About National Youth Leadership Forum: Business Innovation

NYLF BUSINESS INNOVATION FAQs

• Is NYLF Business Innovation for me?

  This summer’s program is for you if you're a high school student interested in exploring the various career options available in business. NYLF Business Innovation is your springboard to achieving tremendous success in college and in a future career.

  To attend NYLF Business Innovation, you must be in grades 9–12 during the 2024-2025 school year. Most of our students are either nominated by educators or selected through our academic partnerships. If you have not been nominated or selected but are interested in taking advantage of the life-changing opportunities that the program provides, we encourage you to contact the Office of Admissions today.

  
  
• What is included in tuition?

  Your tuition for NYLF Business Innovation includes housing (Residential Students Only), on-site meals, supervisory personnel, program materials, college credit costs, all program activities, site visits, a Certificate of Completion, and local transportation during the program.

  However, your transportation to and from home and the program location is NOT included in tuition. While attending the program, you'll need money for off-campus meals, souvenirs, snacks, and other incidentals.

• How will I be supervised?

  Your safety and well-being during the program is our highest priority. The program is structured so that you will reside in a safe, controlled environment. You will be closely supervised by professionally trained staff, including faculty advisors who serve as educational facilitators and chaperones, security personnel, operations personnel, and a program coordinator.

  For over 40 years, Envision has achieved a stellar record of safely and successfully enriching the lives of students, providing them with superb educational experiences and professional supervision. Other Envision safety measures include:

  • Greeting students at the designated airport upon their arrival, providing shuttle service directly to the program site, and providing shuttle service back to the airport on Departure Day*
  • Maintaining a student-to-staff ratio of 8 to 1
  • Requiring all students to attend all activities
  • Checking rooms nightly and ensuring that students remain in their rooms
  • Having night monitors in place to support students who may become ill or who have an emergency during the night
  • Equipping all staff members with two-way communication devices

   

  *There is an additional fee for shuttle service.

• Where will I stay?

  For the summer 2025 NYLF Business Innovation program, all students are housed on the campus of Yale University in New Haven, CT or the University of California, Berkeley Clark Kerr Campus in Berkeley, CA.

• How many students share a room?

  Room configurations vary by university location. Scholars may be housed in single, double, triple, or quad rooms or suites. You will have your own bed.

• Can my parents attend the program?

  No. Your parents or guardians are not allowed to accompany you during the program. Gaining independence, including experiencing new things on your own, is an essential part of your growth during the program. However, it is perfectly fine for your family to travel with you to the program location and stay in the area while you are attending the program.

• I am a student requiring specific accommodations. Can I still attend?

  Yes, we encourage you to enroll. Envision by WorldStrides believes in working with families to accommodate student needs and encourages the participation of students who feel prepared to meet the academic, social, physical, and emotional demands of the program environment. We may be able to provide appropriate auxiliary staff and services to assist students as needed if notified in advance. We encourage families, guardians, legal representatives, or educators to contact the Office of Admissions for more information and to discuss particular accommodations before applying for enrollment in the program.

• Do I need to make my own flight arrangements?

  Yes. Your tuition does not include transportation to and from your home and the program location. We recommend that you make necessary flight arrangements only AFTER you receive confirmation that you are officially enrolled.

• Can special dietary needs be met?

  We make every effort to meet the dietary needs of all our students, provided the request is submitted prior to the start of the conference.  When you complete the Student Information Form, you will have the opportunity to make special dietary requests.

• Can I use the campus facilities (gym, pool, etc.)?

  Students are not permitted to use university facilities such as the pool or recreation center.

• What are Polygence Pods?

  Polygence Pods are a focused, organized exploration on popular career and research topics. Pods are 6-week structured courses that place students with 2 to 5 peers in group sessions guided by an expert mentor. Each session is 1 hour and features a mix of lecture and group discussion focused on a specific topic and learning objective, ultimately building towards a fun and fulfilling final project.