Upcoming Courses
Join us for one of our exciting "Discover & Connect in the U.S." weekend courses!
Texas course packages include most meals, housing, activities, and transportation!
See below for more details about our Texas experience.
April 30 - May 3, 2026
Registration closes April 14, but may sell out sooner
$1,199
Equivalent to 6 Credits (60/72 Hours)
Included in our four-day course:
3 nights of housing, 9 meals, and transportation to all course excursions!
August 20 - August 23, 2026
Registration closes August 5, but may sell out sooner
$1,199
Equivalent to 6 Credits (60/72 Hours)
Included in our four-day course:
3 nights of housing, 9 meals, and transportation to all course excursions!
What the Texas Program Offers
Texas in-person
U.S. History /Cowboy Life
Discover & Connect in the U.S.
Horses, Cowboys, and History
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Build connections with fellow au pairs
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Experience cowboy life, including horseback riding and bonfires
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Participate in a photo challenge
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Attend a historic museum in Bandera
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Explore and shop around Bandera
*Thursday check-in time is 11:10am. If you are arriving that same day, please schedule a flight that arrives no later than 10:30 a.m. The course ends on Sunday at 1:00 p.m. If you are leaving the same day, please schedule a departing flight no earlier than 4:00 p.m.
Courses are offered in collaboration with
How It Works
Your Learning Journey
Texas isn't just 4 days — it's a complete course with online work before and after your trip.
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BEFORE YOUR TRIP
Online Preparation
4 weeks before • ~20 hours
Complete from home before you fly to Texas:
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Meet your classmates
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Online discussions
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Complete pre-weekend assignments
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Prepare your reflection paper
📅 Due:
1 week before your trip
YOUR TEXAS ADVENTURE
4 Days In-Person
36 hours In-Person
The exciting part! In Texas you will:
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Attend classes and workshops
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Explore Bandera
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Photo challenge
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Experience the cowboy life
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Make friends from around the world
AFTER YOUR TRIP
Online Completion
4 Weeks to Complete • ~16 hours
Finish your course from home:
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Write reflections on your experience
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Complete final assignments
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Submit your service project
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Complete your course evaluation
📜 Completion Letter:
Receive 5-7 business days after all assigments completed.
Texas Course Details
Full course attendance and the completion of all assignments are required to receive a completion letter.
✈️ To accommodate travel time between the airport and class, plan to arrive for your course on a flight NO LATER than 10:30 am on Thursday and depart no earlier than 4:00 pm on Sunday.
📝 Attendance is mandatory beginning on Thursday with check-in, and does not end until Sunday at 1:00 pm. Students are expected to attend the full weekend and complete all assignments to receive their Completion Letter. We understand emergencies and important scheduling conflicts can occur, so please contact the program coordinator as soon as possible if there is a situation that prevents you from meeting any of these requirements.
After registering for this course, you’ll get a link to join Canvas the day that your pre-assignments become available.
🕐 Hours include pre-weekend assignments, post-weekend assignments, and a course evaluation. Check with your au pair agency regarding hours and credits, as requirements vary.
*Scheduled activities may be subject to change due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances and may be different from previous weekends.
housing
APW partners with two hotels in San Antonio. Thursday check-in will take place at one of these hotels. Exact check in location will be confirmed one month before the course. Transportation from San Antonio to the Mayan Dude Ranch is provided by APW and is included in the course price.
This course includes three nights of housing. Thursday night will be at one of our two partner hotels. Friday and Saturday night housing will be at the Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, Texas. All standard housing includes two students per room with a shared bathroom.
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Students have the option to upgrade to a private room for all housing options. Students may also choose to add an extra night of housing on Wednesday night before the course begins, or Sunday night after the course ends. All upgrade options are available at registration.
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For students who drive a car to the course, overnight parking in downtown San Antonio costs about $45. There are no parking fees at the Mayan Ranch.
TRANSPORTATION TO CAMPUS
Travel Between Airport & Campus
The course begins in downtown San Antonio. Ubers/Lyfts are required to get there from the airport, as public transportation is not available.
After you arrive at the hotel for check-in, the weekend's transportation is covered by Au Pair Weekend. We provide travel from there to the Mayan Dude Ranch in Bandera, TX. At the end of the weekend, we also provide a ride to the airport or back to San Antonio, whichever you prefer.
Note: Students who stay at the hotel for an extra night on Sunday will also have to pay for their own Uber/Lyft on Monday from the hotel to the airport to catch their flight.
TEXAS staff
Click on a staff member's photo to read their bio.
Marcos
City Director
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Mary Ellen
Program Coordinator/Instructor
Becky
Instructor
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