YOUTH Travel Scholarships

Since 1934, Hostelling International has stressed the notion that you have to see the world to understand it. HI-ENEC is pleased to offer YOUTH Travel Scholarships that sponsor summer travel for youths ages 10-18 in the Greater Boston Area.

Click here to view the 2009 award winners.

Hostelling was originally created to enable young people to discover and examine life outside of the city, and in this spirit, we provide these scholarships to support community-based, youth-serving organizations in their efforts to take urban youth to our Cape and Islands hostels.

Groups can use the funds to visit our hostels located in Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Eastham.

In all location groups can take advantage of the rich history, environment, and cultural activities Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, and the Cape have to offer. By staying at the hostel, youth are not only able to enjoy activities such as visiting museums, kayaking, hiking and spending time on the beach, but they also have the opportunity to meet other travelers from around the world. The shared common rooms, kitchens and dining areas of HI-ENEC's hostels allow for the students to interact with guests from across the globe.

• Community-based organizations serving youth ages 10-18 in the Greater Boston Area.


• Project a clear plan for travel that features educational experiences.


• Create a plan for sharing travel experiences and describing the impact of your travel in meeting the HI-USA mission to help all, especially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people through hostelling.


• Demonstrate intent to share those experiences with HI-ENEC and specific audiences within the community through one or more of the following: your organization's newsletter article, local newspaper article, hosting a traveler's circle, community exhibit of art, film, photography or another artistic product of travels, etc. (other ideas will be considered if proposed by applicant)


• Completion of a 2 hour Trip Planning workshop with HI-ENEC staff or volunteer to prepare youth for travel.


• Complete and return electronic application.

Click here to download the application.

The travel scholarships will be granted in early May for travel during summer of 2010. The deadline for applying is Friday, April 30, 2010 at 5:00pm. For additional information, please contact programs@usahostels.org or (617) 718-7990 ext 13.

To help more young people see and do more, contribute to the YOUTH Travel Scholarships, click here.

Click here to go back to the community page.