Frequently Asked Questions About The Teen Seminar

Do the teens stay overnight?
No, the teens attend from 9:00am - 9:00pm with an hour for lunch and dinner breaks. If the teen is coming to the seminar from a long distance, we assist with finding host families, or by providing lodging resource information.

Do the teens have to miss school?
Yes, teens usually will miss two days of school (except our summer seminars). Most high schools recognize the amount of learning in the seminar, and that teens are also "giving up" their weekend - so some get excused absences, some get extra credit, and some schools allow Seniors who volunteer on the back -up teams to use this as their Senior project. CORE staff suggests contacting the school beforehand to clear the absences.

Will CORE take my teen? My teen is in a lot of trouble and making bad choices and using drugs and alcohol.
CORE accepts all teens. We have witnessed the results of many teens changing the course of their lives after the seminar. However, if a teen is violent or has been convicted of a sex offense, we do not allow his/her participation. Our intention is to keep all the teens in the seminar emotionally and physically safe.

My teen is already a leader and makes great choices-what would CORE do for him/her?
These teens come flying out of the seminar using their exceptional talents to improve their family lives, schools and communities. Because of all the leadership skills that are learned in the seminar, we find the natural teen leaders use this experience to impact and influence their peers, parents, teachers, schools and employers!

So what do the teens do for 12 hours a day?
The teens are in a group of about 25 teens or less - we spend time on easing their initial resistance and anxiety. The teens then get to know each other so they feel more comfortable. There are mini- lectures that teach communication skills, choice making, personal power, creating win-wins, getting one's basic emotional needs met in healthy ways, building one's personal character-taking a good look at personal integrity and accountability. Teens may share personal information if they like (no one is EVER pushed or forced), engage in experiential learning processes, small groups, and lots of fun with team building activities. Woven in is the building of a very supportive and positive peer experience with teens from all walks of life.

My teen refuses to attend-how can I get them to go?
Almost all of the teens who come in the door that first morning are resistant and often angry with parents/caregivers for sending them. CORE staff empathizes with those feelings. After all, the teens have no idea why they will be spending four days with strangers, away from friends and their regular life.... and to top it off BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA! Teens are nervous and suspicious of how the four days will go-some think they are going to be lectured all day! The good news is the teens-usually change their minds about the seminar within the first day. The last day, the teens often express their sadness that the experience flew by and they now have to leave each other.

CORE staff suggests using your own parental authority and influence to get them there and encourage them that if they just don't like it the first day to hang in there. The results are well worth it (many write postcards to their parents thanking them for sending them and apologize for their initial resistance!)

IS CORE a part of a religious group?
Absolutely not. CORE is an educational corporation, and honors a person's right to his/her own religious and spiritual beliefs.

Will CORE teach my teens values that I may not want them to learn?
No, CORE challenges teens to look at their beliefs and values, and to see if they are living lined up with those beliefs and values.

For other questions, please email at: gmanahan@coreseminars.com

CORE DOES NOT GUARANTEE ANY SPECIFIC RESULTS! HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS IMPACTED BY HUNDREDS OF FACTORS. HOWEVER, IF YOUR TEEN WAS NOT SATISFIED WITH HIS/HER FOUR DAYS, THE REFUND POLICY IS:

There is a $200 non-refundable deposit upon registration-if for some reason the participant does not complete a seminar, there are no cash/credit refunds; however, credit can be arranged (minus the deposit) to use for another seminar or as a gift certificate for someone else. 

THIS REFUND IS BASED ON THE TEEN'S EVALUATION OF THE SEMINAR-NOT THE PARENTS' PERCEPTION. REFUNDS MUST BE REQUESTED IN WRITING WITHIN 7 DAYS OF THE SEMINAR'S END.

PLEASE NOTE : CORE DOES NOT FIX TEENS-AS WE DO NOT CONSIDER THEM BROKEN!