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Language study and city adventures at their best!

CISS Toronto

The CISS Toronto programme is the ideal choice for students 12-16 years who are seeking a summer experience in the heart of one of Canada’s best cities!

Operating from St. Hilda’s College Residence, part of the University of Toronto’s Trinity College campus, the programme is within easy walking distance to museums, art galleries, and world-class shopping.

Students seeking to improve their English skills choose our General English programme, which offers 20 hours of English lessons per week.  The focus in on building your confidence to communicate in English.

If you already have an intermediate to advanced level of English and are also passionate about leading others to make positive change, the Global Leadership course is the perfect choice.

Regardless of study choice, lessons are combined with an exciting activity and excursion package designed to showcase the best of what Toronto has to offer!

CISS Toronto

Key Facts

Location

Downtown Toronto Campus

Ages

12-16 years
(
boys and girls)

Course Options

  • General English
  • Global Leadership

Session Length

2, 3, and 4-week sessions

Accommodation

Single or Double residence rooms

Weekly Hours

20 Hours per week

CISS toronto

Programme Options

General English

Daily Schedule: 20 hours per week

English Proficiency:  All levels Accepted

Learn English in a true University setting!  CISS Toronto is proud to offer a comprehensive ESL programme including 20 hours of lessons per week.  This option provides classroom instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on helping students of all proficiency levels to improve their fluency and accuracy of speech. The general English experience focuses mostly on conversation and is the choice for most international summer students.  

Global Leadership

Daily Schedule: 20 hours per week

English Proficiency:  Intermediate to Advanced (IELTS 4.0+)

Dates: June 30 – July 20 or July 21 – August 10

Empowering the leaders of tomorrow begins with our Global Leadership Course, designed especially for students ages 12-16 who are ready to embrace the challenges of a rapidly changing world. In this dynamic program, expert instructors guide students on a transformative journey of self-discovery, cultural understanding, and personal growth.  Through interactive workshops, cross-cultural exchanges, and real-world problem-solving, we empower students to gain the confidence, empathy, and adaptability needed to tackle complex challenges, drive positive change, and become the trailblazers of tomorrow! 

Leadership skills come to life when students discuss their ability to take positive action not only at local and global community levels but within their immediate community at their programme campus as well. By the end of the course, students will not only have the knowledge and confidence to lead effectively but will also have the opportunity to apply their skills in a meaningful presentation, demonstrating their vision and action plans for projects they will pursue when they return home.

Join the CISS Global Leadership programme this summer and get ready to shine on the global stage as a confident and capable leader.

Learn more about the Global Leadership programme.

CISS toronto

Facilities

Aerial view of a brick building with a green roof, surrounded by streets and adjacent modern buildings.

Your ideal summer destination is waiting for you at CISS Toronto, where our central downtown location puts the city at your doorstep. Nestled just south of the iconic Yorkville neighborhood, you’ll find yourself just a short stroll away from Yonge Street, charming coffee shops, unique boutiques, and an array of exciting attractions.

Our campus offers a secure and nurturing environment that ensures young teens feel safe and supported. Within this welcoming space, you will find a dining hall providing a buffet-style selection with a wide variety of healthy meal options to cater to diverse preferences. Students have the opportunity to relax in comfortable lounges or enjoy the beautiful outdoor areas, with reliable WiFi access available throughout the entire campus for their convenience.

Your summer home away from home is here at CISS Toronto!

You will have either a single room or share a double room in a university residence with another student attending this programme.  Students are separated within the residence by gender.  Each room has 1 or 2 individual beds, desks, chairs, dressers and/or wardrobes.  All bed linens are provided, along with a bath towel.  Students must bring their toiletries. Laundry machines are conveniently located within the residences for your use at a nominal fee and we also offer laundry detergent for your convenience. Shared washrooms and shower facilities are located on every floor. Safety is our priority so our staff live in the same residence, providing full supervision. 

We offer a selection of three delicious meals from Monday to Saturday, with a relaxed brunch and dinner on Sunday to give students a chance to sleep in. All meals are served buffet style in the spacious and historic dining hall, providing a variety of choices for everyone. Our on-site professional staff prepares each dish to meet strict nutritional standards, ensuring that every meal is both wholesome and satisfying.

CISS toronto

Location

The CISS Toronto programme happens at the University of Toronto’s beautiful St. Hilda’s, part of Trinity College on the St. George campus.

ciss toronto

Activities

Students always have something to do, beyond their course of study. Our programme includes full-day and half-day excursions, plus we offer a variety of afternoon and evening activities.

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The General English + Activity option is the ideal choice for international summer students who want to improve their English.  With this option, students receive 10 hours of English as a Second Language (ESL) lessons per week. This includes classroom instruction in speaking, listening, reading and writing, with a focus on helping students of all proficiency levels to improve in their fluency and accuracy of speech.

English lessons comprise two of the five daily periods. You can then choose different land, water, or art activities to fill the remaining two or three periods. 

Included Excursions

The CISS Toronto excursions showcase the best that the city has to offer.  Each week, students attend 1 full-day excursion and 3 half-day excursions as part of the programme.  Full-day excursions take place every Thursday and half day excursions may take place during the afternoon or evening.  Transportation, meals, and admission costs are included.

Full Day (One per week)
May include:

  • Canada’s Wonderland (Amusement Park)
  • Niagara Falls (with boat tour)
  • Treetop Trekking
  • Wye Marsh Canadiana

Half Day (Three per week)
May include:

  • Beach Day
  • Blue Jays Baseball Game
  • Casa Loma
  • CN Tower
  • Disco Boat Cruise on Lake Ontario
  • Distillery District/Spaghetti Factory
  • Downsview Park
  • High Park
  • Toronto Harbourfront
  • Toronto Islands
  • Toronto Zoo
  • Ripley’s Aquarium
  • Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
  • Wet’n Wild Water Park
Afternoon & Evening Activities

On non-excursion days, our team offers a variety of activities during the afternoons and evenings.  Students may choose to participate in afternoon activities, all of which are staff led and supervised.  Evening activities are considered mandatory for all students.  The options available each day are noted on the schedule and may include:

  • Amazing Race
  • Board Games
  • Capture the Flag
  • Casino Night
  • Colour Wars
  • Crazy Olympics
  • Dances / Discos
  • Evening Under the Stars
  • Athletic Centre
  • Game Show Night
  • Improv Night
  • Karaoke
  • Magic Show
  • Movies
  • Neighbourhood Tours
  • On-Campus Sports
  • Photo Scavenger Hunt
  • Speech Contest
  • Summer Festivals
  • Talent Show
  • Yoga
  • Zumba
Optional Activities

Once or twice per week, students may choose to sign up for an optional activity.  These activities are staff led and supervised and additional costs apply.  Money is collected from the students at the programme.  Optional activity choices may include: 

  • Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
  • Canoeing / SUP on Lake Ontario
  • Go-Karting
  • Blue Jays Baseball Game
  • CN Tower
  • Escape Room
  • Laserquest
  • Playdium
Afternoon Sign-out

Once per week, students may be allowed to sign-out in groups of 3 or more for independent shopping and/or sightseeing.  Students must sign-out with a CISS staff and must stay together with their group while they are off-campus.

ciss toronto

Schedules

The following schedules are tentative for the 2024 season  All efforts will be made to closely follow the schedules.  However, they are subject to change.

ciss toronto

2025 Dates & Fees – General English

Departing
July 12
Departing
July 19
Departing
July 26
Departing
August 02
Departing
August 09
Arriving
June 29
2 Weeks
$4925
3 Weeks
$6825
4 Weeks
$8750
Arriving
July 06
2 Weeks
$4925
3 Weeks
$6825
4 Weeks
$8750
Arriving
July 13
2 Weeks
$4925
3 Weeks
$6825
4 Weeks
$8750
Arriving
July 20
2 Weeks
$4925
3 Weeks
$6825
Arriving
July 27
2 Weeks
$4925

2025 Dates & Fees – Global Leadership

Departing
July 19
Departing
August 09
Arriving
June 29
3 Weeks
$7075
Arriving
July 20
3 Weeks
$7075

Extra Fees:

Extra Night Fee $250 Applies to all students who arrive early or depart late.
Extra Transfer Fee $125 Applies to all students who arrive or depart on non-scheduled dates.
Late Arrival/Early Departure Fee $125 Applies to all students with flights ARRIVING after 22:00 or DEPARTING before 09:00.
Unaccompanied Minor (UM) Fee $125 Applies to all students using the UM service with an airline.
Custodianship Fee $150 Applies to students who require any legal documents for visa purposes.

All fees are in Canadian Dollars.

*Canadian and US citizens currently residing in Canada or the United States are asked to contact CISS for domestic rates. Taxes are included. 

 

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Summer Camps

FAQ

Parents and students may have questions about our programme and we are happy to bring you the frequently asked questions here.

Summer Camps

The CISS Difference

Since 1979, CISS has provided students from around the world the opportunity to come together in Canada for transformative summer learning experiences in traditional camps, language programs in cities, and other adventure experiences. With a focus on fun and unique opportunities to learn, our summer programmes promise to give you the experience—and the Canadian memories—of a lifetime.

Points:

N

Specialized care for the unique needs of Campers

N

Motivated, caring and qualified staff

N

Personal attention

N

Student-centred programmes fostering independence

N

Programmes to suit different interests and ability levels

N

Strong focus on Canadian traditions

N

Fostering a multicultural and open-minded atmosphere

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Apply Now

Ready to start your programme?

We would love to hear from you and to provide you with the full set of documents that are necessary for your application process.

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