Activities

IFI sponsors various activities that allow you to experience the best of American culture and develop further friendships. Our activities are low cost, fun, interesting, and varied.

One of the activities that many students have found a highlight of their time in Columbus is the trips that we sponsor to famous places in the USA. Some trips are day trips. Others are weekend ones and some are extended ones such as a tour of Western part of the United States. Be sure to check out one of our trips if you have not done so!

Other activities bring you inside the culture – whether it is a tour of State Capital buildings in downtown Columbus, a visit to the Ohio State Fair, or learning how to do a traditional folk dance, you will really get a feel for this city and this country.

We look forward to seeing you at one of our next activities! Check out the ones listed below:

Christmas in California - December 22 - 29

You can spend the last few days of 2011 in Surf City with IFI! That's right, in its first ever trip to California, IFI will be traveling to Huntington Beach with 18 students. This trip combines staying with an American host family with experiencing some of the famous places of California, including Disneyland, Hollywood, whale watching in the Pacific, bicycling on the beach and more. Also, enjoy being a part of an American family's Christian clebration and enjoy the warm weather away from Columbus! Click here for all of the details and itinerary. Also, be sure to click on the photo for live webcam views of the beach! The cost of this trip will be $1,100. The deadline to sign up is October 4th, and a $700 deposit is needed by that date. Click here to sign up. For more information, please contact Andy Martin.

THIS TRIP IS FULL

Christmas Meal with an American Family - December 25

Join an American family as they celebrate the most significant American holiday: Christmas. To learn more about this holiday, click here. Every family has their own tradition, but as with Thanksgiving, this is a day for the entire family to gather together and share traditional and seasonal foods. In addition, families traditionally will exchange gifts and reflect on the birth of Jesus. If you would like to share part of this holiday with an American family, please sign up here. However, the last day to sign up will be December 16.

Florida Christmas Conference - December 25 - January 2

Enjoy the holiday season in sunny Florida by staying with an American host family for 3 days (other days in a hotel), visiting famous places such as Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and the
beach, along with being part of a conference with other international students to learn
more about Christmas.

Full information is found at https://www.iface.org/national-trip-information/92-go-florida.html

Here is the plan. A special “sleeper bus” (one that you can sleep on, each person has their own
bed!) will come and pick us up in Columbus on December 25th (in the evening) and we will head
down to sunny Florida. The full schedule is listed at the website above. Here are the costs:

$275.00 conference fee (for 5 nights in Florida, admission to Sea World, transportation while in
Florida)

$250 (round-trip transportation to Florida and back to Columbus)
Entrance fees to Disney World
Food while traveling and sightseeing.

If you would like to be one of the special 30 people who will go from Columbus you need to
register online here.

Bible Discussion Groups - Weekly

If you would like to know more about the Bible and participate with a small group of international students for discussion please contact Rich Mendola. No prior experience is needed and students from all cultural and religious backgrounds are welcome. Most of the small groups meet on Friday night. You can also find more information about these groups HERE.

Dinner Parties - Monthly

Join a group of Americans once a month for a dinner party, where you can sample American cuisine, culture, games and more. These evening gatherings can be a lot of fun and are a great way to take a short break from studies for a few hours. Sign up with as many friends as you like. We will try to provide one party a month for 3 months to all who sign up. Lots of fun! Sign up here to join!

Past Activities

Trips & Conferences
• Voice of the Nations multicultural concerts (click here for a previous flier)
• Out West Trip (11 National Parks)
• Out East Trip (PA, New England, Niagara Falls)
• Go South (Atlanta, Florida)
• Winter Break Trip (Florida, Washington DC)
• Niagara Falls & Toronto
• Lancaster, PA & Philadelphia, PA
• Washington, DC
• Chicago, IL
• Nashville, TN & Mammoth Cave, KY
• Florida Christmas Conference
• International Student Thanksgiving Conference (Nashville, TN)
• International Winter Houseparty (Upper Peninsula, MI)
• Ski Trips (PA, NY, OH)
• White Water Rafting
• New York State
• Amish Country Day Trip (OH)
• Dayton Air Force Museum Day Trip
• Cleveland, OH
• Hocking Hills (hiking)
• Pumpkin Festival (Circleville, OH)
• Day on the Farm
• Chinese Student Conferences

Other Activities
• Potlucks
• Garage Giveaways
• Picnics
• Red, White, and Boom (July 4 celebration)
• Thanksgiving with an American Host Family
• Spend an Evening with an American Host Family
• Weekend with an American Host Family
• Friendship Partners
• Christmas Dinner
• Easter Sunrise Service
• Valentine's Coffee House
• Seminars on various topics
• ESL Classes
• English Conversation Partners

New Student Activities
• Welcome Picnic
• Ice Cream Social & Volleyball
• Potlucks
• Square Dance
• Tour of Columbus
• Airport Pickup
• Temporary Housing
• Seminars