The Sunshine State

Learn more about Florida

Southwest Florida
The Presbytery of Peace River   Presbyterian Camp and Conference Ministries
Cedarkirk, Lithia, Florida

The Presbytery of Peace River, PCUSA, invites you to share your Christmas holiday with us in this Southwest area of Florida. You will join with 17 other international students at our Presbytery conference center, Cedarkirk. Cedarkirk is located 25 miles southeast of Tampa in a lovely wooded setting. It offers canoeing, swimming and other activities. You can participate in trips to Disney World (Magic Kingdom/Epcot...$52.00), Busch Gardens ($50.00), Bradenton Beach Picnic, Mote Marine Laboratory, Ringling Art Museum, International dinner/program, New Year’s Eve Party and other events of choice. Transportation is provided for all major events.

The Christmas holiday will be spent in the homes of host families where you will share in their holiday celebrations.

There will be time to get to know the other international students. You may cook native dishes typical of your country to share with many for the popular International Night and tell about your country or lead a game or share your talent.

This program does NOT use the Orlando Airport; only Tampa and in rare occasions Sarasota. Please DO NOT make any travel arrangements until you have received confirmation that you have been placed into this program, however, once confirmed do not hesitate on making your plane reservations because Southwest Florida is a tourist area and flights fill up rapidly during the Christmas holidays. If you intend to drive, please request directions to Cedarkirk.

December temperatures vary between 50-80 F. Come join us in sharing interests and cultures with other international students and with your American hosts. We Welcome You!!! 

CIH - Jacksonville, FL
Presbytery of St. Augustine
Riverside Presbyterian Church in partnership with many area churches
Jacksonville, FL

A sunny welcome awaits you in Jacksonville. This city, the "Gateway to Florida" is located on the beautiful St. John’s River, approximately 15 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.   A number of churches of different denominations will be your hosts.

Day trips are planned to points of local interest, as well as, to St. Augustine, our nation’s oldest city.   A trip is planned to the Orlando area which will include two nights stay in a motel.   There we will visit Disney World and one other attraction.   The cost for this trip is approximately $300.00 to be paid by each student.

* We will be having a cookout and beach party on the sandy shores of the Atlantic Beach. It is a great place for those students that are going to school in the northern and Midwestern to get there feet wet.

* The students are the guests of the Florida Yacht Club on a river tour of the city of Jacksonville.

* A long standing tradition of Riverside, a turn of the century neighborhood that the students will be staying at, is a evening luminaria. Its a wonderful time of candle lit streets, strolling Christmas carolers, open houses, and live nativity scenes. What better way of experiencing this traditional Christmas setting than as a passenger on a hay ride.

Come join us for a happy Holiday Season.

Other Florida Programs

First Presbyterian Church
Oakland, FL

Oakland is a small town that is just minutes from downtown Orlando, a little north of Disney World and just west of Universal Studios.  Oakland has been a town long before Orlando was created.  The town was developed by the railroad company to serve as the community where the workers lived while they were building the rails across Florida.  Many of the historic buildings still stand among the huge oak trees and along the shores of Lake Apopka.   The old railroad tracks were removed several years ago and the land has been transformed into a long, linear park for biking, skating, running or just a nice walk.

Since many schools close the dormitories for periods of time longer than the CIH program, we allow students to arrive earlier and stay later than the CIH program dates of December 19 through January 2.  Airline flights are often higher priced if you travel during the peak time, so arriving early and staying later may allow you to save money on your travel costs.  We just ask that you let us know what schedule you prefer, so we can be prepared for your arrival.

Because you are part of a smaller group of international students, the choice of activities is varied and the schedule is flexible to what you would prefer to do, on most days.  Since you are considering Oakland as your CIH choice, you are probably attracted to warmer weather, participating in outdoor activities and visiting the local tourist attractions.

• You will have the opportunity to go to Disney World (4 parks), Universal Studios (2 parks), Sea World and Kennedy Space Center.  The cost of admission to the parks will be the responsibility of each student.  You should budget about $50.00 per day for admission to the parks.
• You may also choose to go bike riding, skating, canoeing down one of our pristine rivers, or just enjoying a walk outdoors.
• If you enjoy shopping, we have a variety of large malls, Disney shopping and entertainment complex, department stores, and grocery stores, including an area of well-stocked Asian markets
• Are you tired from all the studying?  If you prefer, you can catch up on your sleep or relax in a lounge chair on the back porch, overlooking the lake, and just enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, music or a good book.
• Many students enjoy movies, especially Disney movies.  We have almost every Disney animated movie for your enjoyment.  It is not uncommon for the students to have a few late night video parties during their visit for the holidays.

During your visit, you will be asked to prepare one of your favorite foods from you home country, to share with us and the other students.  Many students are homesick for some familiar foods, so you are welcome to prepare anything you wish to share.

We do participate in the activities of our church and encourage you to come with us so you can fully experience our family Christmas.  Through our church, you will have the opportunity to meet other students and share ideas and fun times together.

Our climate is sub-tropical, and although many winters are warm, we have cold fronts move through which cool our temperatures down.  So come prepared for temperatures as low as the 40s in the morning, to daytime highs in the 80s.

As you can see, there are many opportunities for fun, adventure and learning about new people, families and cultures.  We look forward to hearing from you soon and sharing our home with you during the Christmas holidays.  Merry Christmas!!

Other Florida Programs

Sarasota Area Christian Churches
Sarasota, FL

Arrival dates: December 19 or 20, 2002                        Departure:  January 2 or 3, 2003

Welcome to sunny Florida.  Our area churches are looking forward to sharing the Christmas holidays with you.    Our people, from different denominations, are a variety of ages and backgrounds and are genuinely interested in you as a person.  Participating in our total program will offer you a balanced time of group activities, host family time, and time with your new “international friends”.    Approximately 25 “guests” will participate in events such as Siesta Beach Picnic,  Epcot/Magic Kingdom (choice…$52.00),  Busch Gardens ($50.00),  pizza party with Jesus film, New Year’s Eve Party, and International dinner/program.    Other events of choice will be more beaches, museums, Myakka River State Park, etc.    Transportation is provided for all major events.   Entrance fees/food at theme parks/museums are at the student’s expense.   Bag lunches are provided for some events.  Famous Ringling Art Museum is free on Saturdays.   Popular International Night is where you prepare an inexpensive dish that serves many people….typical of your country.   The program is when you tell us about your country or lead a game or share your talent. 

SARASOTA is a diverse city on the west central coast of Florida….an hour south of Tampa.  Few airlines fly into Sarasota but Delta does.  This program does NOT use ORLANDO Airport; only Sarasota, Tampa, and Ft. Myers.   Immediate confirmation to the program coordinator that you will be coming to Sarasota is a must. Promptly make your plane reservations because Sarasota is a tourist area and flights fill up rapidly during the Christmas holidays.  (Please DO NOT make any travel arrangements until you have received confirmation that you have been placed into a program)  December temperatures vary between 50-75 F.

Let’s become friends, learn from each other and change the shape of our world to “heart shape”.  You will enjoy being part of LOVE IN ACTION.

Other Florida Programs

06/07/05