Homestay Program Introduction
Odyssey of the Mind
Homestay Program
Participating in the Odyssey of the Mind Homestay program offers a great opportunity for members of US and International teams to develop friendships and learn about each other’s homes and families.
Parents and coaches of an Odyssey team invite an International Team and their coaches to visit their home following the close of World Finals.
The Hosting team does not have to be attending World Finals to do this. Most of the invitations are made before the US teams go to their State Competitions, so they don’t know if they are going to World.
Hosting an International team usually requires two to four families working together to house, feed and provide local transportation. These families are usually parents of team members and their friends. Each family will host two to four people including team members and coaches or chaperones.
Homestay Host families provide lodging, meals, some planned activities and local transportation.
Suggestions for activities:
Picnics
Ball games
Swimming
Sightseeing
A day at your team’s school. Be sure to clear this with the school well in advance.
Trips to a Mall, Dollar store, Target or WalMart.
Museums
Generally Homestays last for 5 to 7 days following World Finals. This year World ends on Memorial Day.
Transportation costs and arrangements to and from the city of the host family are the responsibility of the International team. Once the International team has arrived in the host’s city, they are dependent on the hosting families for local transportation.
If you are interested in hosting an International team contact Homestay Coordinator Tom Scott for more information.
He can be contacted at: odysseyhomestay@gmail.com
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