Host families are expected to provide a safe, secure, loving, and supportive home environment for their guest and to ensure that the policies and standards of the Ulster Project are fully met during the guest’s stay. The host family provides room and board during the teen’s stay. The room does not have to be private. Northern Irih teens bring their own spending money for extras. Costs of the field trips and official scheduled activities for the host teen and the guest teen are paid for by the Ulster Project.
The host families meet and send off the Northern Irish teens at the airport, and they attend the opening and closing Ulster Project services. Because experiencing unity in worship is a cornerstone of the project, host families are also encouraged to participate in weekend worship services with the project teens. In addition, families are asked to attend at least one group activity per week, usually a host family dinner meeting. Host parents and families may volunteer to organize or help with additional activities (such private pool parties) but are not required to do so. Perhaps the largest commitment of the host families is to provide transportation to and from project activities each day.
Will my family have responsibilities before the project begins?
Before the Northern Irish teens arrive, the American teens will be required to attend three to five meetings for training, orientation, and group bonding. In addition, adults in the American host family (those over 18 years of age) will be required to attend at least two orientation sessions, including a seminar in child protection from sexual abuse, as required by our sponsors.
What financial responsibilites will we be expected to assume?
There is no fee to participate in the Ulster Project of Oak Ridge. The Ulster Project of Oak Ridge will pay all fees for official scheduled activites for both your Northern Irish guest and your host teen. Local transportation, food, family activities, and incidental expenses are the responsibility of the host family. The Northern Irish teen will arrive with some spending money for souvenirs and incidentals. If the host family chooses to take a trip with the guest teen, the family will pay the guest teen’s expenses, just as they would do for their own teen or other family member.
How can we learn more about the scheduled activities?
The application packet includes a sample calendar based on activities in other years. In late spring, as participants’ and sponsors’ commitments become clear, the Ulster Project board will compile a tentative calendar and a pamphlet listing specific activities of the summer. The tentative calendar and pamphlet will be available during orientation. Invariably, some activities must be added or changed as the month proceeds, in response to teens’ needs or other exigencies. The host families play an active role in the final development of the summer calendar to make it as workable as possible for all families.
How do I become a host?
Please contact John Hough at (865)
405-5929
e-mail: jhough20@comcast.net
For further information:
Frequently Asked Questions
To learn more about the international organization, log on to www.ulsterproject.org.