Frequently Asked Questions
Cancellation Policy
Chaperones / Aides de Camp
Deposits / Payment / Registration Fees
Group Discounts
General Questions
Location
Mock Legislature, Trial, Business & Media Tracks
Financial Aid
Disclaimers
If you have any questions not addressed by this FAQ, please contact SSI at 517-321-6233 or ssi@ssi-online.org.
Chaperones / Aides de Camp
Please visit the Chaperone and Aide-de-Camp sections of our website.
Are the students always supervised?
Yes. Students are not allowed off campus, and SSI staff and chaperones are
on hand at all times. Chaperones are assigned to a specific number of students, and they keep close track of each one.
How do you select chaperones?
Since many parents want to see for themselves about our programs, most
chaperones are parents of participating students. Last year we had an entire family come one week. Three kids participated,
and both parents chaperoned. Every chaperone, old or new, supplies enough information for us to do a thorough background
check with the Michigan State Police. We also thoroughly check references.
Deposits / Payments / Registration Fees
Can I send in my registration without a deposit and
still save my space?
No. Because of the incredible demand, if we don't have a registration
with a deposit ($50) in hand, we cannot hold a spot.
Should I send the full payment right away, or do I need to send only the
$50 deposit?
Please send as much as you can as soon as you can. We produce a lot of
materials and have a lot of work to do to make the Summer Program a meaningful experience for you, all of which costs money.
Of course, we trust God will provide all we need to make that happen.
Do those who send in a deposit of $50 but are not requesting financial
aid have to send the remaining funds in before the March 31st deadline to qualify for the early registration discount?
Yes. The full amount is due in the SSI office by March 31st in
order to get the early-registration discount.
What happens if I send in a $50 deposit before March 31st but am unable
to send the rest until after March 31? Will I lose my early registration discount?
Yes. Your balance will reflect the full registration amount, minus your
deposit. The good news is that by getting your deposit in early, you probably got into the week and track you were hoping for.
Group Discounts
Can I send in some of the registrations right away, and the rest of the
group registrations in when I get them? Will those later registration still qualify for the group registration discount?
As soon as the group's contact person has enough to qualify as a group
(10 or more), he or she should send in the registrations already received, and then, if other families that are part of that group want to be added, the group contact person can send them at a later date, but before April 30 to benefit from the early registration AND the group discounts. However, if you are having trouble meeting this requirement, contact Jeff Visscher at the SSI office to discuss options.
I've already registered individually and then found out my home school
group is registering as a group. Can I still get in on the group registration discount?
No. Adding an individual to a group after they have already sent in an
individual registration is not possible. That is one area where we cannot be flexible. We had a lot of confusion and
difficulty with this in past years, so we are firm on this point.
Some of the families registering with our group are requesting financial aid. What do I do with those?
If you have families registering with your group that are requesting
financial aid, go ahead and send those registrations (with their
Financial Aid Application) with the other registrations. Except in extreme circumstances, which should be communicated
directly to our office in writing, even those requesting financial aid need to include a $50 deposit.
Does everyone in my group have to attend the same week?
No. They may attend any week where there are openings.
How will I know that you've received my group registration?
The contact person for group registrations will receive a notice from our
office, confirming receipt of the group registrations. Additionally, each participant will receive a confirmation packet from
SSI.
General Questions
My son is looking forward to coming this summer, but he is just going
into the 9th grade. Can he attend? What age do you recommend?
Yes, your son is old enough to join us this summer at SSI. The age
requirement is for any teen entering 9th grade through those entering their first year of college.
Are there mostly older or younger students?
Students vary in ages from 13 to 19. Over the years, there has always
been a good balance of older and younger participants. A good number of the older students are alumni, so they know the
ropes, appreciate the programs, and help the younger students to fit in well. The first-year students are split
into committees and caucuses, and each group is purposely made up of students of all ages, so no one group has any
advantage over another during debates on Friday in the Capitol.
Does my son have to wear a sport coat / man's dress suit to their
final events at the State Capitol, Court, etc.?
No. Business attire is requested for the final legislative sessions,
trials, business meetings, and mock media's on-air anchors. While a sport coat or suit is not required, the guys should
at least wear dress slacks, with a dress shirt and tie.
Girls should wear a dress, or a skirt or dress slacks with a nice blouse. We just want them to be dressed for the occasion. Of course, all attire will need to meet our modest dress code.
All students should dress nicely any time we're at the Capitol, but especially Friday since we'll be taking the group picture there. This includes Mock Trial, Business and Media students as well.
How will I know that you've received my group registration?
The contact person for group registrations will receive a notice from
our office, confirming receipt of the group registrations. Additionally, each participant will receive a confirmation
packet from SSI.
Are there any other documents that I have to fill out before camp?
Yes. In May or upon receipt of a registration, whichever comes last, we
will mail out information/confirmation packets to each participant, including permission slips, medical forms, etc.
These forms should be filled out and sent to SSI immediately upon receipt. If we are missing any forms prior to your week
of camp, your registration process at Great Lakes Christian College may take longer.
Is there swimming pool or lake?
No. No need to pack a bathing suit. There is a small pond at Great Lakes
Christian College, but it's off limits to fishing, swimming, snorkeling, water-skiing, shark hunting, ice-skating, deep sea
diving, etc.
What are the sleeping arrangements for boys and girls?
We house everyone, students, staff and chaperones, in the guy's and girl's
dorms. During our opening orientation meeting, all the students learn about the invisible barbed wire separating the two dorm
buildings, patrolled by invisible guard dogs, and aided by two invisible watch towers, complete with invisible snipers. While
we spoof a bit here, we are very serious about where everyone is at all times and who is chaperoning. Additionally, a watchman
patrols the campus each night during SSI.
My child is attending SSI? Is there any way I can participate?
Yes! We can almost always use more chaperones! Visit the
chaperone section of our website for more information!
Mock Legislature, Trial, Business & Media Tracks
Will all 3rd year and above students automatically participate in the mock
trial or mock business or mock media? Do students need to inform you if that is their desire, or indicate that on their
registration form?
Yes and No. You should indicate on your registration form the track you desire
to attend, but third-year students will not be automatically assigned to any track. Second-year students should check
eligibility before deciding on a track.
Does my son have to wear a sport coat / man's dress suit to their final
events at the State Capitol, Court, etc.?
No. Business attire is requested for the final legislative sessions, trials,
business meetings, and mock media's on-air anchors. While a sport coat or suit is not required, the guys should at least wear
dress slacks, with a dress shirt and tie.
Girls should wear a dress, or a skirt or dress slacks with a nice blouse. We just want them to be dressed for the occasion. Of course, all attire will need to meet our modest dress code.
All students should dress nicely any time we're at the Capitol, but especially Friday since we'll be taking the group picture there. This includes Mock Trial, Business and Media students, as well.
My daughter participated in an On-Site Program, and she's coming to the
Summer Program for the first time this year. Will she be a member of the House or the Senate?
If a student is attending the Summer Program for the first time, but has NEVER
participated at an On-Site, she'll be sworn in as a member of the House of Representatives.
If a student is attending the Summer Program for the first time and HAS participated in an On-Site program with no absences, she may be a member of the Senate.
How do I know which tracks I'm eligible to attend?
Please see the Eligibility page.
Location
Where is SSI held?
SSI is held at Great Lakes
Christian College. Mail may be sent to the students during their week at SSI to the following address:
Student's Name
c/o Student Statesmanship Institute
Great Lakes Christian College
6211 W Willow Highway
Lansing, MI 48917
Most activities are held in the air-conditioned administration building, which houses the chapel, dining room, student lounge and classrooms. Students also participate in activities on the grounds of the college and devotions in their dorms.
Additionally, students are transported by school bus 2-3 times in the week to the Capitol Building in downtown Lansing. Mock Trial students also visit the Michigan Supreme Court in the Hall of Justice (also downtown). Other venues will be visited depending on the track in which the student is participating.
How do I get there?
Financial Aid
Please see the Financial Aid section of the website.
Why do you only have partial financial aid?
SSI is a ministry of Foundation for Traditional Values, a 501(c)(3) non-profit,
faith-based, educational organization. We depend upon the generosity of donors for all of our needs, including financial aid.
To keep your costs down, the registration fee covers only a portion of the total cost for each student, and we work year-round to raise the funds to make SSI possible for all 300+ students attending each summer. We do all that to keep the fees down, so we can make SSI accessible to as many teenagers as possible.
Many students do fund-raisers and odd jobs to earn the money to attend SSI. It's amazing just how creative students get - babysitting, paper routes, pop-can drives, shoveling snow, raking leaves, mowing lawns, part-time jobs, etc. Some students earn enough money to pay their whole way, and several even contribute to the financial aid fund, so others may attend SSI.
If you feel you are unable to attend SSI because of cost, please contact us. We will do all we can to work with you and your situation.
How do I apply for financial aid?
If you have families registering with your group that are
requesting financial aid, go ahead and send those registrations
(with their Financial Aid Application) with the other registrations. Except
in extreme circumstances, which should be communicated directly with our office in writing, even those requesting Financial Aid need to
include a $50 deposit.
Some of the families registering with our group are requesting financial aid.
What do I do with those?
If you have families registering with your group that are requesting financial
aid, go ahead and send those registrations (with letter explaining their need) with the other registrations. Except in extreme
circumstances, which should be communicated directly with our office in writing, even those requesting scholarships need to include
a $50 deposit.
Disclaimers
Issues and topics debated, including Bills for the Mock Legislature and/or Cases for the Mock Trial, may be controversial or sensitive in nature. SSI encourages students to discuss both sides of the issues dealt with in the Legislative simulation. We accomplish this by assigning each student a bill to support and one to oppose. Students may be asked to take a position and/or make a speech on an issue that does not reflect their own, or their parents' views.
Through role-playing students come to know both sides of an issue. An important principle of debate is to know your opponent's position and be able to articulate it better than they can in order to effectively refute that position. Students, however, are allowed to debate the issues from a variety of technical or constitutional points of view and are not required to argue from a particular position or perspective.
The issues being debated are actual bills taken from the Michigan Legislature and may include: Marriage, Sanctity of Life/Abortion, Education, Religious Freedom, Healthcare, Personal liberty, etc.
Parents should determine whether the issues being debated are age-appropriate for their younger children.
If you have any questions not addressed by this FAQ, please contact SSI at 517-321-6233 or ssi@ssi-online.org.
