Admission to our Service & Specialty Programs is by application only. Applications are submitted through the online registration portal. Please log in or create an account under the parent’s name. Note: the application form must be filled out by the student applying for the program.

If you have questions about whether or not a specific program may be a good fit for you, please contact your area staff.

Application programs: Internship, Vineyard Service (A & B), and First-Time Leader (I, II, & III).

First-Time Leader (I, II, & III) Applications are not available through the same link. Please contact your area staff for more information about how to apply.

Deadlines
The deadlines for receiving applications for all Service & Specialty Programs are November 1, December 1, January 15, and February 15. Acceptance emails will be sent November 15, December 15, January 31, and February 28 respectively. After four application rounds, applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis as space is available.

Due to the increased number of applications received in recent years, you may be placed on a waiting list. On May 1, we will begin to notify applicants who have been placed on the waiting list whether we will be able to admit them into the program on a space available basis. We regret the fact that we may not be able to admit every qualified applicant into the program this year.

Grade levels refer to the student’s grade in the 2024-2025 school year. Students may register for only one week-long program. Programs are open to students from all areas unless otherwise specified. Students from all schools are welcome. FOCUS reserves the right to give priority to first-time participants and NAIS school students in cases where programs are oversubscribed. Click here to register through our online registration portal. If you prefer to mail in your registration or are not able to register online, please contact [email protected].

Program Fees

Program fees cover room and board, direct program expenses, and activities. Transportation to the program is not included.

Scholarships

Program scholarships may be available. If you would like to apply for a scholarship, please fill out this form.

Discounts

First-Time Discounts are available at June Week, July Week, August Week 1, August Week 2, and Kiawah Island Week for students who have never attended a FOCUS Summer Program.

Payment

Program fees are due at the time of registration. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. Credit cards are automatically processed online. Checks can be made payable to FOCUS Programs Office, PO Box 1027, New Canaan, CT 06840. If you have been approved for a scholarship, please select that option on the payment page of the online registration. If you would like to set up a payment plan, please select the four month payment plan option. Partial payment can be made by logging into your account and clicking “View Details”.

Cancellation Policy

Our program fee cancellation and refund policy is as follows: full refund with more than 15 days notice; no refund within a 15-day period of the start of the program, except in the case of an emergency. If for any reason you are not accepted into a specialty program to which you applied, we will refund the full program fee. Group travel is refundable at the discretion of the Area Director of the Director of National Programs.

Please note that this policy applies to our Vineyard programs. Off-site programs have individual cancellation policies.

Medical and Travel Forms will be made available to fill out online on April 15. To fill out the follow-up forms you will need your child’s insurance information and travel plans. For travel guidelines for FOCUS programs on Martha’s Vineyard, please visit the travel section of our website.

Directions:
1.  Please follow this link to log back into your account.
2.  Select “View Details” under the appropriate season.
3.  Under forms, please fill out and submit the “Student Medical Form and Waiver”, “Travel Form”, and any additional required forms for your child.

NOTE: If your son or daughter participated in a previous FOCUS program, you will still need to submit a new medical form online.
If you are unable to fill out the medical and travel forms online, please contact [email protected].