Host Families Sought For International Musicians Planning Mokena Trip

MOKENA, IL -- An international group of young musicians will make their sixth trip to the Lincoln-Way area in September to take part in an exchange program, and residents of the area are being asked to volunteer to offer them room and board. The BigBand and Choir of the Markgrafler Gymnasium in Muellheim, Germany will have a trip centered in Mokena from September 6-9.

“Any way we can learn about other cultures and share how we do things in America is a great chance to start an ongoing connection,” said Dee Block of Mokena, who has organized the group’s trips, part of a program of the Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan, to the area ever since they began 17 years ago in 2000. “It’s the sharing of the goodness of who we are that is so rewarding.”
Block said there are 60 kids planning to make the trip and that they will be paired at least two to a room.

“But some families have offered to take 4, so right now we are really looking for an additional 10-12 families to take them in for a few days,” Block said, noting that host families do not need to live in Mokena but that many of the activities will be centered there.

“We’ve had families in Orland, Tinley, New Lenox, Manhattan, Frankfort and even some folks from Joliet,” Block said.

The students are all between 15 and 18 years old and are non-smokers.

The “hub” of the trip will be the St. John United Church of Christ in Mokena, where the bus will drop off. Activities for the group will take place in downtown Mokena, with a day to spend in the city of Chicago planned as well.

“In doing this with many groups over many years, there have been no difficulties,” Block said. “The kids are all truly marvelous.”

Interested families should contact Block at deeblock@aol.com or by phone at 815-603-8679 before Labor Day.

Block says families who have taken part in this endeavor in years past have developed longtime friendships with the students they have hosted.

“Sometimes the students will come back to the United States after they get married and seek out their host families,” she said. “It’s a strong connection.”

Here’s a schedule of events planned for the group:

Sept. 6: Arrive at O'Hare Airport, Arrive at St. John's

Sept. 7: Free day. Guests can remain with their hosts, visit the mall, etc. Will meet at 4 p.m. at St. John's for a light snack with a performance at St.John's at 7 p.m.

Sept. 8: Meet at the Mokena Station for the 8:36 a.m. The train leaves the Hickory Creek Station at 8:41 a.m. train to LaSalle Street/Chicago station. Free day as designated by Director Mandel. At 6:15 p.m., depart from LaSalle. Arrive at Hickory Station at 6:59 p.m. and Mokena Station at 7:03 p.m. The evening is free with the host family.

Sept. 9: Leave back for Germany.