<p>OK....</p>
<p>Im thinking about applying for some of the summer programs at ND... but i had to scratch that with the money/time aspect of it ( I have to take July summerschool so that i can keep baseball and football on my schedule) so....</p>
<p>the only other thing i saw on the website was the ND Vision programs... its like 3 or 4 days, and i think its faith centered.</p>
<p>Do you guys know anything about the Vision program>>>>?
thanks</p>
<p>hey!
i don't know too much about the program either... this website might answer some of your questions if you haven't already seen it:
<a href="http://www.nd.edu/%7Endvi/pages/vision/vision.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.nd.edu/~ndvi/pages/vision/vision.html</a>
i am actually signed up to go to the second session of the program in the summer. i've never been, but i've heard only amazing things about it. you should definitely look into it. =)</p>
<p>If you're interested and can make it, I highly recommend the Introduction to Engineering program! It runs for almost 3 full weeks, thus truly completing the feeling that Notre Dame is your "home away from home."</p>
<p>Ok... thanks guys..... </p>
<p>snowflake... are you going to the Vision program ... or the intro programs for 3 weeks</p>
<p>chillin, i am go to ndvision. at first i was looking at one of the longer programs but since vision is only 4 nights and 3 full days it will be easier to keep a job in the summer. this way i can go to notre dame the first full week of summer vacation and stay home for july and august. </p>
<p>quinn, i'm glad you had a good time at intro... i am hoping to experirence that same "home-away-from-home" feeling in less than a week... i have a feeling notre dame can do that to me though. ....at this point i'm not sure if thats a good or bad thing with my sat scores right now... =)</p>
<p>For those of you considering the NDvision program--it is amazing! I have been going since the summer before my freshman year...so 3 summers now...and it is a blast. What I've found is that your experience is what you make of it--you can definately find a home away from home at ND in less than a week. Also, don't forget that you're surrounded by invaluable resources--current ND students--the mentors are awesome people, and they'll sit down and talk to you about the pros/cons of ND, etc. if you're willing to ask.
The students have been very well prepared for the retreat--they take a semester long course in the spring to prep for it, and Fr. Dan is the coolest priest I have ever met! Vision is by far the best retreat I have ever been on, in all dimensions. If you're planning on going by yourself (I have all 3 years) there are a lot of youth groups that go--so don't be afraid to introduce yourself, and you have a whole group of new friends for the week!!
If you have any other questions about vision just post them, and I'll help if I can!</p>
<p>ya</p>
<p>can you guys explain what you actually do during the week?
How many kids go?</p>
<p>There have been anywhere from 100 to about 250 during the sessions that I've been.</p>
<p>the general schedule for the week is online, at: <a href="http://www.nd.edu/%7Endvi/pages/vision/schedule.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.nd.edu/~ndvi/pages/vision/schedule.html</a>
But, as an overview...</p>
<p>on Monday, kids arive from noon until about 5 and move in. You are assigned to a "small group" for the week of about 6 high schoolers and 2 "mentors" which are the student leaders. You'll spend a good amount of time with this group during the week, talking, playing games, etc. But the first night, you do "icebreakers" to get to know each other, and there's an introductory session with everyone to go over what to expect during the week and such.</p>
<p>Tuesday-Thursday start with morning prayer--basically singing and prayer, then there is a sort of lecture, which can be serious or absolutely hilarious, about various topics and issues such as discipleship and relationships. Different mentors will share personal stories, that are actually really interesting, then you break into small groups to talk about them or whatever else happens to come up! In the middle of the afternoon you get a couple hours of free time to play games--ultimate, soccer, etc. or just relax..there is also a day that they have admissions reps come in to talk, answer questions, etc., it's a more personal and relaxed meeting than the ones that are directly through the admissions office..In the afternoon there is another session like in the morning, and a the "band of st. cecilia" will perform a musical (these are amazing!!) of stories from the bible ie. the prodigal son, the talents...after dinner there is some sort of activity--tuesday is reconciliation, wednesday is a scavenger hunt, thursday is a concert/prayer service. Also, there is mass at some point every day, but it changes.</p>
<p>Friday is just kind of a wrap up, you meet with the small group, have a closing mass, and say your goodbyes--</p>
<p>i hope that helps, and <a href="http://www.vision.nd.edu%5B/url%5D">www.vision.nd.edu</a> also has a lot of good info!</p>
<p>Thanks so Much.... Sounds great</p>
<p>Im a little confused on the cost...</p>
<p>How much did you pay for the 4 days? (not including travel)</p>
<p>If send in your application before march 19, it costs $275 for the week, and if you apply on march 20 or later, it costs $325. With the application, you send in a $75 deposit--this is different than in the past--but, I think it's deductible from the overall cost---so it's either $275 or $325 depending on when you send it your application.</p>
<p>I got a couple of questions, but couldn't message back, so i'm just posting here...hope this helps...</p>
<p>Icebreakers are just games to get to know your small group/the whole group better...as the whole group we'd play games like train wreck, and rock, paper, scissors while forming chains and such to make it more interesting, "evolution," red rover, freeze tag, etc. In small groups we'd do things like the human knot, or where you take starbursts and have to tell something about yourself for each one, or two truths and a lie...lots of random stuff.</p>
<p>The structured activities for everyone outside of the sessions/mass are the scavenger hunt (you run around campus finding info/random facts), and the concert on thursday (there have been some amazing ppl for this, ie. danielle rose, if you've heard of her...) There's daily mass, and you have the opportunity for adoration, and reconciliation. But everyday you get a couple hours of free time in the afternoon, then at night you have from 9 or 10 until 11 to do whatever you want...ppl play frisbee, soccer, walk around, sleep, etc.</p>
<p>The sessions each day can change a little bit. In the morning you have prayer and singing...basically, they read a few verses, you say the our father, and sing and dance for 20 minutes...Then you have a sesson...the themes are on their website...but you have a keynote speaker...someone who has a more in depth story, or explains what the topic is all about...then there are panels, where the mentors take turns sharing stories or experiences that relate (i'm sorry if i'm repeating myself from before...), and then you meet in your small groups...this amount of time can vary, but there's a good amount of discussion that goes on. it also depends on the dynamic of the group...i've been in groups where we went crazy, and had heated discussions and really challenged each other intellectually...i've also been in a small group where everyone was quieter, and we prayed together and were more low-key...it just depends on the people...</p>
<p>as far as prayer goes...outside of mass, you pray as much or as little as you want--no one's there to make you do anything, it's a really open place, where they know you may be anywhere from totally unsure about your faith, to the person who regularly goes to daily mass--so, instead of going to the grotto, you may go play soccer or visa-versa...</p>
<p>you dictate so much of what you do...no one's looking over your shoulder to be sure you're in the sessions on time, or if you go to adoration...it's up to you...you'll hear this over and over, but what you put into it is what you're going to get out of it...</p>
<p>I'm not sure if i answered your questions, but i hope i did...if there's anything else, just let me know!</p>
<p>wow.. that sounds so great! i can't wait. are you going this year as well?</p>
<p>not this summer...between work, other conferences, etc. I'll only have a couple days of free time to spend on campus--but I'll probably pop into a couple of the sessions if i can just to say hi to old mentors/friends...I'm definately planning on going back in the summer of '08 though!!</p>