Camp Friendship has long stood as an internationally diverse program. Since its founding in 1966 Friendship welcomed campers and staff from 78 different countries. Being an American camp we deeply appreciate opportunity of bringing the world closer. Our campers learn about foreign cultures and traditions through meeting people of different nationalities. In order to keep this spirit going we accommodate all our international campers and staff at the best of our abilities. We individually customize each camper's program to ensure the best quality experience. Our international campers and staff may raise flags of their countries at camp flag ceremonies.

Camp Friendship is located in the state of Virginia, just two hours south of Washington, DC (indicated by a red star on the map)

Some of the services we provide for international campers include:

transportation from and to Washington Dulles International Airport

assistance in camp programs selection

medical coverage

weekend trips to Washington DC, Presidents Homes in Monticello and Ashlawn or shopping trips

laundry and linens service at camp

safeguarding any valuables (passports, money, cell phones)

two-way communication between campers and their parents

For those campers who do not speak English and would like to improve their skills we do our best to help by offering them ESL classes. We also know that everyday communication through games and activities is one of the best ways to learn a language. We assign campers of the same nationality to different cabins to ensure complete language immersion. We recommend all international campers stay for at least three weeks of camp. As the first week will be time of jet lag and learning about camp life, the other two weeks will allow a camper to fully experience camp and get all the benefits camp has to offer.

What international campers say about Camp Friendship

Before I came to camp I was a very shy person. Here I learned to stop being shy. I made so many new friends who were very nice to me that I didn't feel homesick. My friends always asked me questions about my home country and my friends. I enjoyed telling them about my life in Ghana. At camp I learned new skills and taught my friends some games we play at home. I even got to perform in front of the whole camp at the closing campfire. I will miss my camp friends so much.

Afua Asantewaa from Ghana, 12 years old

 

Camp Friendship is my home away from home. After 5 summers at camp I learned so many new skills and met so many great people. Before I didn't speak any English but now I have no problems using it. In Russia we do not have many golf courses and I always look forward to my summers when I can play golf all day long. I also enjoy waterskiing at Lake Anna. Last summer I tried rockclimbing for the first time. I enjoy trips out of camp especially a trip to Kings Dominion. I miss camp and can't wait to come back.

Nikita from Russia, 14 years old.

 

 

I liked camp because I could make up my own schedule for each week. I especially liked playing sports with my American friends. At night I always had evening activities and I especially enjoyed campfires and marshmallows. I didn't need ESL classes because I was speaking English all day long. It helped me to improve my skills a lot. When I go home I will tell all my friends to go to this camp.

Diego from Spain, 15 years old.