We carefully select our host families by inspecting their homes and interviewing them before accepting them as appropriate families for our Junior Camp students. We advise our host families of our expectations in providing our students with the care and attention they need.

Canada is a diverse country and our host families come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, races, religions, abilities and sexual orientations. Our host families are also diverse in their structure – two-parent families, single parent families, parents who work from home, or retirees.

A clean home in a safe neighbourhood that provides our students with a private furnished room, shared bathroom, access to laundry facilities, and 3 meals per day.

A home that is accessible by public transportation and is approximately a 45-60 minute commute by bus or train.

Canadians typically leave for work between 6:00 AM and 8:30 AM and arrive home around 6:00 PM. Dinner is usually served between 6:00 PM- 7:00 PM. Bedtime is usually between 9:00 PM-11:00 PM.

If you have a problem with your host family, please tell the Junior Camp staff or the Accommodations Manager, and we will help
you.

Meals with host families should not be missed. If you have any food concerns, discuss them with your host parents. Tell them if there is a particular type of food you dislike or if you desire another type of food.

In Canada, family members usually help with the household tasks. You may be asked to help with some of these tasks and you will be expected to keep your room and the washroom neat and tidy.

Breakfast is usually self-serve (prepared by student) and families often do not eat together. Canadian breakfasts typically consist of : Cereal, toasted bread with jam and/or peanut butter or cheese or yogurt and fruit. Breakfast is usually between 6:00 AM – 8:00 AM (Monday-Saturday)and 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM on Sundays.

Lunch in Canada is not a large meal and will usually be a packed lunch to be eaten at school or on the field trip. Canadian lunches typically consist of leftovers (uneaten food from dinner the night before), or a sandwich with meat and/or cheese, tomato, and lettuce. Snacks consist of fruit, granola bars, or yogurt. Water is usually the preferred drink choice and is very safe to drink. Lunch takes place between 1:30pm-2:30pm (Monday-Saturday) and between 12:00pm-2:00pm on Sundays.

Dinner is the largest meal of the day and is usually eaten together with the host family.

Dinner meals may include meat, potatoes, vegetables/salad, pasta or stir fry and rice. Desserts are not usually offered but your host family may offer fruit.

You will be living in private furnished room, with a shared bathroom and access to laundry facilities.

If you are tired or just want some time alone, it is okay to go to your bedroom. If you want privacy, close the door to your room. You do not have to stay with the homestay family at all times.

Your Canadian shower should have a shower door or curtain. If you have a curtain, make sure it is always inside the tub so that water does not drip on the floor. If water gets on the floor, please clean it up. Shower times should not be longer than 15 minutes, and bathroom times should not be more than 20 minutes, as your family may share the bathroom with you.

Most host families have a washer and dryer machine and will usually inform wen they explain the house rules if you are expected to do your own laundry or if they will do it for you. If you will be washing your own clothes, please ask your host parents to show you how to use the machines and when is a good time to use them. You should expect to do your laundry once a week.

Internet is included in your homestay.

Be considerate when using your phone in the evening and use headphones rather than the speaker function on your phone to avoid waking the family. Phone calls should not be made after 9:00 PM.