Hummingbird offers three flexible ways for international school groups to experience the United States: School Exchange & Homestay programs, Homestay + Companion Tour programs for larger groups, and hotel-based School Immersion & U.S. Tours. Each program can be customized around your group's educational goals, destination, schedule, and interests.

If you have up to 20 students and want the most immersive cultural experience, a School Exchange & Homestay may be the best fit. If you have more than 20 students but still want a homestay component, we can create a Homestay + Companion Tour. For larger groups that want to stay together, a School Immersion & U.S. Tour combines hotel accommodations, sightseeing, and opportunities to connect with an American school.

Our homestay programs are limited to a maximum of 20 students and 2 chaperones. Keeping groups small allows us to focus on meaningful placements with local host families and create a more personal exchange experience. Schools with larger groups can choose a Homestay + Companion Tour or a hotel-based School Immersion & U.S. Tour.

Absolutely. The 20-student maximum applies only to the homestay portion of a program. Larger groups can choose a Homestay + Companion Tour, with up to 20 students participating in the homestay while additional students stay in hotels and follow a companion touring program. You may also choose a hotel-based program that keeps the entire group together.

A Homestay + Companion Tour is designed for schools that want to bring more students than we can accommodate in homestays. Up to 20 students and 2 chaperones participate in the homestay program, while additional travelers stay in hotels and enjoy a customized companion tour. Whenever possible, we can plan selected excursions and activities that bring the full group together.

Yes. Our School Immersion & U.S. Tour is a hotel-based option designed for groups that want to travel together. The itinerary can combine sightseeing, educational activities, cultural experiences, and a visit or exchange experience with a local American high school.

Yes. School connections can be incorporated into both exchange and hotel-based programs when a suitable local school partnership is available. Experiences may include meeting American students, visiting classes, sharing lunch, participating in activities, or taking part in a cultural exchange. The exact experience depends on the host school's schedule, availability, and policies.

Homestay programs are customized for each school and may include host family accommodations, school exchange activities, local transportation, organized excursions, admissions, guides, and other program services. Your proposal will clearly identify what is included for your specific itinerary.

Most homestay programs are approximately 8 to 12 days, although the exact length can be customized based on your school calendar, exchange goals, host-school availability, and planned excursions.

Not necessarily. Host families come in many forms, and a family does not need to have a high-school-age child in the home to provide a welcoming and meaningful experience. Placements are made with care, with the goal of creating a safe, supportive, and culturally enriching stay.

Yes. Hummingbird can work with schools interested in reciprocal or ongoing exchange relationships. We especially value long-term school partnerships because they create stronger connections between communities and can make future exchanges more meaningful for students on both sides.

Yes. Our inbound programs are built around each school's goals. We can customize the length of stay, destinations, sightseeing, educational activities, school experiences, transportation, and other program elements. Tell us what you want your students to experience, and our team will help design the program.

Pricing depends on group size, travel dates, destination, program length, accommodations, transportation, included activities, and the amount of organized touring. We provide sample starting prices to help schools plan, followed by a customized proposal based on the program you choose.

International airfare is not included unless it is specifically listed in your proposal. This gives schools flexibility to arrange their preferred flights while Hummingbird coordinates the U.S. program and services included in the itinerary.

Yes. Side trips are a popular way to combine a school exchange with additional U.S. travel. Depending on your host community and itinerary, we can build in hotel-based touring before or after the homestay, or create excursions to destinations such as Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., and other regional highlights.

We recommend beginning as early as possible, especially for homestay programs and school exchange experiences. Host-family recruitment, school calendars, group size, travel dates, and major U.S. events can all affect availability. Early planning gives us the greatest flexibility to build the program you want.

Tell us your approximate travel dates, group size, preferred destinations, and the type of experience you are looking for. A Hummingbird team member will help you choose the best program model and develop a customized proposal for your school.