Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-Arrival Information

• Can children under the age of 14 travel alone to Vancouver?
• Who will meet the students at the Vancouver International Airport?
• How will parents know that their children have arrived safely?
• How will students keep their money and valuables safe?
• How much money should students bring?
• Who keeps the student's airline ticket and passport?

Safety & Contacts

• How can parents contact their child during the program?
• How can students call home?
• What if a friend or relative wants to visit and/or take students off-campus?
• What happens if a student becomes ill or gets hurt?

Accomodations & Living

• How is security organized in the dormitories?
• Can students choose their type of dormitory room?
• Where do the students eat and where can they buy food?
• How do students do their laundry?
• What personal living items will be provided for students by Bodwell?

Rules & Regulations

• What are the program rules and regulations?

---

Pre-Arrival Information

Can children under the age of 14 travel alone to Vancouver?

Parents or guardians need to notify the airline if their child is under 14 and will be travelling alone. Please let the airline know that an unaccompanied minor will need supervision for their travel to and from Vancouver. The airline will arrange for an attendant to help the child through customs and with boarding. When arranging for this special service, the airline also needs to be informed that a Bodwell representative will be picking up the child from the Vancouver International Airport. An unaccompanied minor service fee will apply through the airline.

Who will meet the students at the Vancouver International Airport?

At the Vancouver International Airport, a Bodwell representative will be waiting at Arrivals. They will be wearing Bodwell’s official t-shirt and be holding a large Bodwell sign. Students will be escorted directly to the University of British Columbia where they will check-in and meet their counselor. More detailed information will be provided in the Acceptance Package.

How will parents know that their children have arrived safely?

Bodwell will notify parents via email on the day their child arrived safely in Vancouver.

How will students keep their money and valuables safe?

Students are advised not to bring unnecessary valuables, such as expensive watches or jewelry, to the program. A locked safe in the Bodwell office is available for students to keep valuables if required. Such valuables will only be available for use outside of class time and during office hours. It is constantly advised to students that they lock their dorm door at all times. Bodwell College will not be responsible for lost or stolen items during the students’ participation in the program.

How much money should students bring?

If students are not planning to make large purchases, $50 - $75 CAD per week should be sufficient for spending money. Bodwell recommends that students bring most of their funds in the form of insured traveler’s cheques, with only a small amount of cash. Specified times are available for students to cash traveler’s cheques and withdraw a portion of the cash that they can choose upon check-in to be kept safe by Bodwell.

Who keeps the student's airline ticket and passport?

Upon arrival, students should submit their ticket and passport to Bodwell's office staff, or to their accompanying chaperone who will be staying in the residences. If these documents are not submitted upon arrival, the loss or misplacement of these documents will be the student's and parent's responsibility.

Safety & Contacts

How can parents contact their child during the program?

Parents can call the Bodwell office and leave a message for their child. Staff will deliver the message to the student during a break period in the program.

How can students call home?

Students may use one of the phones available in the Student Lounges or a pay phone on campus. A long-distance calling card is required for students to call home. These cards can be purchased from Bodwell for $6 CAD. The contact information for the Bodwell office is provided in the Acceptance Package. Counselors will help their students call home.

What if a friend or relative wants to visit and/or take students off-campus?

Parents or guardians need to fill out the applicable portion of the Application Form to authorize friends or relatives who would like to visit and take students off-campus for personal outings. Students need to check-out/in at the Bodwell office for their departure and return.

What happens if a student becomes ill or gets hurt?

Bodwell arranges medical insurance coverage for all students for the duration of their program. In the case of sickness, accident, injury or emergency, Bodwell staff will accompany the student to receive medical attention. There is a hospital nearby all program locations.

Accommodations & Living

How is security organized in the dormitories?

Only authorized personnel and students are given keys to the dormitories. Students are assigned counselors who stay in the same dormitory area as their students. In addition, there is a Dormitory Manager who is on duty in the evenings and on weekends in the event of an emergency and to assist with other issues. Security Guards patrol the university grounds at night.

Can students choose their type of dormitory room?

The dormitory room assignments are arranged by several factors including gender, age category and mixed nationalities. Furthermore, counselors require a room nearby their student group. As such, students will not be able to submit requests for room selections or allocations; Bodwell is unable to accommodate these requests.

Where do the students eat and where can they buy food?

Students are provided 3 meals usually from a Bodwell cafeteria and an evening snack every day. Packed lunches or dinners will be provided on some field trip instances. There are also BBQs and special dinners provided as part of the program itineraries. If students wish to purchase snacks outside of meals times, there are stores, restaurants and vending machines near each program residence location. Students are not permitted to visit these locations without the supervision of their counselor.

How do students do their laundry?

Counselors are provided with laundry cards that operate the machines in the dormitories. Students will be provided with laundry detergent and assisted by their Counselors in doing their laundry on a regular basis.

What personal living items will be provided for students by Bodwell?

Bodwell will provide students with bedding for their dormitory room that will be cleaned regularly. All students are expected to bring their own towels and toiletries for the program. In the event that an item is lost or forgotten, Counselors can help students purchase such an item on one of their off-campus outings.

Rules & Regulations

Participants must adhere to the following rules and regulations:

1. Abide by Bodwell’s Code of Conduct: Celebrate Diversity – Respect others and appreciate their differences, Discover Nature – Respect the environment and all the school facilities, Develop Leadership – Respect yourself and act as a global citizen.

2. Follow the schedules and programs arranged by Bodwell College. Permission to be absent will be granted by Bodwell in the event of sickness, injury or acceptable personal matters.

3. Boys are not allowed to be in the girls’ residences and girls are not allowed to be in boys’ residences. Students can meet in supervised communal areas only.

4. Follow the bed times for your age group: Juniors: 10:00pm, Children: 10:30pm, Teens: 11:00pm and obey the quiet hours at night from 9:00pm to 8:00am.

5. Clean up after yourself at all times when using bathrooms, the student lounges, the cafeteria, and the computer lab, etc.

6. Be on time to meet with your teacher and counselor at the meeting poles with the times that have been assigned. Your teacher and counselor must know where you are at all times.

7. Illegal substances, smoking, alcohol, gambling and weapons are not permitted in any circumstances.

8. Students committing any act or behaviour that jeopardizes the safety and well-being of other students or staff, will not be tolerated.

9. Upon arrival, a $200 damage deposit will be submitted to Bodwell (unless previously provided). This deposit will be returned at the end of the program if there is no intentional damage to the facilities, no lost keys and no outstanding fees.

10. In Canada, it is illegal to pull the fire alarm in non-emergency situations. If you pull a fire alarm as a mischievous act and in non-emergency situations you will forfeit your $200 damage deposit.