016 (or younger if they have the maturity and poise to be strong contributors to the Student Forum);
• are outstanding members and representatives of their school communities have; demonstrated a strong interest in servant-leadership in their home communities;
• and are well-organized and self-motivated, with an openness and readiness to participate fully in all aspects of the program.

School Mentors

We require the additional participation of a School Mentor from each school. The School Mentor:

• may be working in any capacity at the school (teacher, coach, administrator, staff, etc.);
• will provide local support and guidance for the student, and will be a local contact for the Directors of the IBSC Student Forum;
• will meet with the student on a regular basis to review progress leading up to Vancouver;
• will keep the Head and the student's parents/guardian informed about the Student Forum;
• will serve as chaperone for the student during all travel to and from Vancouver in June;
• and will participate as assigned in the IBSC Student Forum program while in Vancouver; this will include either a supervisory duty in student lodging or a daytime chaperone duty.

Cost

The cost is $1000 (USD) for each student and $1000 (USD) for each mentor. The fee for each mentor includes access to the Annual Conference when the mentors are not needed at the Student Forum.

Pricing for students will cover the costs of room and board in the Homestay or Boarding House accommodations, all meals (during the Forum), ground transportation, entrance fees to all planned activities, and other costs associated with the running of the program. The fee for each mentor includes access to the Annual Conference when the mentors are not needed at the Student Forum.

The fee does not include the cost of air travel to and from Vancouver, any out-of-country medical insurance, discretionary pocket money and other personal necessities.

Student Nomination and Application Process

• Nominate a Student
• Student Application

Step 1: By 22 FEBRUARY 2016 (Deadline extended to 27 February 2016)
Schools interested in the IBSC Student Forum will nominate one student and a School Mentor by completing the online Nomination Form .

Step 2: by 27 FEBRUARY 2016
Directly after submitting the Nomination Form, you will be directed to have the nominated student complete the on-line Student Application , which they must complete and submit by February 27th. The application is designed to gather important information and personal reflection on the value of local service, and to signal the commitment and readiness of participants.

Step 3: by 6 March 2016
The student and School Mentor will receive formal notification from the Student Forum Leadership as to whether the nominated student has been accepted to participate in the IBSC Student Forum by March 6th.

Questions?

If you have questions about the 2016 IBSC Student Forum, please contact the IBSC at ibsc@theibsc.org.