From

$349

/ person

Credits

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hrs)

OR with bundle: 6 Credits (72 Hrs)

See Dates and Pricing

Course Highlights

Locations /

Chicago

Weekend Overview

Your course snapshot

LOCATION

Chicago

DURATION

3 days

FORMAT

In-Person | In-Person + Online

CREDITS

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hrs)

OR with bundle: 6 Credits (72 Hrs)

COURSE

Connect in the U.S. | Discover the U.S.

Chicago pairs two signature courses into one downtown weekend. Connect in the U.S. digs into cultural exchange, conflict resolution, and cross-cultural communication, while Discover the U.S. turns the city itself into a classroom for American history, geography, and civic life. Together they combine seminar-style discussion with real excursions across downtown Chicago, giving au pairs both the interpersonal skills and the cultural context to make the most of their time in the United States.

New Dates Coming Soon

Be the first to know when new course dates are announced.

Join our First to Know List!

Chicago

Dates & Pricing

Chicago Connect in the U.S.

December 4 - 6, 2026

Registration closes November 30, but may sell out sooner

$349

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hours)

Chicago Connect in the U.S. + Online Discover the U.S.

December 4 - 6, 2026

Registration closes November 30, but may sell out sooner

$598

Equivalent to 6 Credits (60/72 Hours)

🎥 Watch how it works

Chicago Discover the U.S.

March 12 - 14, 2027

Registration closes March 8, but may sell out sooner

$349

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hours)

Chicago Discover the U.S. + Online Connect in the U.S.

March 12 - 14, 2027

Registration closes March 8, but may sell out sooner

$598

Equivalent to 6 Credits (60/72 Hours)

🎥 Watch how it works

Everything you need to know before your week on Oʻahu’s North Shore

Your Learning Journey

HOW IT WORKS • Chicago isn't just 3 days, it's a complete course with online work before and after your trip.

1 BEFORE YOUR TRIP

Online Preparation

3 weeks before • ~6 hours

Due: 1 week before your trip

2 YOUR CHICAGO ADVENTURE

In-Person

19 hours In-Person

Mandatory Attendance

3 AFTER YOUR TRIP

Online Completion

3 Weeks to Complete • ~7 hours

Completion Letter: 5-7 business days after completion.

Logistics

Housing & getting to campus

HOUSING

Take advantage of Au Pair Weekend's partnership with Hostelling International in Chicago!

Housing is not included with registration for this course. However, as a convenience to students we offer the option of adding housing at a hostel directly across the street from our campus. Beds are limited and may sell out; they are available on a first-come, first-served basis. You can add a 2-night stay (Friday & Saturday) at the hostel in a shared dorm with between 4-10 beds. When possible, we will place you in a room with other au pairs, and male and female au pairs may be placed in the same room. Your stay does not include breakfast, but there is a communal kitchen that guests may use.

There will be a $50 administration fee for all housing refunds. Refunds only allowed up to 30 days prior to the weekend start date.

Other Housing Options

NOTE: Au Pair Weekend is not affiliated with and does not recommend any of the specific accommodations below. Please do your own research before choosing your weekend housing.

Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown Chicago, 65 E Harrison St, Chicago, IL 60605

TRANSPORTATION TO CAMPUS

Public Transportation

Campus is close to all main CTA train lines and a 20-minute walk from Union Station.

Travel Between Airports & Campus

We are located 12 miles from Chicago Midway International Airport. The Orange Line will take you from Midway to campus (Campus is close to the the Harold Washington Library-State/Van Buren Orange Line stop.)
We are 18 miles from O’Hare International Airport. The Blue line will take you from O’Hare. (Campus is close to the Jackson or LaSalle Blue Line stops.)

Parking

Our campus is in a popular area, parking is expensive and sometimes hard to find, especially on weekends. There are multiple nearby parking lot options available for a fee.

■ If you have to drive to campus please plan on leaving at least an hour early to ensure you arrive on time.

■ Parking lot rates are between $20 - $30 per day. You can use the Spothero app or the following parking websites: ParkWhiz, Spot Angels, or ParkMe to reserve a discount spot before you go.

Please note: Parking is at your own risk! The University Campus, Hostelling International Chicago, Au Pair

Weekend, and most parking lots do not take responsibility for anything that may happen to your car or belongings while parked. Be sure not to have any valuables visible within the car.

Chicago Course Details

What's included & course structure

ATTENDANCE STARTS

2:00 PM on Friday

ATTENDANCE ENDS

3:30 PM on Sunday

ARRIVE BY

1:45 PM on Friday

DEPART AFTER

6:00 PM on Sunday

PRICE INCLUDES

• Full course and course materials
• In-person instruction, workshops, and course materials
• Course-related excursions and transportation
• Completion letter

Connect in the U.S.

Learn to navigate the cultural and personal challenges of being an au pair living in the United States. Discuss conflict resolution, cultural diversity in the United States, and how to successfully interact with people from different backgrounds and life experiences. Being in a diverse classroom will allow you to make new friends with individuals from all over the world and put everything you are learning into practice. Be the change you want to see in the world!

Discover the U.S.

Discover the U.S. turns everyday American life into the classroom. You'll learn about U.S. geography and explore key moments in American history, examining how they continue to shape the country's culture and politics today. Alongside au pairs from around the world, you'll compare your own home country's traditions and experiences to life in the United States, while local excursions and activities bring the material to life. It's history and culture you can actually walk through!

Au Pair Weekend Gives Back

When you join a course, you're part of something bigger. Au Pair Weekend donates to organizations that reflect the values woven into every weekend: environment, community, and culture.

Earth Island Institute

Environmental action & emerging leaders

National Art Education Association

Equitable access to arts education

Water 1st International

Clean water & sanitation worldwide

We also support a local charity in cities where we host our "Connect in the U.S." course, chosen by students during their Community Engagement class. Your presence helps decide where the donation goes.

Read Our Full Giving Story →

Meet the Team

The team behind your weekend

Emily

City Director

Britt

Instructor

Warner

Instructor

Misty

Program Coordinator

Reviews

What students are saying

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"You make new friends and still have time to explore the city"

It's good for those who want to learn more about this country without it being tiring. You make new friends and still have time to explore the city.

— Debora A., Brazil

NEW: Wilderness & Wellness

60 or 72 Hour Courses (Equivalent to 6 Credits)

36-Hour Courses (Equivalent to 3 Credits)

Academic Institutions

Check out our Blog!

About Us

Testimonials

Questions?

From

$349

/ person

Credits

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hrs)

Locations /

Chicago

​

Weekend Overview

Your course snapshot

Chicago

3 days

In-Person | In-Person + Online

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hrs)

Connect in the U.S. | Discover the U.S.

New Dates Coming Soon

Be the first to know when new course dates are announced.

Dates & Pricing

Chicago Connect in the U.S.

December 4 - 6, 2026

Registration closes November 30, but may sell out sooner

$349

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hours)

Chicago Connect in the U.S. + Online Discover the U.S.

December 4 - 6, 2026

Registration closes November 30, but may sell out sooner

$598

Equivalent to 6 Credits (60/72 Hours)

Chicago Discover the U.S.

March 12 - 14, 2027

Registration closes March 8, but may sell out sooner

$349

Equivalent to 3 Credits (36 Hours)

Chicago Discover the U.S. + Online Connect in the U.S.

March 12 - 14, 2027

Registration closes March 8, but may sell out sooner

$598

Equivalent to 6 Credits (60/72 Hours)

Everything you need to know before your week on Oʻahu’s North Shore

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Chicago Course Details

What's included & course structure

ATTENDANCE STARTS

2:00 PM on Friday

ATTENDANCE ENDS

3:30 PM on Sunday

ARRIVE BY

1:45 PM on Friday

DEPART AFTER

6:00 PM on Sunday

PRICE INCLUDES

Connect in the U.S.

Discover the U.S.

Meet the Team

The team behind your weekend

Emily

Britt

Warner

Misty

Reviews

What students are saying

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

"You make new friends and still have time to explore the city"

60 or 72 Hour Courses
(Equivalent to 6 Credits)

36-Hour Courses
(Equivalent to 3 Credits)