Accommodation — dormitory at Concordia University, Saint Paul
Songs of Hope™ is housed in a dormitory at Concordia University, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA. The project rents the facilities and is not affiliated with the University nor has any religious affiliation. Three to four participants, from different cultures and/or countries, share a big room. Each room is equipped with 3 or 4 beds, dressers, desks, chairs, lamps, and tables. Boys and girls are housed on separate floors or wings. Staff members and international Adult Companions are also housed on the participants' floors to provide close supervision and needed help.
Community belonging — international family and ComeBack Kid roommates
When you first come to Songs of Hope™, you find yourself living with kids from other countries. Most of them will be newcomers like you, but one of your roommates will also be a ComeBack Kid, a returnee from previous projects. Your roommates and you will become friends, guaranteed. All the experienced Junior Team members live with you in the same dorm, sharing daily living, helping in rehearsals and activities, leading free time fun, and being mentors and true friends.
The dorm, as well as the whole University area, is surrounded by wide, green spaces, far from the streets and safe for outdoor games. Concordia University is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Saint Paul is part of the large Minneapolis/Saint Paul (or Twin Cities) urban area. There are many advantages to being part of an urban area full of cultural, sports, and recreational opportunities.
Cabin life — Big Sister/Brother, room cleanliness traditions, awards
In each room, there is a Big Sister or Big Brother, who is a ComeBack Kid (that is, a returning participant) to help the new participants. Together, the roommates are responsible for keeping their room clean and doing their own laundry, with the help of staff. There are daily clean-room checks and weekly cleaning days, with very competitive prizes given for the cleanest room of the week (the prestigious Steady Light Award), the best clean of a room on cleaning day (One-Time Shine Award), the best décor (House Beautiful Award), and others.
Special events — International Halloween in July, Olympics, Prom Night
Around rehearsals and performances, there are games and activities, crafts, outings, and special Songs of Hope™ events like an International Halloween in July, our special version of the Olympics, a Prom Night, and other fun stuff.
Songs of Hope™ offers all the benefits that come with artistic creation: discipline, focus, teamwork, creativity, sense of purpose, sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, confidence, and community.
Meals are a communal experience, with all staff and participants taking turns helping with aspects of meal preparation, clean-up, and dishwashing. The project truly aspires to create a large international family, and meals become an important, shared activity of the community! Special dietary needs are accommodated.
Mission and philosophy — cultural learning through living together
Our camps are not about classroom and book learning, or about memorizing dry facts about countries. They are all about the cultural learning that comes from living and doing with people from many cultures. Visit another country and interact with people from all over the world, experience firsthand the art and culture from many countries in many languages and styles, and play creative games involving language, geography, traditions, food, and art from many countries!
We cannot offer scholarships to everyone who needs one, but we do our best to make Songs of Hope™ available to as many kids as possible regardless of financial situation. Don't be afraid to apply because the Fee seems too much, a scholarship may be available! Our commitment is to make Songs of Hope™ available to worthy children around the world despite economic circumstances. We offer scholarships based on need, and every year we will continue to award scholarships until the financial aid money runs out. So be sure to apply early!
All participants should arrange flights to arrive anytime on our scheduled arrival day. Your return flight should be arranged to depart on the camp's departure day. Local airport transportation, meals, and lodging for the arrival and departure days are included in your Fee. We suggest that children under the age of 18 traveling internationally carry a notarized letter of permission from your parents. If you are traveling on an airline's Unaccompanied Minor program, be sure you contact the airline about its rules and you should contact us about arranging for your airport pick-up on arrival and your drop-off upon departure.
