Please check this page regularly as we will add more information often.
The application for summer 2025 will open on November 15, 2024, and close on January 15, 2025.
We welcome outreach from potential partner schools at any time. If you believe your school can be a good fit for our program, please have a school representative contact Sarah Williams at sarah@firststamp.org.
General 2024 trip details are shared on our website, and you can see more detailed trip information at the inaugural trip Instagram: @first.stamp2024. Details for 2025 trips will be shared by November, and more trip details will be filled-in during the winter months, so check back often for updates!
Creating a unique First Stamp community is one of our highest priorities and intended to be a highlight for participants. One of the greatest elements of a First Stamp trip is meeting new people and being yourself in an entirely new group. We encourage you to partake in that valuable experience and we love what happens when a group of strangers come together to form a team. That being said, we expect that sometimes participants from the same school will be friends. In order to keep our focus on group dynamics, our policy is that a limited number of students will be admitted from the same high school, and participants from the same high school will be in separate sub-groups within the larger group.
We invited a limited number of U.S. high schools to participate in our inaugural trip, hailing from Oregon, Texas, and Pennsylvania. We will expand the number of participant high schools for summer of 2025 trips. If you would like to nominate a rural U.S. high school to be considered for First Stamp participation, please contact Sarah Williams at sarah@firststamp.org.
Applicants must be at least 15 years of age and have completed the 10th grade (but not have started the 11th grade) by the time they go on the trip. Currently, First Stamp is only open to female applicants.
We will limit our trips to approximately 20 students, with one leader per 4-5 students.
First Stamp will pay for the full cost of the trip, including airfare, lodging, meals and snacks, ground transportation, and all activities and touring. Participants may want minimal spending money for souvenirs, but this is not mandatory.
There is no catch, but we do ask a few things of all First Stamp participants:
Maintain a positive attitude and exhibit a willingness to try new things in a foreign environment and culture.
Show respect through speech and actions for the new culture and customs that will be encountered.
Abide by the First Stamp code of conduct and obey all local, national, and international laws while with the First Stamp program.
After the trip, we ask that participants help others learn about the First Stamp opportunity and share experiences with those who may be interested in applying for future trips.
Yes. No one can travel internationally from/to the U.S. without a valid passport. As soon as applicants are alerted that they have been accepted into the First Stamp program, we will work closely with you to ensure that all necessary documentation is submitted properly to receive a passport in time for our trip. First Stamp will also pay fees associated with obtaining a passport for the trip.
Yes. Previous international travel does not disqualify you from applying to First Stamp.
This is actually not a First Stamp requirement, but rather an international travel requirement. If your passport is not valid for six months past the day you are returning to the U.S., there is a potential that you will be turned away at the airport.
First Stamp is only open to students living in the U.S. at this time.
First Stamp suggests families follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control for vaccinations and immunizations. Depending on the trip, it is possible that you will need special immunizations. These recommendations can change and we operate under the guidelines of the CDC. We ask that you discuss immunizations and any pre-existing conditions with your doctor. Please visit https://www.cdc.org for more information.
All participants and leaders from your First Stamp trip will meet in the U.S. for a multi-day orientation, and travel to that site will be determined based on your home location. The entire group will then fly together from the orientation location to the first stop on the international trip itinerary.
We suggest packing only the essentials. That includes any prescription medication or other daily necessities. Our trip leaders will provide a detailed packing list tailored to the specific trip you are attending.
No! We require that all First Stamp participants are limited to a carry-on as checking a bag opens up the potential for lost luggage. A lost bag can take days or weeks to be returned to the owner, which can be incredibly disruptive to a trip and can be destabilizing for a participant in a new environment. We promise that you can absolutely fit what you need into a carry-on bag, and we will spend time talking about packing techniques in our planning sessions. In addition, your refined and tailored packing list will help ensure that you have everything you need and not excess!
First Stamp trips include lots and LOTS of walking! Although some days we do more walking than others, you will want to come prepared to walk upwards of 5 miles a day. In our pre-trip orientation sessions, we will discuss what shoes (and socks!) will be best for this type of walking, and we encourage you to do some walking in those shoes before the trip. If you have any questions or concerns about this level of walking, please reach out to Sarah Williams at sarah@firststamp.org.