Open Your Home and Heart: The Rewarding Experience of Hosting a Foreign Exchange Student
Imagine the joy of hearing a young person from another country describe their first day at an American high school as “the best day ever.” That’s the experience one Johnstown family had when they welcomed Kai, a foreign exchange student from Poland, into their home. He embraced American high school life, joining sports teams, making friends, and excelling in advanced classes. The experience left an indelible mark on both Kai and his host family.
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Sean and Chris Black of Johnstown have discovered immense fulfillment in opening their home to foreign exchange students. They are eagerly anticipating their fourth international student for the 2025-26 school year.
Many students from around the globe dream of experiencing life in the United States. Organizations like the STS Foundation are seeking local families to help make those dreams a reality by becoming host families.
The STS Foundation: Connecting Cultures Since 1986
The STS Foundation is a non-profit organization designated by the U.S. Department of State, facilitating cultural exchanges between international high school students and American families since 1986. They work with students from over 30 countries, including Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, Finland, Norway, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Spain, and the Netherlands.
Local coordinators and regional directors across the United States work to match students with host families in every state. Diana Campbell, a local coordinator based in Windsor, focuses on connecting families in northern Colorado with students.
Currently, over 130 foreign exchange students are seeking American host families for the 2025-26 school year. Campbell has already successfully matched students with families in Windsor, Johnstown, Longmont, and Fort Collins. This includes a student from the Netherlands who will be living with the Blacks in the upcoming school year. The Blacks have previously hosted Gina-Maria from Switzerland and Laura from Denmark, in addition to Kai.
What Does it Mean to be a Host Family?
Campbell uses her own experiences as a host to guide families through the process. Before becoming a local representative for the STS Foundation, Campbell and her family hosted a student from Switzerland and, most recently, a student from Germany.
International students typically stay for either a semester or a full academic year, offering families flexibility. The program also allows established host families to participate when the time is right for them.
Sandimar and George Timberman of Aurora plan to host again after welcoming Laurent, a student from Switzerland, for a semester. They are taking a break for personal reasons but appreciate the program’s flexibility.
Becoming a host family is open to single individuals and married couples, with or without children. Host families are expected to provide room and board, access to transportation, and three meals each day.
Potential host families undergo an application and screening process, including submitting references and passing a background check. A local coordinator conducts a home visit to ensure the environment is suitable for a student.
While the application process is thorough, it ensures that families are prepared for the experience. Some potential host families are initially apprehensive about welcoming a teenager into their homes.
The Campbells, Timbermans, and Blacks all attest that their host students have been mature, independent, intelligent, and responsible. Many exchange students are scholarship recipients from prestigious programs like the Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study and Future Leaders Exchange.
New host families sometimes worry about the financial burden of providing an enriching experience for their student. However, exchange students are generally self-sufficient. They speak English proficiently, have health insurance for emergencies, and receive monthly spending money from their families.
Coordinators like Campbell provide ongoing support, checking in with exchange students, host families, and schools monthly. This provides a point of contact for host families and ensures that exchange students have a support system during their stay.
Most international students want to experience typical American high school life and immerse themselves in their host families’ culture and traditions. This includes activities like attending sporting events, spending time with friends, participating in extracurricular activities, or simply going out to eat.
“You don’t have to plan huge trips or anything, or spend a lot of money on things, because they are just happy to be here to go to school,” Campbell explains. “They want to be a part of the family.”
Creating Lasting Memories
While students are eager to experience everyday American life, many host families also want to provide opportunities for them to explore the surrounding area. Host families often take their students to popular destinations like Rocky Mountain National Park and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve.
The Timbermans’ adventures had a significant impact on Laurent, whose fascination with Western culture grew during his stay. He even developed his own “Swiss cowboy” style.
“They don’t really have much expectation except just to share your life,” Chris Black adds.
The most cherished memories often arise from everyday moments within the household. These include host siblings sharing chores, families cooking together, or watching movies together.
“When people go into something like this, they think they may have to spend a lot of money or entertain somebody… but in the end, it was those little everyday moments, like cooking together, watching our shows together, or just discussing life and our interests that really turned into those most meaningful moments for us,” Sandimar Timberman shares. “I think sometimes we forget that there is a beauty in that simplicity as well.”
The Timbermans, who don’t have children of their own, enjoyed introducing Laurent to their large, close-knit family. This was especially meaningful because he came from a culture where children tend to be more independent and spend less time with family.
Campbell has introduced her family’s card game tradition to her students. Sean Black, a coach, shared his love of sports with his host kids, such as Gina-Maria, who participated in cheerleading and soccer, and Kai, who played football, baseball, and basketball.
Sean recalls that Kai wanted to play football as soon as he arrived. He joined the team on his first day and quickly made friends, seizing every opportunity. Kai excelled in football and was named Valley High School’s Special Teams Player of the Year.
George Timberman valued the conversations he had with Laurent, expanding their perspectives by considering different cultural viewpoints.
“You can show them the wonders of your culture and they can also show you theirs,” George says.
Exchange students are eager to experience American culture, but they also want to share their own traditions, often through gifts or food from their home countries.
The Black family enjoyed trying dishes from their host students’ countries, whether they cooked together or sampled Gina-Maria’s or Laura’s baking creations.
“I was expecting to be a pseudo-parent, but I was not expecting to gain from the experience or that I would love it as much as I do,” Chris Black says. “The truth is, they became so much a part of our lives. They gave so much back to us.”
A Lifelong Connection
The end of a student’s stay is not necessarily a goodbye, but rather a “see you later.”
Chris Black describes the hosting experience as “a real gift” because it fosters lifelong relationships with the students and their families. These relationships often continue virtually after the exchange period.
Foreign exchange students frequently return to visit, sometimes bringing their families to experience their time in America. Host families also gain a new country to visit. The Campbells, for example, plan to travel to their former exchange students’ home countries.
“It was nice to get out of the routine as far as how life kind of just drifts along,” George Timberman says. “To have somebody come in from another culture shakes you out of your lethargy, which was really nice.”