We believe that sending Chinese youth to attend US summer camps is an essential element in building a bridge of understanding between China and America, and is a touchstone of an overall cultural exchange. If we wish to cultivate good human beings with a deep understanding of other people, this process needs to start at a young age. Educational programs that send Chinese youngsters to the US for the summer promote understanding in both countries, provide Chinese participants with a valuable opportunity to personally experience American culture, broaden horizons, and expand students’ knowledge. The bright youth who are able to participate in these programs today are the leaders and decision-makers for China tomorrow. Establishing contacts in the US and having a good understanding of the nature of Americans will benefit the two countries in the long run.

Since 1995, we have sent several thousand Chinese students to US summer camp activities. Students come from Harbin, Daqing, Shenyang, and Anshan in the Northeast, Xian in the Northwest, Guangzhou and Shenzhen in the South, and Chengdu in the Southwest areas of China. Many students from urban centers like Beijing and Shanghai have also participated. These students arrived with great anticipation and returned with positive and lasting memories.

Below are three well-established summer programs that we recommend for youth across China:

"Prestigious University Summer Camp,
Experience college life"
(15 days)

In cooperation with universities, Futton Inc, visits and organizes “ Prestigious University Summer Camp”. Students visit Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, UCLA, UC Berkeley and Stanford. Participants of these summer camps (many of whom aspire to become members of the elite academic institutions one day), form a clearer view of their future. What generates the most interest in the summer campers are introductions to school officials who explain admissions policies and school background, and the presentations by outstanding Chinese-American students who are currently enrolled at these universities.

Introduction to Home Stay
(4 weeks)

1. Mission

It is the mission of Home Stay America to let Chinese students experience American culture firsthand, through living with American families. Youngsters begin to identify with the American lifestyle, gain greater understanding and communication between themselves and American youth, experience the essence of the American education system, and improve their conversational English skills.

2. Content of the Program

Live together with well-selected and hospitable American families
It is an extraordinary opportunity for middle-school students from China to live with American families, where they can develop an understanding of American culture and customs. By becoming a member of an American family, each Chinese student is integrated into a brand new world with its own culture, education, politics, religion and language. Student horizons are widened and their overall knowledge base is expanded. Through living together with native speakers, and attending intensive language courses specially arranged for them, we have seen students' verbal and grammar skills rapidly take a giant leap forward.

Every American family joining this program is carefully pre-selected and screened to insure that they will enthusiastically welcome young friends from afar and provide a suitable home environment for the students. Every family is chosen after an individual interview with our American local community network. After being selected, family background information and family pictures are sent back to China.

American Families participate in welcome and farewell party with middle-school students from China
Our contact people in the local community act like a bridge between American families and Chinese middle-school students. Our experienced contact people maintain connections between local families and visiting students, and serve to make sure all parties are having a successful experience. Besides helping find and select American families, they also organize welcome and farewell parties for students and their families.

Intensive English training
Intensive English training courses help students significantly improve their communication skills.

Visit local community schools
During the trip, event organizers arrange campus tours for middle-school students from China, to local elementary and middle schools and universities. These campus tours help them form a general understanding of the American education system, environment, facilities and expectations..

Sightseeing and Entertainment
Before ending the Home Stay program, organizers arrange colorful sightseeing and entertainment activities for these young guests, including visiting thrill-filled Disneyland, dream-like Universal Studio in Hollywood and eye-opening Marine World USA.