Our team of 170 staff during the summertime is truly the backbone to the ISTC experience. Each year, we partner with international agencies and even fly across the world to bring in passionate individuals to become our coaches, counselors, and so much more. To put it frankly, we cannot be International Sports Training Camp without our international staff.
On June 22, 2020, the White House issued a proclamation suspending some J-1 visas effective June 24 through December 31, 2020, with the possibility of continuation. As many of our staff members use the J-1 visa to be a part of our camp community each year, we hope you will join us in the effort to remove international exchange programs from the proclamation come next year.
Here’s why our international staff are so vital to what we do:
- International staff members are among the world’s best and brightest. They bring a unique perspective to our campers and programs.
- International coaches and counselors bring diversity to our outdoor sports programs and prepare our campers to excel in global contexts. Plus, the different accents, stories, and sports they bring with them are what makes them so special.
- J-1 Exchange Visitor Program staff fill our unique industry needs. They help keep our camp and many others across the United States open and operating, while also bridging the workforce gap so we can provide for American full time and seasonal jobs.
- International students working in the U.S. contribute to the economy and their host communities. The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program comes at no cost to U.S. taxpayers and brings over $1.2 billion to the U.S. economy
We encourage any and all families who believe in our camp experiences to join us in preserving the J-1 Visa. Alliance for International Exchange has designated the hashtag: #SaveJ1 for camps and families to use on social media. Share your favorite ISTC photos with the hashtag and help us make a difference.
More call to action steps can be found here.
