The Maine Chapter of Children’s International Summer Villages is accepting applications for young people ages 11-18 to participate as delegates in international camps and exchange programs next summer. Destinations this year include Norway, Sweden, and three cities in the United States.

Children’s International Summer Villages offers international and local programs that foster global friendships and cross-cultural understanding. CISV is an independent, nonprofit, nonpolitical worldwide volunteer organization that promotes peaceful solutions to global problems. It is dedicated to making a world of difference, and committed to the personal safety and welfare of all participants in its programs.

Applications also are being accepted for leaders 21 years old and older to accompany the Maine youth delegations representing the United States. CISV-Maine will select delegates and leaders for the following international programs in 2005:

. Villages, which are four-week programs for 11-year-olds in delegations of two boys, two girls and an adult leader from 12 nations in Aust-Agder, Norway, July 1-28; and Pittsburgh, Pa., June 30-July 27. Leaders are needed for both delegations.

. Junior Counselor, ages 16-17, to assist staff and leaders at a CISV Village in Michigan City, Ind., June 24-July 21, female delegate needed.

. Interchange, a cultural exchange for boys and girls ages 13-14 to spend two weeks with CISV peers and their families in Linkoping, Sweden, and for the Swedish CISV interchange delegates to spend two weeks in Maine with their CISV-Maine counterparts. Dates to be announced.

. Summer Camp for 15-year-olds, two boys and two girls, July 21-23, to Linkoping, Sweden. A male or female leader age 21 or older also needed to accompany the Maine delegation.

. Seminar Camp, a three-week camp with individual delegates ages 17-18 from up to 20 nations in Detroit, Mich., July 9-29, female delegate needed.

Call Penny Lamhut, 942-3558, or e-mail plamhut@adelphia.net for applications for all of CISV-Maine’s international programs.

Chair of the selection committee is Jaki Erdoes, 244-9213, evenings and weekends, or e-mail jaki@acadi[Marker]a[Marker].net.

For information about CISV and any of its 2005 programs, call Valerie Maurais, 827-7129, or e-mail valotm@cs.com.

To learn about Children’s International Summer Villages, visit CISV-USA at www.[Marker]cisvusa.org.