Become a host family

Opportunities to Host Visiting Japanese Students

Two student delegations will be visiting the Olympia area this year. We are seeking host families to house students during their stay. Both of these visits are a wonderful way to engage in a cultural exchange, develop warm friendships, and create lasting memories.

Host May 16-19, 2025

Capital High School is excited to host thirty-five 9th-grade students from Shukutoku Sugamo Jr. High School, a private school in Tokyo, Japan. We’re looking for host families to welcome these students into their homes for a memorable cultural exchange experience!

Here are the details:

Dates: From Friday, May 16th (pick-up at CHS after school) to Monday, May 19th (drop-off at CHS before school). Please note that May 17th is the Prom at CHS.
Hosting Requirements: Families must host 2 students (either 2 boys or 2 girls). The students can share a room, but each must have a separate bed.
Stipend: Families will receive a stipend of $30 per student per night (a total of $180 per family for the weekend).
No Language Requirements: You don’t need to speak Japanese or have children attending Capital High School to participate. All families are welcome!

If your family is interested in hosting, please fill out the Google Form ASAP: https://forms.gle/WEu7Y1btGJLC6e5a8

For more information, contact Mika Katzer at mkatzer@osd.wednet.edu.

Host August 4-13, 2025

OKSCA is thrilled to welcome 15 students and three adult chaperones from our Sister City, Kato. The 2025 Friendship Delegation will visit Olympia for ten days this summer, and we are seeking host families to continue this traditional exchange between our communities.

Here are the details:

Dates: The delegation will arrive in the evening on Monday, August 4 and depart the night of Wednesday, August 13. Students will have activities each weekday during their visit.
Hosting Requirements: We hope to place each student and chaperone individually with host families. The student needs to have their own room. Host families will drop their student off each morning at the meeting spot and pick them up in the late afternoon. Host families will provide breakfast and dinner each day. Host families will have the weekend to spend with their guest.
No Language Requirements: You don’t need to speak Japanese or have school-aged children to participate. All families are welcome!

To volunteer as a host family, please fill out the Google Form : https://forms.gle/ihWLnEvz7sTTP4cx6

For more information, contact Patricia Thulin at blueequest3@gmail.com.

Support OKSCA today with your generous gift.

Visit olympiakatosca.org to contribute:

Join or renew your membership for the 2025 year
Help fund the upcoming 2025 OKSCA Friendship Delegation
Provide scholarships to Olympia-area Student Ambassadors traveling to Kato in 2026

OKSCA is a 501c3 organization and all donations are tax-deductible.

Thank you!