From Participants to Leaders: Alumni Share their Summer Experience at Virtual Open Houses Worldwide

Michael Attias of Gibraltar joined CTeen Summer last year, not knowing what to expect. He came home telling everyone about it.

“Besides being an action packed and exciting trip, it was meaningful,” said Attias. “I met great people, felt really included, and came back with unforgettable memories.”

Now, as CTeen Summer prepares for its 2026 season, families across the globe are getting a firsthand look at what’s in store. Over recent weeks, CTeen hosted 8 virtual open houses across the United States, Canada, and Europe, giving nearly 300 families from 13 countries the opportunity to explore summer options and hear directly from staff about what makes these trips unique.

“The Rebbe constantly emphasized the importance of an immersive summer experience,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky, Executive Director of Merkos 302. “These trips give teens the opportunity to connect with their heritage, build lifelong friendships, and give them strength to be leaders back home.”

The open houses featured detailed trip overviews, Q&A sessions, and information about the scholarships and grants that help make the programs accessible. With CTeen, the world’s largest Jewish teen network, now operating over 845 chapters in more than 60 countries, the demand for quality summer programming continues to grow.

“These open houses give families a real sense of what CTeen Summer is about,” said Rabbi Nachman Rivkin, Director of CTeen Summer at Merkos 302. “Parents can ask the questions that matter to them, and teens can hear from people who’ve actually been on these trips. It makes a difference.”

CTeen Summer offers three tracks: Heritage Quest, a 22-day journey through Poland and Israel; Israel Journey, a 22-day Israel experience; and CTeen Xtreme, a 14-day road trip from Denver to Los Angeles, all designed to connect teens from around the world.

When several friends of Attias expressed interest in joining the summer trips, he reached out to CTeen, asking how he could help them get involved. In response, CTeen set up a dedicated open house just for them.

Attias was one of several CTeen Summer ‘Ambassadors’ who joined the open houses to share their experiences firsthand. Benjy Salomon and Yitzi Rich of Manchester joined the UK sessions, Ella Zarin of Conejo Valley, California spoke at the West Coast and Northern California open houses, and Ziv Soskin of Vaughan, Canada joined the East Coast call.

“They were really excited to hear about my experience, and it definitely helped them feel confident about signing up,” he said. “I genuinely believe CTeen is something special, and I’m happy to recommend it to others.”

Registration for CTeen Summer 2026 is now open. For more information, visit cteensummer.com.