“A community of curious learners, exploring culture and personal development through travel and immersive experiences.”
A 6-month educational program, featuring a 30-day summer stay in Europe, tailored for high schoolers with an emphasis on personal development.
30 days in Europe
(July 2024)
6 months of support
25 spaces
available
Open to ages
15 – 19
Applications close May 15, 2024
The guide to completing your application is here.
Optional two-week European stay available, join the group between:
July 1 – 15
or
July 15 – 30
Enquire to find out more.
How does this cultural and educational summer program impact young people positively?
How does this cultural and educational summer program impact young people positively?
It will help your children build up confidence, bring them out of their shell and show them what they’re able to achieve!
It will allow your children to explore how many study and professional paths there are.
It will give your children something to add to their resume which will truly make them stand out from the crowd!
It will have a great impact on your children’s education and future by opening their eyes to the world.
It will guide your children to develop personally so they have a more rounded understanding of themselves.
It will provide your children with the opportunity to discover Europe!
Curious to learn more about our Starline program? Book a consultation below!
Curious to learn more about our Starline program? Book a consultation below!
What is the Starline Program?
Our prime objective is to enhance your children’s education by providing an ultimate cultural experience that combines travel and personal development.
This is not your usual summer camp nor educational tour! This is a six-month intercultural support program for those who want to develop educationally and personally whilst discovering Europe!
Find out more about the six months of support here.
How your children will be supported for six months
The heart of Starline is the 30-day stay in Europe, however, students will be well prepared for their arrival in Europe with virtual support beginning two months ahead of departure. There will be opportunities for them to get to know their cohort, to set intentions for what they’d like to experience during their time in Europe, and to receive cultural immersion training so they know exactly what to expect while abroad.
Upon returning home, virtual support will continue for an additional three months with our team of trained coaches. Students will not only have the chance to reflect on what they learned about themselves and other cultures, but they will also receive continued assistance toward reaching the life skills goals they identified during their time in Europe.
Here is a breakdown of the various modules:
Module 1: Program Orientation and Expectations (May 2024)
Description: students will kick off the program with an interactive session where they’ll meet their peers. Following this, they will break out into homogenous groups based on their pre-consultation with our Education Manager, Laura. They will share their reasons for joining the program and discuss their expectations and aspirations for the upcoming sessions.
Module 2: Cultural Awareness (June 2024)
Description: here, the focus is on cultural awareness, led by Lana, our cultural training specialist. Through an interactive session, students will explore cultural differences, expectations when traveling to the USA and various parts of Europe, and how to maximize their cultural experiences.
Module 3: Living the Starline Experience!
Module 4: Program Reflection and Learning (September 2024)
Description: students will reflect on their learning journey within the program. Through interactive sessions, they will share their insights, discuss the biggest impacts the program has had on them, and exchange ideas with their peers.
Module 5: Program Overview and Personal Development (October 2024)
Description: this will provide an in-depth overview of the program’s core pillars, including connections, personal development, language acquisition, cultural awareness, and education and professional skills. Students will discuss the most valuable aspects of the program for them and explore how they can leverage these experiences for their future endeavors.
Module 6: Future Planning and Goal Setting (November 2024)
Description: In the final module, students will develop a personalized plan to fully utilize and benefit from the program’s offerings. They will create actionable steps to achieve their full potential in their chosen avenues, aligning their aspirations with the skills and experiences gained throughout the program.
“VICI, where growth begins!”
Starline Program Itinerary – July 2024
England
Day 1: Welcome! Tour of Newbury town, meet & greet
Day 2: Personal Development Workshop Day 1
Day 3: London for the day, sightseeing and shopping
Day 4: Personal Development Workshop Day 2
Day 5: Day out in Oxford
Day 6: Stratford-upon-Avon Shakespeare experience
Day 7: French, Italian and German language workshops
Day 8: Inter-cultural workshop and visit Windsor
France
Day 9: Travel to France via the Eurostar
Day 10: Sightseeing in Paris
Day 11: Culinary workshop in a Parisian Patisserie
Jura
Day 12: Travel to Jura by TGV
Day 13: Personal Development Workshop Day 3
Day 14: Day at the lakes
Day 15: Lyon
Day 16: Personal Development Workshop Day 4
Day 17: Franco-American evening! Networking and being in the community
Day 18: Inter-cultural Workshop – Sporty afternoon in the forest and lakes
Germany
Day 19: Theme park Europa Park
Day 20: Freibourg
Day 21: Personal Development Workshop Day 5
Switzerland
Day 22: Geneva
Day 23: Rest day
Italy
Day 24: Travel to Milan
Day 25: Visit Milan – Fashion Factory/Boutique
Day 26: Culinary Workshop: learn to make pasta!
Day 27: Back to Jura
Jura
Day 28: Personal Development Workshop – Final Day
Day 29: Final Day and celebrations evening
Day 30: Say goodbyes and go home!
Watch the video of our VICI Academy Director, Nathalie, talking about the benefits of cultural experiences on education, personal development and career paths for young students.
The video outlines how the Starline Program will cover all of these aspects, ultimately elevating your children’s future and successes.
Register your interest in the Starline Program
Next online information evening: Thursday April 4th, 7:30pm EST. Signup below and we’ll send you the details!
What’s included?
Accommodation
Food
Transportation within Europe
Activities and excursions
Onsite support staff
Language lessons
Virtual coaching and support (5 months)
Educational workshops
What’s included?
What’s included?
Starline FAQ’s, Podcast & Blog
Click below to read the Starline Program FAQ’s, plus listen VICI podcast “Crossroads Conversations” and blog series offering support and guidance for students considering a summer spent on the immersive Starline Program!
What does the Starline Program stand for?
The Starline Program is dedicated to opening students’ minds to global perspectives and opportunities through an immersive cultural experience that combines travel with a comprehensive support system. This mission is achieved by providing a unique blend of educational workshops, language lessons, cultural immersion, and personal development activities designed to prepare young people for a successful future. More details about these pillars are below:
CONNECTIONS
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION
EDUCATION
“The purpose of education is to turn mirrors into windows”- Sidney J. Harris. We want young people taking part in the Starline Program to open has many windows into their future as possible!
CULTURAL AWARENESS
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The cultural program starts in England!
The students will stay in the homely and green County of Berkshire, in a town called Newbury with beautiful river views. They will get to know their co-students, group leaders and coaches, spending several days travelling to famous British cities and landmarks in Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon and London, tasting the famous British dish fish and chips!
Scroll to see what else is in store!
France
The students will take in the incredible sights of Paris, Lyon and the beautiful tiny villages of the Eastern French countryside whilst indulging in gastronomic delights. They will visit famous landmarks and take a fantastic workshop on how to make traditional French-style baked goodies!
Germany
The students travel to Germany and spend a thrilling day out at Europa Theme Park and visit the historic city of Freibourg, situated amongst the highlands in the Black Forest.
Italy
The students head to Milan to visit the sights and learn about the famous fashion factories situated here, in the evening there’s even chance to join a pasta-making class!
Fantastico!
Switzerland
The students stay in Geneva and enjoy the incredible lake looking across the Alps and Dura mountains – they will have the opportunity to take part in recap sessions of the entire Starline personal development program.
Who is the Starline educational summer program for?
Young American high-school students, aged between 15-19.
This is a fantastic immersive education and your children will make many new friends and connections along the way, truly getting to know one another over the course of the month.
Read more about our past students, their profiles and why they decided to join us on an immersive program experience!
Emma
Emma studied European languages at school and wanted to experience everything she had learned in real life.
She had developed a passion for travel and culture and wanted to broaden her horizons with new, exciting adventures guided by a trusted group.
Sacha
Sacha was thinking about preparing for college and his future career after he graduated in a few years’ time.
He wanted to add something different to his resume and experience new culture, to make him stand out against his peers.
Maggie
Maggie loved school and socialising with her friends, but felt like her academic skills would be strengthened by a summer experience.
She wanted something that was different to a usual summer camp where she could travel with similar-aged friends,
We organise monthly informational sessions for parents and students keen to hear more about the program.
Fill in your details below and we’ll let you know how you can join us for our next live Q&A.
Meet the Starline team:
In order to create this program, we have pulled together our language masters and residential trip experts from the VICI team. We also have education managers and professional leadership coaches who are full-time employees and partners of VICI and have worked with us and each other for years. The whole team will be present with the students throughout the program.
From language teachers to residential program managers, we are experts in our field, bringing a wealth of international know-how.
Nathalie Danon
The VICI Academy Director
“I grew up in a rural part of France with idyllic, unspoiled landscape. I really enjoyed learning English at school and had the drive to become fluent, so at the age of 18 I moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, to work as an Au Pair!
This experience opened me up to living in a completely different culture and it sparked the flame for my love of travel, languages and life in other Countries. Even now, I regularly return to the USA to visit life long friends from my time here.
I began studying International Business at university, which gave me the opportunity to travel to the UK, and I have lived in England for the past 20 years bringing up two bilingual children and building the VICI Academy business.
My career has been driven by my passion for exploring new cultures and languages – with all the benefits they bring. The VICI academy is highly multicultural, and we work with 12 different nationalities across the business.
All of this motivated me to create the Starline Program, so we could bring the same opportunities to young students. I am not originally from a bilingual family, which only proves how anyone can get into languages if they have drive and passion!”
Melissa Chapman
International Program Coordinator
“I’m an American and Francophile living on the east coast of the United States. My passion for travel, languages, and experiencing other cultures began more than two decades ago as a study-abroad student in Paris.
Since then, I’ve worked for numerous universities facilitating study abroad opportunities, as well as supporting international students studying here in the States. I’ve seen just how much cultural immersion opportunities impact students’ lives—including my own!
The opportunity to explore other countries and experience different ways of life fosters new levels of independence, curiosity, and personal growth, which is why I’m delighted to now support younger generations of students experiencing life abroad.
As the U.S.-based point of contact for Starline, I’m happy to answer all your questions and support you as you consider spending your summer abroad on this enriching program!”
Laura Vandendorpe
Starline Education Manager
“I was raised in a bilingual family and spent my younger years in Belgium and England, learning to speak English and French fluently. My love for languages drove me to study language and linguistics at university, which took me on to work in five different European cities in various universities and schools.
My career has been spent helping young learners and students, guiding them in working out what their academic and professional orientation is as well as learning about what their strengths and weaknesses are. I also help French speaking people with resume and letter writing with the English language.
I am passionate about language, learning and the opportunities it brings to young people – which is why I am incredibly excited to be a part of the Starline Program, helping students with self-study and future careers in Europe!”
Lana Klimova
Intercultural & Cross-cultural Training Specialist
“I grew up in a completely monolingual and monocultural environment where nobody even had a passport. Once I discovered the existence of other countries and languages, I was absolutely captivated. This led me to study linguistics at university and ignited my passion for different cultures, which has brought me to live and work in five countries: Russia, the US, Sweden, China, and Spain.
Through living and working in these diverse environments, I have cultivated a profound appreciation for the nuances of language and the dynamic interplay between cultures.”
“In a world as diverse as it is now, it is not enough to simply be able to speak a language. As an experienced language teacher and someone who has lived an international life for the past 18 years, I believe learning to foster harmonious cross-cultural interactions is of ultimate importance.
This is why I am thrilled to be part of the Starline program and look forward to contributing to making a transformative impact in the lives of young people!”
Are you a parent interested in providing your child aged 15-19 with a cultural summer experience?
How we care for our students
We take 25 students on the Starline Program
Our team is carefully selected to ensure that not only are they providing a fantastic educational experience, but also creating a personal connection with each and every student that joins, so they feel comfortable and safe amongst many new faces.
We take 25 students, and our staff know them all by name. We pride ourselves on helping new groups to bond and make new connections with one another.
A pre-program personal 1:1 consultation with Melissa, Nathalie, or Laura so you can ask any questions. It will also give us an opportunity to really learn more about your children, their personal reasons for coming and what they might hope to achieve.
We are committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse environment where every student feels valued, respected, and empowered to learn and contribute. As such, we ask all participants to adhere to a Code of Conduct that promotes a safe, respectful, and positive environment.
Our team believes that diversity enriches the educational experience for all by promoting a broad spectrum of ideas, perspectives, and cultures. We ensure our program is accessible to students from all backgrounds, abilities, and socioeconomic statuses as outlined in our Inclusion and Diversity policy.
Interested? Contact us now to have a chat with our team to see if the Starline Program is right for your children.
KIND WORDS
I recommend 100%!
If you’re keen for your child to discover Europe, simply speak to VICI. They are a super professional and competent company on a human scale.
My daughter came back so enthusiastic about her stay. Everything was perfect; the organization, the lessons, the accommodation and cultural visits! They care a great deal and that makes a huge difference.
First request upon his return? Going back next year!
That speaks volumes on the quality of his stay. Thanks to Nathalie and the whole VICI team, we’ll see you again!
My daughter Emma came home absolutely transformed by her immersion experience and made lots of friends along the way too. I’ve never heard her be so excited about a trip like this before!
The whole trip has given her a new outlook on life and her future. An extremely worthwhile investment!
KIND WORDS
I recommend 100%!
If you’re keen for your child to discover Europe, simply speak to VICI. They are a super professional and competent company on a human scale.
My daughter came back so enthusiastic about her stay. Everything was perfect; the organization, the lessons, the accommodation and cultural visits! They care a great deal and that makes a huge difference.
First request upon his return? Going back next year!
That speaks volumes on the quality of his stay. Thanks to Nathalie and the whole VICI team, we’ll see you again!
Thank you so much to Cécile and VICI Academy, we had exceptional service!
My daughter Emma came home absolutely transformed by her immersion experience and made lots of friends along the way too. I’ve never heard her be so excited about a trip like this before!
The whole trip has given her a new outlook on life and her future. An extremely worthwhile investment!
Where are your children going to stay?
Your children will stay in Newbury, England and Lons-le-Saunier, France. Situated in truly authentic locations, they will fully experience what it is like to live in these countries. We pride ourselves on our quaint and cosy teaching surroundings and do not feel like we need a ‘classroom’ environment to evolve the learnings of our students.
Every year we welcome many international students to our academies, so we’re pros in making them feel at home! We even have Lando, the English office dog, who is a key member of our UK team!
Throughout the rest of the program, the students will stay in hotels, chalets and youth accommodation of a high standard, sharing rooms with their new friends.
The town of VICI Academy – Newbury, England
The town of VICI Academy – Lons-le-Saunier, France
What does the Starline Personal Development Program entail?
When we say it’s not a summer camp, we really mean it’s not a summer camp, nor an educational tour!
A unique feature of Starline is the opportunity to participate in a tailor-made life skills curriculum offered exclusively for students on the program. Facilitated by two of Europe’s top executive coaches, Ingela Harmsen and Christophe Sugny, this portion of the Starline journey is what makes the program like no other.
Christophe and Ingela
Starline Personal Development Coaches
Using a fun and engaging curriculum, students will learn and practice valuable life skills such as interpersonal communication, decision-making, critical thinking, self-awareness, resilience, stress management, and problem solving.
Goals
Identify and articulate personal goals
Create a plan toward reaching them
Follow through on their commitments to themselves
Insights
Manage their emotions in a healthy way
Have effective and impactful conversations
Recognize stressful situations and know how to best manage them
Results
Make the best decisions that will set them up for success in adulthood
Expand their mindset so they lead the life they want by being aligned to their true self
At the end of their journey, students will receive a certificate representing their progress through the program, an amazing bonus which they can add to their resume and college application!
What does intercultural support involve?
Navigating bridges for enhanced understanding; students will be visiting no less than 5 countries, which will undoubtedly afford them a culturally enriching experience!
We want our high schoolers to gain valuable insights into cultural nuances, enhance their intercultural communication skills, and develop a more profound appreciation for diversity.
Within our program, we first define culture as a dynamic concept. We then equip participants with skills to navigate differences, deconstruct stereotypes, and actively engage in meaningful intercultural dialogue.
Optional Starline language lessons
This is why we will be offering FREE opt-in language lessons and workshops during the program, ran by our amazing team of language coaches.
Our language school is backed by 23 years of language coaching. Our director Nathalie was even quoted ‘one inspirational teacher’ by UK newspaper ‘The Independent’!
We offer opt-in language lessons in:
French
German
Italian
French
German
Italian
Not just another residential program…
I am Nathalie, the owner and founder of VICI. I wanted to pop in and give you my heartfelt thanks for considering us!
VICI is my passion project, and that is what it’s been going for over 20 years! We care about our students, their progress, their challenges – and enjoy teaching and social gatherings alike. We look out for each other.
My team of language professionals and I have worked relentlessly for over 20 years, to bring you a wealth of knowledge, rich of 11 languages and over 100 years of international experience combined!
I am proud of our achievements, just like I know your children will be proud of theirs when their summer program comes to an end.
This is a truly holistic program where wellbeing, results, community and culture all matter in equal measures.
My team and I look forward to welcoming your children soon!
In the meantime, follow me on LinkedIn for all VICI news!
Not just another residential program…
I am Nathalie, the owner and founder of VICI. I wanted to pop in and give you my heartfelt thanks for considering us!
VICI is my passion project, and that is what it’s been going for over 20 years! We care about our students, their progress, their challenges – and enjoy teaching and social gatherings alike. We look out for each other.
My team of language professionals and I have worked relentlessly for over 20 years, to bring you a wealth of knowledge, rich of 11 languages and over 100 years of international experience combined!
I am proud of our achievements, just like I know your children will be proud of theirs when their summer program comes to an end.
This is a truly holistic program where wellbeing, results, community and culture all matter in equal measures.
My team and I look forward to welcoming your children soon!
In the meantime, follow me on LinkedIn for all VICI news!
We are welcoming a total of 25 US students on the 2024 Starline Program.
Fill out your details below and we will contact you for a 15-minute consultation to discuss whether the program is right for your children. Applications close May 15, 2024.
Download our Guide to the Application Form here.
Request a callback from the team
MORE KIND WORDS
We are immensely grateful!
“The VICI staff are consummate professionals – nothing is too much and the depth in which they carefully planned all our projects was second to none. We are immensely grateful!”
Just fabulous!
“I cannot express how amazing my residential programme was! A full immersion from day 1, the staff are amazing and really caring; we are looked after so well that it went by in a flash!
The whole experience was great!
“I came back home with renewed confidence in myself and in my ability to tackle my school entry exams with conviction and get ready for college. Thank you VICI!”
Gallery: past European programs
Petting Lando, the office dog!
A lovely day at Windsor Castle!
Proudly holding their certificates!
Noa receiving a referral prize
Mathiz enjoying a Starbucks!
Emma loving chocolate patisseries!
Pia sightseeing
Florence ordering profiteroles in a French brasserie!
Gallery: past European programs
Petting Lando, the office dog!
A lovely day at Windsor Castle!
Proudly holding their certificates!
Noa receiving a referral prize
Mathiz enjoying a Starbucks!
Emma loving chocolate patisseries!
Pia sightseeing
Florence ordering profiteroles in a French brasserie!
Gallery: past European programs
Petting Lando, the office dog!
A lovely day at Windsor Castle!
Proudly holding their certificates!
Noa receiving a referral prize
Mathiz enjoying a Starbucks!
Emma loving chocolate patisseries!
Pia sightseeing
Florence ordering profiteroles in a French brasserie!
Apply for this program
Download our Guide to the Application Form here.
England Office
12 West Mills Yard
Kennet Road
Newbury
Berkshire RG14 5LP
00 44 1635 44424
French Office
Résidence Fenelon
15 rue de Vallière
39 000 Lons-le-Saunier
00 33 3 67 47 04 81
USA Office
100 SE 3rd Ave 10th FL
Fort Lauderdale
Florida 33394
001 954-390-2233
Follow us on social media!
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