Belgium - Study Tour 2020

The Belgium Study Tour 2020 has been cancelled

March 7-14, 2020

Price: $2,590

SUST 200 - Foundations of Leadership in Sustainability(GS - 3 credits)

Tour #6194

The term sustainability is being adopted in relation to many projects and activities related to the creation and redesign of urban environments. However, the definition of sustainability, and of its partner term resiliency, is not consistent across academic disciplines. It often is associated with buildings through one of the ratings systems: LEED®, ENVISION®, or BREEM®. However, as noted by the United Nations, sustainability is much broader than a building and its component systems. The UN describes its sustainability goals as follows: “The Sustainable Development Goals are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including those related to poverty, inequality, climate, environmental degradation, prosperity, and peace and justice. The goals interconnect and in order to leave no one behind, it is important that we achieve each goal and target by 2030.” Sustainability encompasses the human experience and touches many disciplines and aspects of life.  

Course Registration

To register for course credit:

  1. Meet with your academic adviser to discuss how this course will impact your educational progress. Have your adviser sign a drop/add form to add this class. Forms are available at registrar website.
  2. Contact the travel agency (contact information on back panel) to make a deposit or pay the total cost of the trip and obtain a receipt.
  3. Take your signed drop/add form and travel agency receipt to the Office of the Registrar in the Swatara Building to complete enrollment in the course.  

Course Requirements

  • Mandatory pre/post-trip meetings, group reading, journal, etc., during spring 2020 semester.
  • Students must be free of any current conduct reviews or conduct sanctions. Eligibility will be verified, and each participant grants permission for verification by the Office of Student Conduct. Any violation of the PSU Student Code of Conduct while traveling will result in a class failure.

Travel Awards

Award funds are available to undergraduate honors students through the Penn State Harrisburg Honors programs. The University also has funds for students traveling internationally. For details, visit the and select the "Scholarships and Grants" link. A limited number of travel awards are available through the Penn State Harrisburg Office of International Programs. The application deadline is October 25, 2019. 

Belgium Itinerary 

Itinerary and all visits are subject to change without notice.

  • Day 1 - Saturday, March 7, 2020
    Departure from the Penn State Harrisburg campus at 1:00 p.m. for Washington Dulles International Airport. Check-in for your 6:25 p.m. flight on British Airways BA216. Arrive at London Heathrow at 6:30 a.m. (+1).

  • Day 2 – Sunday, March 8, 2020
    British Airways flight BA392 departs London at 8:30 a.m. with arrival in Brussels at 10:45 a.m. Assistance and transfer to Meininger Hotel for six nights. Guided orientation city tour by coach and walking tour around the Grand Place. Welcome dinner at a local restaurant.

  • Day 3 - Monday, March 9, 2020
    After breakfast at the hotel, meet with a representative from SumProject+SumResearch to review the Central Boulevard Redevelopment, Brussels. This site was a major business and traffic thoroughfare. The project involved reconnection of local neighborhoods to the Central Boulevard. At the time of your visit, several segments will have been completed, with the last section still under construction. After lunch on your own, visit the site with a tour guide.

  • Day 4 - Tuesday, March 10, 2020
    Following breakfast, meet with a representative of A2M about passive building and the current development and design of carbon-neutral and carbon-capture buildings. Following lunch on your own, visit two passive buildings to see the features that went into creating the passive building and how humans interact with these buildings. Discussions also will include energy savings and the occupants’ views of passive buildings.   

  • Day 5 - Wednesday, March 11, 2020
    After breakfast, visit the Brussels Ministry of the Environment to learn about Exemplary and Sustainable Building in the Brussels region. After lunch on your own, visit the Tivoli Project.

  • Day 6 - Thursday, March 12, 2020
    Following breakfast, tour the Meininger Hotel, a passive building. Meet in a room to discuss lessons learned to date. After lunch, travel to Ghent to enjoy a guided walking city tour.  

  • Day 7 - Friday, March 13, 2020
    After breakfast, travel to the de facto capital of the European Union, which is located in Brussels. Take the self-guided tour of the building. Meet with EU officials regarding EU standards for energy efficiency and sustainability. Following lunch on your own, visit a chocolate factory and participate in a workshop to produce decorated chocolates. Enjoy the rest of the afternoon on your own. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

  • Day 8 - Saturday, March 14, 2020
    Following breakfast, depart by coach for Brussels International Airport. Check in at the British Airways counter for your 10:00 a.m. flight BA391. Connecting flight in London, departs for Washington Dulles International Airport at 10:20 a.m. BA217, arriving at 4:15 p.m. Private coach transfer to return to Penn State Harrisburg.

Hotel Accommodations

Meininger City Center Hotel

Airline Schedule

The exact time of these flights is subject to change and will be reconfirmed. Check-in at the airport is three hours prior to departure time.

  • Saturday, March 7, 2020 – British Airways BA216 Washington Dulles 6:25 p.m. to London Heathrow 6:30 a.m.(+1)

  • Sunday, March 8, 2020 – British Airways BA392 London Heathrow 8:30 a.m. to Brussels, Belgium 10:45 a.m.

  • Saturday, March 14, 2020 – British Airways BA391 Brussels 10:00 a.m. to London Heathrow 10:20 a.m.

  • Saturday, March 14, 2020– British Airways BA217 11:50 a.m. to Washington Dulles 4:15 p.m.

Contacts

Stephanie Ponnett
Administrative Support Coordinator for International Programs
717-948-6062
[email protected]   

Dr. Shirley Clark
Professor of Environmental Engineering
717-948-6127
[email protected]   

Price Includes

  • Round-trip airfare from Washington Dulles International Airport to Brussels, Belgium.

  • British Airways ticket includes one (1) piece of checked luggage (50 pounds per piece)

  • Round-trip transfers between Penn State Harrisburg and Washington Dulles International Airport

  • Airport taxes and fuel surcharge - subject to increase before ticketing

  • Hotel and homestay accommodations as per itinerary

  • All meals as per itinerary

  • All transfers and sightseeing with entrance fees as per itinerary

Price Does not Include

  • Tuition

  • Single room supplement of $585

  • Service fee of three percent on any amount paid by credit card

  • Excess luggage

  • Additional excursions or activities not mentioned in the itinerary or reserved in advance

  • Gratuities for guides and drivers while in Brussels

  • Personal expenses (phone, drinks, souvenirs, laundry, etc.)

  • Passport fees - Passport should be valid until September 15, 2020

Visas are not required for United States citizens traveling to Belgium. All international students are responsible for determining if a visa is required and should immediately apply for the visa. Refunds cannot be made if a visa is not issued. Also, alert the International Programs office if you are applying for a visa.

Terms and Conditions

Celestial Voyagers' terms are based on contracts with airlines, hotels and other suppliers. The terms and stipulations mentioned below are bound by these contracts and will be strictly enforced. A passport valid until September 15, 2020 is required.

Contacts

Travel arrangements

Celestial Voyagers, Inc.
27-28 Thomson Avenue, Suite WS 11 
Long Island City, NY 11101
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: 516-829-1525 Fax: 718-729-0306

Program information

Stephanie Ponnett 
Administrative Support Coordinator
International Programs
Penn State Harrisburg
777 West Harrisburg Pike
C114R Olmsted Building
Middletown, PA 17057
E-mail: [email protected] 
Phone: 717-948-6062

Trip Registration

Deposit: $500

$150 of this is a non-refundable processing fee to Celestial Voyagers. Your deposit will assure your reservation with the airline, the hotel and other suppliers. The deposit must be sent with a copy of your passport as soon as you register online.

Send your deposit as soon as possible prior to December 4, 2019. After this date, space may not be available and a supplement may apply.

Balance due no later than January 9, 2020.

All payments by check must be made to Celestial Voyagers.

Payment Methods to Celestial Voyagers:

  • Online: During your registration, you can submit your payment by e-check (at no extra cost) or by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express). There is a three percent service fee for all online payments.

  • Phone: Celestial Voyagers accepts credit card and e-check payments by phone. Credit card payments incur a three percent merchant fee but there is no service fee for e-checks.

  • Post Mail: Your third payment option is to mail in a paper check or money order. Checks should be made payable to “Celestial Voyagers,” and mailed to the address in the contact Celestial Voyagers section. When mailing a check, do not forget to indicate the tour reference number.

Cancellation/Penalties: In case of cancellation, penalties will apply. All cancellations must be received in writing. Written cancellation received before December 4, 2019 will incur a $150 fee ($150 processing fee). Written cancellation received between December 5 – January 10, 2020 will incur a penalty of $500 (loss of full deposit). Written cancellation received on or after January 10, 2020 or no-shows incur a penalty of 100 percent of the total trip cost – $2,590.

Course registration is separate from trip registration.

Upon receipt of your deposit, Celestial Voyagers will send you a receipt that you must present at the Penn State Harrisburg Registrar’s office to register for the course.

Passports

If you intend to travel internationally, apply for your passport immediately. Failure to provide passport information may delay airline ticketing for our group.

Registration

Register for the trip online at Celestial Voyagers > Academic Voyagers > Register 

After registering, you must mail your deposit within 48 hours with a copy of your passport, if available (photos or scans of passports are acceptable).

• Tour # 6194

• Tour name: Penn State Harrisburg Belgium 2020

Mail your deposit and copy of your passport (if available) immediately to:

Celestial Voyagers, Inc. 
27-28 Thomson Avenue
Suite WS11
Long Island City, NY 11101