Language Camp in Canada

Develop your French skills through full language and cultural immersion at Greenheart Travel’s summer language camp in Quebec City, Canada! You will live with a host family and study 15 hours of French per week in downtown Quebec City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of a historical and beautiful city in southeastern Canada. You’ll have an exciting schedule of daily cultural and historical activities and excursions. We welcome teen students of all skills, including beginners, and you will not only be immersed in a new culture, but you’ll make international friends from around the world.

Picture Yourself Learning French in Quebec City!

Students can choose between a 1-5 week length program.

These are the days on which you will arrive at Quebec and classes will begin the next day.

Length of Program Based on 2024 Start Date

*We will not be accepting applications less than a month before a program start date.

	6/24	7/01	7/8	7/15	7/22
1 WEEK
2 WEEKS
3 WEEKS
4 WEEKS
5 WEEKS

2024 Program Costs: 

• 1 Week: $2,140
• 2 Weeks: $3,050
• 3 weeks: $4,140
• 4 Weeks: $5,140
• 5 Weeks: $6,070

Please notes: All prices are in USD.

Packaged into the Price:

• 15 hours of language classes per week
• Weekly progress reports sent to parents and students via email throughout the program
• Airport pickup and drop-off upon arrival and departure from Quebec City Airport (code YQB)
• Host family accommodation
• 3 meals per day*
• Comprehensive medical/accident insurance
• Fully chaperoned daily cultural activities & excursions
• On-site orientation in Canada
• Language level placement test
• Quebec City Transit Pass
• Comprehensive program handbook with cross-cultural communication training and Canadian culture tips
• Certificate of completion at the end of the program for use on college applications
• Access to Greenheart Travel Facebook groups to connect with alumni and others on your start date ahead of your program.
• Greenheart Atlas Program 

*There is a supplemental fee of $80 a week for students with gluten free or vegan diets. Please check with us if you have any questions. 

Our Support and Services: 

• Extensive pre-departure advice and support from  your US-based program manager! We will be with you from your first inquiry, all the way through preparing to leave and your arrival in Canada.
• Support services from in-country staff upon arrival to Canada.
• Online pre-departure cultural and logistical orientation before you leave.
• 24-hour in-country and emergency support for the duration of the program, including 24-hour emergency phone numbers to reach us at any time.

Additional Expenses to Budget for (Estimates):

• Flights to/from Canada
• Spending money for souvenirs or gifts

Payment Details

• $300 Application Fee due by the program deadline to formally apply
• $300 Commitment Payment due after acceptance within 14 days to save your spot on a certain start date
• Remaining balance is due 8 weeks before departure to Canada

Worried about the program fee?

Our goal is to help make travel accessible to everyone and we are here to help when you are deciding if this experience is financially do-able. Each year we offer scholarships for high school study abroad students! We also have a guide to fundraising your program fee, and many high school students fundraise in their hometowns ahead of their program.

We also offer discounts for applying early (plus there are many other benefits to applying early!) for each start date and for US families that have hosted an exchange student with Greenheart Exchange.

Please inquire here if you have questions about the program fee, scholarships, or fundraising for your program.

Eligibility Requirements for Quebec Language Camp

• Must be between 12 – 18 years old
• Be in good* mental and physical health
• Have a genuine interest in learning French and immersing yourself in the culture

*What does it mean to be in good mental health?

Moving to a new culture and staying in unfamiliar surroundings without your normal support structure can be very stressful, even to a well-adjusted student. Sending a student with pre-existing conditions on a long-term exchange program could exacerbate whatever challenges the student was previously facing. In order to ensure the safety of our participants, we must be rigorous in our pre-screening of all high school abroad applicants.

Therefore, we may not be able to accept students who have struggled with any kind of mental illness, specifically within the last 2 years and/or are reliant on medication to address their existing mental health condition. Each student will be addressed on a case by case basis and ultimately it is Greenheart Travel’s in-country partner who holds the right to accept or decline a student based on their individual policy.

These include, but are not limited to:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Eating disorders
• Chronic debilitating migraines
• Bipolar Disorder

All students who currently experience one or more of these conditions will be required to submit an addendum to the terms and conditions as well as a letter of support from their current mental health specialist. If the student’s mental health issue has been managed (post-medication) for over 2 years, we will still require a note from his/her relevant practitioner (psychologist, therapist, psychiatrist, etc) as part of the application process.  We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

There are 7 skill levels at the language school ranging from “complete beginner” to “advanced.” To find the class that best matches your skill level, you will take a placement test on your first day. You will be placed appropriately based on your test results and should expect to be studying with students who are at the same point in their language practice.

French Courses

• 15 hours of class a week (3 core classes per day in 1 hour blocks)
• Classes are taught by native French teachers who specialize in teaching a foreign language
• Lively and informal small classes with no more than 15 students per class
• French lessons focus on practical communication skills first, including grammar, speaking and listening
• Parents and students will receive weekly progress reports with constructive feedback

School Location and Classrooms:

Quebec City, a city of half a million people, is a very safe and beautiful city, making it an excellent place for teens. The school is located very close to central park and museum campus in the city which is a convenient walk for students arriving via public transportation from their host families. The school has air-conditioned classrooms with WIFI internet access in the lounge and common areas.

Educational visits and excursions form an important part of the program. An exciting day-by-day program will be given to the participants upon arrival. There will be weekly visits to museums and parks, as well as sports activities like archery, bowling or rock climbing!

Here are some of the activities typically planned:

• Quebec Ferry
• Huron Village in Wendake
• Kayaking down the river
• Visiting the Museum of Civilization
• A Guided visit of the Old City
• Exploring Beauport Bay
• Splashing around at Valcartier Water park

And so much more!

During the excursions, students are expected to speak and practice their French as well as do some educational activities like take quizzes, take notes of what they see or interview local people. Leisure activities are all run and supervised by experienced activity leaders.

Please note: Participants are not allowed to go out at night outside the homestay unless accompanied by a chaperone.

All students fly on their own to Canada. A representative from the language school will pick them up and take them to their host family.

All classes start on Monday, but students should:

• Arrive at Quebec City Airport (code YQB) before 6:00pm on the Sunday before classes start
• Depart from Quebec City Airport (code YQB) the Saturday at the end of their program after 12:00pm

Arriving or departing outside these designated windows will incur additional fees.

All students live with carefully selected local host families near the school – 10-30 minutes via public transportation or walking distance. Prospective host families undergo a rigorous screening process. Participants can rest assured that only suitable host families will be selected.

A quick look at why living with a host family is a great way to practice your French:

In order to qualify as a host family, the prospective hosts must:

• Successfully pass a criminal background check
• Undergo and pass an in-person interview with program staff
• Agree to and pass a home inspection

Usually one or two students will share a room with one host family depending on the size of the family’s home. They will only share rooms with students of the same sex and will be closely supervised by their hosts.

Even though this program is heavily structured by the school, living with a local family means that you have the unique experience of eating home-cooked meals, watching Canadian TV shows together and doing other activities as a part of their family.  Living with a host family is one of the most effective ways to become fully immersed in a country’s language and culture.

Committing to a language camp program can feel a bit daunting, but we are here every step of the way to make the application process as simple as possible. Below are the steps you’ll need to take to be accepted on a Greenheart Travel program.

1. Ensure Your Eligibility: The eligibility requirements, such as age or language proficiency, may be required for certain destinations.

2. Start Your Application Here. You will be sent more information as well as the link to our application portal to begin your formal application. You’ll be able to save your progress along the way.

3. Sign the Terms & Conditions: After you complete the first part of your application, you (and your parent(s) if you’re under 18) will be asked to read through and sign our Terms and Conditions which outline the requirements and policies of the program.

4. Submit your application fee: You will need to submit your $300 application fee at this point in the process. This is required in order to reserve your spot on the program and is subtracted from your total program fee.

5. In-Depth Questionnaire: This is the most in-depth part of the application process as it helps us get to know you better. You will need to provide detailed information about yourself, why you want to go abroad, and what you hope to gain from your experience. You will also need to upload your passport.

6. Acceptance: Greenheart Travel will thoroughly review your application and will contact you within 1-2 weeks to confirm your acceptance. If we find something in your application that we have concerns about, we will let you know immediately. 95% of applicants are accepted on the program they apply for.

You’re Accepted – now what?

Your program manager will be in touch with you directly about your acceptance. At this point you will be required to submit a second $300 commitment payment that also goes towards the total amount (it’s not extra). This is your commitment to your start date and once we receive it is when details will start to be booked on your behalf.

You’ll then be able to download the program handbook from the portal, which talks more about your program, as well as supplemental information about dealing with culture shock and our insurance program. We will also schedule an online pre-departure orientation to answer any lingering questions you may have. You can expect to receive your host family placement 1-2 weeks prior to your start date.

Greenheart Travel has been sending teens to Canada for many years, and there are advantages of applying for this program through us:

• 33 years of experience with cultural exchange programs.
• Friendly, responsive, and professional support from a dedicated program manager.
• Connect with alumni and others on the program via our Greenheart Travel only Facebook forums, before you even leave!
• We try and make our program fees as inclusive as we can. We include things like medical insurance so you don’t run into any hidden fees down the line.
• Greenheart Atlas Program. The Greenheart Travel Atlas is a cultural training interactive guidebook alongside five videos where you will find three main topics covered: Personal/Professional Development, Cultural Understanding, & Environmental Awareness.
• Our alumni recommend us! GoOverseas.com Reviews // GoAbroad.com Reviews
• Hands-on support and personal attention every step of the way
• 24/7 emergency phone number to reach a staff member at any time
• Pre-departure “Culture Shock and Adjustment” Webinar before you leave
• Discounts for future Greenheart Travel programs
• We are a non-profit, mission-based organization
• Continued support throughout your time abroad

We also have some unique offerings to our Greenheart Travel students and alumni!

Greenheart Global Impact Grants (GIGs)

Greenheart GIG Grants are funds awarded to Greenheart Travel participants to use for community development projects in their host or home country after they return home. A GIG is the opportunity to create, improve, or maintain an impactful, community-focused project abroad or at home. Grant funds could be applied to supporting women’s cooperatives, schools, community centers, or health clinics, for example. Grant winners will be featured on our website, social media, and blog. You can see our past winners on our blog here.

Greenheart Alumni Program

We created the Greenheart Travel Alumni Program to provide resources and a community to support alumni in their advancement as global leaders, and a way to celebrate and reward our participants for being ambitious, inspiring catalysts of cultural exchange!

Junior Greenheart Global Leaders Conference

Each May Greenheart offers full-ride scholarships to around 10 teen alumni to attend our annual conference in Chicago. You can see more about what Jr. GGLC is and what you could do at the conference here.

Have questions and want to chat with a program advisor? Set up a time here: