Hosting
NAD Host Clubs
A North American Division Pathfinder Club that hosts an international group is called a host club. Approved clubs commit to provide food and tents, at no cost, for a group of international guests from Monday evening, August 12, 2019 through Sunday morning, August 18, 2019. Any late or early arrivals must be pre-arranged, clearly helping the guest group to make alternate arrangements.
HOW DOES A CLUB BECOME A HOST CLUB?
Check YES to the question about hosting international guests while completing the online registration form. Within the last year prior to Camporee, our International Guest Hosting Coordinator will email you for more information prior to assigning a guest group that best fits your preferences. If you have already registered your club but did not indicate a desire to be a host, please login to your account and update your record. Then email camporeehosting@gmail.com to notify our hosting team of your preferences.
WHEN WILL AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP BE ASSIGNED TO MY CLUB?
When an international group matches your groups preferences and has completed their registration, our International Guest Hosting Coordinator will email a host club with a request to host this group. Hosting arrangements are made early 2019. Please be patient, as international groups are working on visas to travel through Spring.
As we need lots of hosting NAD clubs, anticipate a group assignment, and invite other clubs in your district to join you in hosting too. Please make this a matter of continuing prayer in your club, that God will guide all the arrangements and plans!
CAN I CHOOSE MY INTERNATIONAL GROUP?
Feel free to make contacts with international groups, but please email us before committing to any group. We will do our best to match clubs in the best interests of all concerned. Some international groups may choose to come on their own, after making initial inquiries with your club. To be hosted, they must be assigned to a host club through the regular process to ensure camping space is allotted to your club and to avoid duplication of preparation and expenses.
WHAT IF MY ASSIGNED GROUP CHANGES?
Sometimes late adjustments need to be made due to visa denials, insufficient funding, travel problems, etc. We will do our best to promptly communicate any issues, and you will have contact with the international group leader. Be prepared to be flexible.
WHAT IS AN INTERNATIONAL GROUP RESPONSIBLE FOR?
International guests are responsible for their own bedding, towels, soap, clothing and other personal items; travel expenses to and from the Camporee; visas; and any other shopping or travel while in the USA.
WHAT SHOULD MY CLUB PROVIDE HOSTED GUESTS?
Hosts will supply tents and food, at no cost, at their campsite from the evening of August 12 through the morning of August 18 (unless specific plans have been made with the guests to adjust the start and end time). Hosted guests will camp with their host group, within the North American Division area, organized by conferences within unions. It is a good idea to be prepared for contingencies such as: lost bedding/clothing during travel; improper clothing for Oshkosh weather changes (cold, rain, heat); personal needs (toiletries, first aid, etc.), flash lights and batteries, or emergency cash needs.
As international group plans develop, you will be notified how many Pathfinder girls and boys, how many juniors or teens, and how many adult staff men or women will be coming, so you can plan accordingly. It is the host club director's responsibility to keep your conference director informed about the number of guests you will be hosting to ensure adequate camping space is allotted to your club.
WILL THEY SPEAK ENGLISH?
The ability to converse in English will vary, but most groups come with at least one person proficient in camping English. If you have staff or pathfinders conversant in any language, please email the language skills with country preference. Even if your group has no specific language gifts, consider hosting guests from a country of origin for one or more families represented in your group. Smiles and creative sign language are universally understood - with laughs and hugs.
PLAN A SHARED EXPERIENCE
Hosting an international group is an awesome experience! Your club and your guests will receive rich blessings from the shared cultures, stories, and experiences. When you have your club assigned and contact information, begin communicating right away - together plan worship experiences, menus, guest native cuisine, and shared responsibilities in all aspects of living together. You will need updates on their group size, genders, ages; travel plans; arrival and departure dates (discuss the details please - be responsible!); rules for each group. Your group may have certain cultural customs or daily regimen you need to be aware of. Pray that the Holy Spirit will bless this “foretaste of heaven” mingling together and guide all the details in preparation. You may want to exchange pictures so key leaders can easily locate each other on arrival.
KEEPING IN TOUCH…
Once you accept hosting a group, both the host club leader and the international group leader(s) will be given access to a shared google drive. In this drive will be guidelines on plans to make together, a spreadsheet for the international guest group to fill in the names, age, gender, visa status, any diet restrictions, and family groupings to help the hosts plan meals and tenting. Hosts will save copies of their menu, shared camp duties, morning worship roster, cell numbers, etc. Please keep each other updated using this shared folder. Feel free to email camporeehosting@gmail.com and watch for our emails with updates as we prepare for this adventure together!