Explore – Summer Session: Program Guide

Address

2275 Bayview Avenue
Toronto Ontario M4N 3M6

A member of our monitor team will be waiting for participants upon their arrival at the airport, train station or bus terminal and can assist them in making transportation arrangements to the Glendon campus. Please contact us via email with your travel details so we are able to plan for your arrival accordingly.

Please note that participants are responsible for the cost of travel from their point of arrival to the Glendon campus and vice versa. This includes any emergency transportation required during the duration of the program. All participants are responsible for their travel costs and must pay all outstanding amounts by the end of the program. Failure to complete payment will result in deductions from the participant’s security deposit.

The campus is a short bus ride away from Lawrence Station, located on the TTC’s yellow, Yonge-University subway line.

Upon arrival at Lawrence subway station, make your way to street level from the Southbound exit. The Eastbound 124 Sunnybrook Hospital bus and the Eastbound 162 Lawrence-Donway bus will take you within walking distance to Glendon’s main entrance. The stop announcement is ‘306 Lawrence Avenue East – York University – Toronto French School & Glendon College York University Campus’. Participants will be able to see the campus gates just passed the overpass bridge.

We recommend purchasing a TTC Presto card for greater convenience while using the public transportation system. Presto cards can be bought and loaded at vending machines located in subway stations. Visit their site for more information regarding prices.

For more information about the TTC, visit their website.

If you are planning to bring a vehicle, please visit the parking services website for information about current rates. On the designated move-in and move-out days, all cars must be parked in the designated parking lots. Parking in fire routes on campus roadways is strictly prohibited, as these areas must remain clear for emergency access. Please note that paid parking is enforced, and vehicles parked without payment may be ticketed.

Regrettably, early and extended accommodations are not available for any of our summer programs. Students are required to arrive and leave their residence room on the designated move-in and move-out days.

Move-in dates:
Summer 1 (Ages 14-15): Monday June 29, 2026
Summer 2 (Ages 13-15): Monday July 20, 2026

Please note:

• Designated arrival times are between 11:00 AM and 5:00 PM.
• Meals are not provided during move-in day, except for dinner from 5:00 pm to 6:30 pm.

Check-in procedures upon arrival at the Glendon campus:

1. Find the table in the Centre of Excellence (COE) that corresponds with your program (FSL or ESL) and the first letter of your last name;
2. You will be asked by the monitor to show your photo identification card;
3. You will receive the following:
   • Campus map
   • Wi-Fi username and password
   • QR Code to the Program Linktree
   • Day 1 Schedule
   • Monthly program calendar
   • Lanyard
   • Important Contacts and Services
4. You will receive your residence key and key card in an envelope with your name. These must be returned in the provided envelope upon move-out at the end of the program.

Move-out dates:
Summer 1 (Ages 14-15): Friday July 17, 2026
Summer 2 (Ages 13-14): Friday August 7 , 2026

Please note:

• Only breakfast will be provided on move-out day from 8:00am to 9:30am.

Check-out procedure:

1. Pack up all your personal belongings from the room
2. Leave the room before 11:00 AM
3. Return your residence key, and key card to the monitor in the Explore/Destination Clic Office, located in YH A112.

Any damages, lost property, or unnecessary service costs caused by a participant to the residence through neglect, accident or intent will be charged to the participant(s) involved using the security deposit. Please refer to the Program and Housing Agreements as well as the following policy on Registration Fee and Security Deposit Payments.

The $250.00 security deposit will be refunded to the original credit card used for payment, provided no damage or additional fees have been incurred. Due to internal daily transaction and refund limits, please allow 8 to 12 weeks post-program for reimbursements to be processed.

Hilliard and Wood Residences offer traditional dormitory-style accommodations, with both single and double rooms available. Each room is furnished with a single bed, desk, dresser, chair, and garbage bin. Washroom facilities and common rooms are shared by residents on each floor. Participants will be grouped in residence based on sex.

For more information about Glendon’s residences, please visit their website.

Most residence rooms in the Glendon residences are single occupancy, however you may be assigned to a double, based on availability.

If you would like to share a room with another participant, we ask that both parties email us to indicate their preference. Note that for the participants of the Explore program for 14-15 and 13-14-year olds/of the Destination Clic program, only same-sex rooming requests will be considered. While we will do our best to accommodate, fulfillment of room sharing requests is not guaranteed.

If you would like to indicate a single room preference, please email us.

Linens will be provided upon arrival (including a pillow with pillowcase, one fitted sheet, two loose sheets, a brown cotton blanket, and a green top cover).

Once per week, participants can have their bed sheets and pillowcases changed on the designated day for their house and floor. More details will be provided to participants upon arrival.

For added comfort, participants are welcome to bring their own pillows and linens if they wish. Participants are responsible for the cleaning of all personal linens. Paid communal laundry facilities are also available in each residence.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided to you for each day of the program at the Glendon cafeteria. The menu is varied and includes vegetarian, vegan, and halal options.

Mealtimes:

• Breakfast: 8:00 AM – 9:30 AM
• Lunch: 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
• Dinner: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Participants requiring dietary accommodations due to reasons other than severe food allergies or health conditions that are medically documented must personally cover the costs of meal supplements. Most dietary and religious food restrictions are accommodated. If you choose to eat off campus, you are not eligible for any type of reimbursement. Please communicate all dietary restrictions and allergies on your online registration form.

Note: Regrettably, participants are not permitted access to a kitchen under any circumstance. If you require access to a kitchen, kindly consider seeking admission at another institution. 

The Leslie Frost Library houses a remarkable collection of more than 300,000 documents in French, English, and Spanish, including a vast assortment of electronic resources. Individual desks and computer workstations provide quiet study spaces.

The Glendon Athletic Club is a 55,000 square foot full use fitness facility located within Glendon Campus.

Participants will have access to the GAC only during scheduled socio-cultural activities, which are always supervised by program monitors.

Please note that participants in the summer sessions of the Explore program are not permitted to purchase a GAC membership.

Paid laundry machines are available in both residence buildings. Participants will need a CashCard to pay for machine use. Participants will receive a CashCard on move-in day, to which funds can be loaded using the machine located in the Frost Library (cash only).

If the CashCard is lost, new (unloaded) cards can be purchased from the machine located in the Frost Library for $5.00

Participants are responsible for bringing their own laundry supplies (detergent, etc.). The washing machines can accept liquid or powder detergents (laundry pods are not permitted).

Price to use the washer: $1.75*
Price to use the dryer: $1.50*

*Please note that use prices for the washer and dryer will increase to $2.00 per wash and $1.75 per dry on August 1, 2026.

The Glendon Explore Program is managed by the Glendon Continuing Education office (T: 416-487-6708). They will take messages and let participants use their telephone line only in case of emergency.  The office will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm every day.

Free Wi-Fi access is available 24 hours per day. Explore participants are also permitted to access computers on campus. A personal username and password will be provided to you upon arrival and is the same username and password used to login into the Wi-Fi.

The Monitor On-Duty phone will be on 24/7 for the duration of the program serving as a hotline for participants to call in the case of an emergency. The number will be shared once arrived on campus.

Mail will be available for pick up at the Explore office daily.

All personal correspondence must be addressed as follows:

*Participant’s First and Last Names*

Explore Program, Glendon Campus, York University
York Hall A112
2275 Bayview Avenue
Toronto ON  M4N 3M6

Click below to see the schedules for each session:

• Session 1 (Ages 14-15)
• Session 2 (Ages 13-14)

Prior to arrival, all Explore participants will receive an email with directions to follow for an online placement test. The results of their placement test will help our team determine their language level, so that they can be placed in a class of appropriate level. We ensure that every participant is placed in a class that reflects their level of ability in English or French. Final changes will occur during the first week of the program, after that students are expected to stay in their established class.

During evening hours, participants will participate in mandatory evening programming called Electives. Participants will choose their Electives before the start of the program, on a first come first serve basis. Electives will be held three to four evenings per week, and will help participants further their language skills around a specific subject or theme. Subject areas for our evening electives include Creative Writing, Drama, Sports, Visual Arts, etc. Regrettably, participants will not be able to change their Elective choices once the program has begun.

For the duration of the program, there will be mandatory events/activities such as a scavenger hunt around campus, a Clue Mystery night, among others. These activities aim to enhance language learning, familiarize participants with the campus and create connections between participants.

Participants will benefit from participating in scheduled social activities that begin when classroom learning ends. They take place in the mornings, afternoon, and evening on weekends, and are all included in the program at no additional fee. Activities include movie nights, dance lessons, sports, games and more, etc.

Participants are encouraged to participate in the numerous excursions we take to fun and exciting destinations and attractions across the city! Trips vary by program, but some examples include:

• Blue Jays Game (baseball)
• Toronto Zoo
• CN Tower
• Canada’s Wonderland
• Ripley’s Aquarium

Click here to read the Program Agreement.

Click here to read the Housing and Security Agreements.

All participants are expected to observe quiet hours by keeping noise to a minimum. These hours are set in accordance with the City of Toronto and are not negotiable.

Sunday to Monday: 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM

All Explore summer session participants will need to be in their rooms by the following times:

Mondays to Sundays: 10:00 PM – 7:00 AM

For information regarding behaviour that is prohibited in the residence buildings, refer to the York University Residence Community Standards webpage.

Attendance at all classes, workshops, seminars, and program activities and events is mandatory. A Certificate of Program Completion will not be conferred upon participants absent from more than six mandatory program activities, including morning classes, afternoon seminars and workshops, and mandatory evening and weekend events and activities.

Each compulsory program component missed will count towards the participant’s six absences. Any absences or instances of conflicting commitments that interfere with the program’s scheduled classes, workshops, seminars, and mandatory evening and weekend events and activities will be considered official absences. This includes foreseen circumstances such as other academic classes or employment, and unforeseen circumstances such as illness, personal matters, or other emergencies. 

Should a participant exceed the allowed limit of six absences under any of these conditions, the participant will be dismissed from the program and required to return home within 24 hours at their own expense. 

Participants and/or their parents/guardians are required to communicate all absences from a program activity in writing to office, regardless of reason, for tracking purposes. 

Participants who communicate an absence to the office will receive a wellness check for every mandatory program component they miss (morning classes, afternoon seminars and workshops, mandatory evening and weekend events and activities). Our monitor team will visit the participant in residence to ensure their safety and well‑being.

Participants who do not communicate an absence to the office can expect a follow-up from staff in the form of a phone call and wellness check in residence. This is to ensure the safety and well-being of all program participants during their time at Glendon. 

If a participant cannot be located in their residence room, our staff and security will conduct a search of the campus. If a participant still cannot be located, parents and/or guardians will be notified, and Toronto Police Services will be contacted.

If a student becomes ill or is injured during their time at Glendon, monitors will accompany them to the emergency room at any time, as there are no medical services available on campus. Please note that the cost of transportation and any fees incurred during the medical visit must be covered by the participant. Parents and/or guardians will be notified at the time of the incident by the participant and/or a member of our team.

Each situation is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Once the participant has returned to campus, the director or coordinator will determine whether the illness or injury may affect their ability to complete the program, and parents and/or guardians will be informed accordingly. If it is determined that the participant cannot continue in the program, they will be asked to return home for their own health and safety within a period of 24 hours.

Participants may be signed out during times when no mandatory programming is scheduled, provided that advance written notice is submitted by the parent and/or guardian. Whenever possible, please give a minimum of two business days’ notice before the planned sign‑out.

Participants may only be signed out by an authorized parent, guardian, or adult. This person must come to the office before 5:00 pm, bring valid photo ID, and sign the participant out.

Upon returning to campus, the participant may sign themselves back in at office during operational hours, or by contacting the Monitor‑on‑Duty. Contact information for the Monitor‑on‑Duty will be provided at the start of the program.

• Fan (please note that there is no air conditioning in residence)
• Towels  
• Refillable water bottle 
• Umbrella 
• Coat Hangers 
• Laundry detergent (powder or liquid detergent; laundry pods are not permitted)
• Entertainment items: books, board games, etc. 
• Pillows and sheets (although Glendon Housing will provide a pillow and a sheet for the duration of your stay, it is recommended that you bring your own for maximum comfort)  
• Cell phone with calling capability (while the office and monitors will have access to a telephone, we recommend that students come equipped with a personal cell phone)
• Phone Charger  
• Debit card or credit card

• Athletic clothes  
• Bathing Suit 
• Hat  
• Jacket  
• Semi-formal wear for specific events
• Please remember to bring clothes for different weather conditions – layering pieces are recommended. Activities will be conducted both indoors and outdoors.
• Participants are highly encouraged to come prepared to participate in the following theme days:
  • PJ Day
  • Sports/Jersey Day
  • Halloween in July Day

• Shower flip-flops 
• Sandals 
• Sneakers 
• Dress shoes (for events) 

• Highly recommended: Cell phone with calling capability (while the Explore office and monitors will have access to a telephone, we recommend that students come equipped with a personal cell phone on which they are able to make/receive calls)
• Phone charger
• Debit card or credit card
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito/insect repellent (for the outdoors)
• Pain/fever reducers (Tylenol, Advil, etc.)
• Allergy medications (Benadryl, Claritin, Allegra, etc.)
• Stomach remedies (Pepto Bismol, Imodium, Tums, etc.)
• Toothbrush/toothpaste/floss
• Shower products (shampoo, body wash, etc.)
• Tissues/wet wipes
• Hand sanitizer
• Feminine hygiene products

Please note: Program staff are not authorized to store, administer or dispense medication to participants under any circumstance.

• Notebook and paper
• Pens and pencils
• Highly recommended laptop or tablet (with charger)

We do not sell travel insurance. If a participant gets sick or injured during their time with us, there are monitors on duty 24 hours per day to assist as required. If a participant require a hospital visit, Sunnybrook Hospital and North York General Hospital are located within proximity to campus.

All Canadian participants are asked to bring their health cards. If a participant is travelling to Ontario from outside of the province, we highly recommend that they contact their provincial healthcare provider to find out if their health insurance covers them while in Ontario.  

International students are encouraged to purchase their own travel health insurance.  

Please note that Explore/Destination Clic program staff are not authorized to store, administer or dispense medication to participants under any circumstance.

Daytime weekend activities are mandatory. 

While evening activities are mandatory during the week (Monday to Friday), participants will have some free time on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

The Glendon Campus of York University is located at the following address:

2275 Bayview Avenue
Toronto, Ontario
M4N 3M6

To see what our residence rooms look like, please visit the Glendon Housing website.

Each room includes a twin bed with mattress, a desk and chair, a closet/wardrobe, a dresser, as well as waste and recycling bins. Linens will be provided (pillow with pillowcase, one fitted sheet, two loose sheets, a brown cotton blanket, and a green top cover). We recommend you bring your own pillow for maximum comfort. As the residences are not air conditioned, we recommend that you bring a fan. Access to the residence is restricted and you will be provided with an access card. 

Laundry rooms are located inside the residence buildings. On move-in day, you will receive a CashCard to which funds for machine use can be loaded using the machine located at the Frost Library (cash only). Please note that you are responsible for bringing your own liquid or powder laundry detergent (laundry pods are not permitted). 

All participants are expected to reside on our campus for the duration of the program. If you choose to live or to eat off campus, you would not be eligible to receive any cash or refund for commuting expenses.  A parent and/or guardian must be responsible for drop off and pick up of the participant from the program every day.

Yes, you can bring your car. Paid parking is available on campus.   

For more information on prices, and availability, or to buy a permit online, please visit York’s Parking Services’ website.

Explore summer participants do not have individual access to the gym during the duration of their stay, however, they will have the opportunity to use the facilities during their socio-cultural activities.

Mail will be required to be picked up by participants at the Explore Office, York Hall A112.

All personal correspondence must be addressed as follows:

*Participant’s First and Last Names*

Explore Program, Glendon Campus, York University
York Hall A112
2275 Bayview Avenue
Toronto ON  M4N 3M6

Only urgent phone messages can be left during office hours at: (416)-487-6708 and we will make sure that students receive them. Our office hours are Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Please check out the above Packing List for some ideas on what to bring with you.

Participants who successfully complete the Explore program will receive a certificate of completion. The certificate will indicate the participant’s language proficiency level and mark. As our program is not credit-granting, we do not provide official or unofficial transcripts.

Receiving credits for attending the Explore a program is at the discretion of your home institution. We ask that you check in with your institution’s academic services to get further information. As our program is not credit-granting, we do not provide official or unofficial transcripts.   

As our programs are not credit-granting, we do not produce official or unofficial transcripts. 

Participants are are not permitted to leave campus without a monitor, teacher or program staff. They can be signed out with advance notice by a parent and/or guardian, following the sign-out procedures outlined here. Participants should only be signed out during non-mandatory programming. If a participant is signed out during a mandatory activity, they will accumulate an absence.

Yes, participants can be signed-out by a parent or guardian whenever participants do not have mandatory programing. However, arrangements must be made a minimum of two business days before the day of sign-out with the office. In addition, the parent must come to the office with valid ID before 5:00pm to sign their child out. The child can then sign themselves back in at the office if it is open, as well as by calling the Monitor-on-Duty phone, upon arrival back on campus. 

Click here for a virtual tour of the campus.