--- title: ICES Blog | Welcome Family description: Welcome Family | This blog is our means of sharing what we love most—seeing exchange students, host families, and the global community growing closer together through youth exchange. It’s also a way for us to do what we love to do—provide support to students and host families to help them have the best experience possible, and help those who are not (yet) an exchange student or host family understand why they should consider getting involved. --- [![ices@2x](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png?width=77&name=ICES_Logo_%20sm_wht.png)](https://www.icesusa.org/)   - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org) [Let's Talk](https://blog.icesusa.org/contact)subscribe ### I’d like to learn more about Campaign Creators! # Welcome to Our Blog, It's Good to See You Subscribe to our blog today! ### Pick a topic, any topic. - [Recent Posts](https://blog.icesusa.org) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On August 15, 2025 ## [It’s Not Too Late to Say Yes: Why Families Are Still Signing Up to Host](https://blog.icesusa.org/its-not-too-late-to-say-yes-why-families-are-still-signing-up-to-host) I’ve been a coordinator for exchange students for over 20 years, and let me tell you—if I had a nickel for every amazing host... *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Youth Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On August 16, 2024 ## [Should I Host Again? Stories from Families Who Said Yes](https://blog.icesusa.org/should-i-host-again-stories-from-families-who-said-yes) If you've [hosted an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-become-a-host-family-step-by-step-guide) before, you know how transformative the experience can be. The laughter, the learning, the... *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On May 3, 2024 ## [How to Become a Host Family: Step-by-Step Guide](https://blog.icesusa.org/how-to-become-a-host-family-step-by-step-guide) Now, more than ever, we are looking for ways to bring unity, peace, and understanding to our world.  [Hosting an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/why-youth-exchange-is-more-important-than-ever)... *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/LVESEL%20Headshot%20v3.jpg) By [Lily Vesel](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/lily-vesel) On March 15, 2024 ## [7 Topics to Help You Get to Know Your Exchange Student Before Their Arrival](https://blog.icesusa.org/7-topics-to-help-you-get-to-know-your-exchange-student-before-their-arrival) Getting to know your exchange student before their arrival can help make the adjustment period as smooth as possible. [...](https://blog.icesusa.org/10-ways-to-bond-with-your-exchange-student-before-they-arrive) *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [Cultural Exchange](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange), ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Kari%20Owens%20headshot2.png) By [Kari Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/kari-owens) On July 14, 2023 ## [Can’t Host an Exchange Student All Year? Be a Welcome Family!](https://blog.icesusa.org/welcome-family) As we plow through summer with a new school year just around the corner, ICES staff are working tirelessly to secure a host... *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brad%20Owens%20PR2.png) By [Brad Owens](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brad-owens) On August 25, 2021 ## [Five (Heroic!) Reasons To Become a Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/five-reasons-to-become-a-welcome-family) What if you could make a life-changing impact on a young person, enrich your local school and community, and bring some fun and... *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Host an exchange student](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) ![](https://blog.icesusa.org/hubfs/Brenda%20headshot.jpg) By [Brenda Padilla Ericksen](https://blog.icesusa.org/author/brenda-padilla-ericksen) On May 14, 2021 ## [Host Families Have More Fun!](https://blog.icesusa.org/host-families-have-more-fun) We take too much in life for granted! That is why hosting an exchange student makes life so much more fun: - **Your ordinary meals**... *( read )* Tags: [Welcome Family](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/welcome-family), [Host Families](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families), [StudentoftheMonth](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/studentofthemonth), ### Posts by Tag - [Cultural Exchange (141)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/cultural-exchange) - [Exchange Student (106)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/exchange-student) - [Host Families (97)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-families) - [Host an exchange student (78)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/host-an-exchange-student) - [Youth Exchange (68)](https://blog.icesusa.org/tag/youth-exchange) ## Subscribe to Our Blog Today! ![Boris_ICES_Ads](https://blog.icesusa.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Boris_ICES_Ads.png?width=749&height=698&name=Boris_ICES_Ads.png) - [INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/international-student-exchange-programs/) - [HOST A STUDENT](https://www.icesusa.org/host-a-student-overview/) - [AMERICAN STUDENTS](https://www.icesusa.org/american-student-exchange-programs/) - [WORK WITH US](https://www.icesusa.org/student-exchange-careers-and-partnerships/) - [ABOUT US](https://www.icesusa.org/about-us-overview/) - [CONTACT US](https://www.icesusa.org/contact-ices/) - [BLOG](https://blog.icesusa.org/) © 2019 ICES - INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL EXCHANGE SERVICES - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.