Study in a Group Homestay
Overview
Whether you are hiking in the mountains of Colorado, exploring caves in Kentucky, or taking in the big city excitement of New York and Philadelphia, a Greenheart Exchange Group Homestay Program is sure to be a memorable experience.
Group Homestay Programs are an ideal way for students aged 13 to 17 to discover American culture and create memories with their peers. Each program can be specially designed to meet the needs of your organization or school group, and can be arranged for any time throughout the year.
Dynamic English language and American culture classes provide opportunities for participants to improve their English skills in an informal environment, while homestays with American host families complete the cultural immersion. Various destinations are available, each offering a unique array of exciting excursions and activities.
Participant Requirements
Participant Requirements:
- Must be 13 to 17 years old*
- Possess intermediate English skills (minimum two years’ English study)
- Display a genuine interest in English language and American culture
- Willing to become a member of an American family
- Agree to accept the host family assigned to them by Greenheart Exchange
- Complete a Greenheart Exchange application, including a letter to the potential host family with pictures
- Sign and abide by the Greenheart Exchange Conditions of Participation
*Participants outside of this age range may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
What's Included
What Is Included in a typical Group Homestay Program with Greenheart?
- Room and board with volunteer American host families
- Transfer to and from the nearest airport
- Support letter for a tourist visa (if required)
- Certificate of completion, upon request
- Full- or half-day excursions one to three times per week
- Welcome and farewell parties
- 12 hours of English language and American culture classes per week with certified ESL teachers, and all necessary materials (alternate programming is available)
- One Greenheart volunteer activity with an environmental or social service project
- Activity coordination, orientation, transportation, and support of a Greenheart Exchange Local Coordinator
What Is Not Included?
- Airfare
- Pocket money for personal expenses
Destinations
Our partners are able to choose a region for the program, and we will do our best to accommodate the request. With enough advanced notice (i.e. typically 4-5 months) we are more likely to be able to accommodate very specific geographical requests. Popular destinations we offer include suburbs in the following regions:
- Boston Area ( Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire)
- Upstate New York (trip to New York City available)
- Washington, D.C. (Maryland and Virginia)
- Philadelphia Area (including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware)
- Chicago, Illinois
- Seattle, Washington
- Portland, Oregon
- Northern and Southern California
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Denver, Colorado
- Texas (including Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas)
- Phoenix, Arizona
- Orlando, Florida
Sample Itinerary
While each program has its own unique schedule, check out an example of the schedule here.
If you wanted to see what the various for our Group Homestay Program, check out these destination packets.
Why Choose Greenheart
30 years of experience facilitating cultural exchange programs in the U.S. that connect Americans with international students.
- We are the leading nonprofit cultural exchange sponsor that blends service learning and volunteerism into all of our programs, creating a community of compassionate and conscious global citizens.
- We are committed to the safety and well-being of our participants; due to our rigorous standards, Greenheart Exchange is listed by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) since 1990, is designated by the Department of State to offer J-1 programs, and is a member of the Alliance for International Education and World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSE Travel Confederation).
- English classes are taught by certified, native English speakers with a focus on practical communication.
- Offer programs throughout the U.S., and can customize them to include visits to major cities, universities, or points of interests.
- 24-hour emergency support from our National Office
- Supply certificates of completion for all programs, upon request
Application Process
All of our participants for this program must come through a sending agency in their home country. To find a sending agency in your country and learn about the application progress, please click here.
FAQs
When are Group Homestay programs offered?
We organize group homestay programs throughout the year. However, we very rarely organize group homestay programs the last two weeks of December through the first few days of January because of the difficulty in finding host families over this holiday period.
How long are group homestay programs?
10 days – 3 weeks
What are the types of group homestay programs?
- Class-Activity: Include ESL/American culture classes and excursions most weekdays
- Taste of American High School: Include 2 to 4 visits to an American high school and 2 or more excursions
- Immersion: Typically includes 1 or fewer weekly excursions; most of the time is spent with host families
- Customized: May include a combination of the above types or include a specific focus such as volunteering, University visits, or a specific sport or activity
Note: All of the above programs include homestay placements with a host family; one or more group volunteer projects; and a welcome and/or farewell party.
Can I choose the location of the Group Homestay program?
We work with sending agencies in various countries to determine the locations that we place groups. To find out which locations are available for the group trips in your area, please reach out to us.
What ages are Group Homestay programs suitable for?
Typically we work with students ages 13 – 17 on Group Homestay Programs. We also occasionally accept groups with older participants.
What is the minimum and maximum number of participants for a Group Homestay?
Generally groups must have a minimum of 10 students and maximum of 20.
How much does this program cost?
Our program costs vary by each country. Please reach out to a sending partner in your home country to learn about specific costs for your area.
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