Understanding and Hosting International Campers

                Summer camp isn’t just an American pastime anymore, more and more international students are coming to America in order to spend a few days participating in some of America’s most well-known and widely-respected summer camps. Because of the associated costs with international travel and lodging, most international campers seek only the highest-quality camps. America’s top summer camps tend to be in well-developed cities on the east and west coasts. Luckily, supportive and loving host families are plentiful in these areas, and many international campers are able to save money and enhance their experience by staying with a host family. As a host family for an international camper, you have a unique opportunity to enhance and enrich this short-term academic and cultural experience for your host student.

The Benefits of Fun in the Sun

So why do students choose to go abroad and attend a summer camp? The benefits of summer camp for American campers, such as increased creativity, self-confidence and exposure to diversity, are the same benefits provided to international campers. Summer camps are an excellent entry into American life and culture, and offer an excellent opportunity to immerse themselves in an English-speaking environment. This is particularly useful for international students without experience in America, especially those who are hoping to attend high school or college in America one day. A weeks-long camp offers many of the benefits of study abroad (such as cultural exposure, language practice, etc.) while minimizing the negative aspects of a longer stay (homesickness, culture shock, etc.). Campers will acquire many of these benefits directly from their time at camp. However, once camp is over in the afternoon how can you keep providing this sort of direct benefit to your host student? One of the best ways it to get involved with your camper in the time they are away from camp.

Short-Term Stay, Long-Term Impact

                Remember that the things international campers are seeking in their programs (exposure to American culture and the English language) can be found right in your own home. As a host family for an international camper, you may have slightly different responsibilities depending on the particular camp your student is attending. However, preparing at least one meal a day, providing or arranging for transportation, and looking out for the student when they are not at camp, are all responsibilities host families can expect to undertake.  Remember that each interaction is an opportunity to expose the student to authentic American culture; therefore, we encourage hosts to make the most of their short time together with their student. Any opportunity to turn dinner into a cookout, a balmy afternoon into a pool party or trip to the fair, or even a simple snack into s’mores and freezer pops is an opportunity to share American culture. We understand that our hosts are often busy, but we hope that they will take every opportunity to provide an authentic American summer experience to international students during their short time abroad.