Q. What is the Visiting Teen Program?

A. The Visiting Teen Program makes it possible for teenagers (12-18) to spend afternoons at Jong Bonaire, meeting the local kids and participating in the activities.

Q. Who can attend?

A. Any visiting teenager who is between the ages of 12 and 18 and who is currently a high school ("middelbare school" in Dutch) student.

Q. How will I get to know any of the kids?

A. You will be assigned a Jong Bonaire guide who speaks your language and hopefully likes the same things you like. So be sure to tell us your favorite activities when you sign up.

Q. What language do the teens speak?

A. Most of the teens speak four or five languages so you are sure to be understood. Dutch is the official language in the schools. Papiamentu, which is very similar to Spanish, is the native tongue. Many of the students and a great number of our residents are from Spanish speaking countries so that is one of the languages as well. And because of TV, movies and music most of the teens also speak English. So don't worry about being understood.

Q. How much does it cost?

A. The cost is US$100 per week. Teens can visit Monday through Friday from 12:00 noon until 6:00 p.m. if the center is open.

Q. How do I sign up?

A. It's usually best to notify the center ahead of time to be sure we are open and ready to welcome you. Our schedule matches the local school year so it's a good idea to check with us first. E-mail is the best method to reach us jongbonaire@bonairelive.com but a phone call (599-717-4303) or a fax (599-717-6467) will also do.

Q. What happens if I don't notify you in advance?

A. We may not be able to accommodate everyone at the last minute. We like to assign a Jong Bonaire member to each visitor just to insure there are no language barriers and that our visitors have a good time. That takes some planning. But give us a call and we'll do our best to make room for you.

Q. What about lunch?

A. If the visiting teen is interested in joining us for lunch, our canteen serves a healthy menu of hot plates (NAfl 6,00 or about US$ 3.30) and sandwiches (NAfl 3,00 or $1.75). There are also cold drinks, popsicles and other treats.