Not a holiday.
A chapter of your life.
Westbound is a cultural immersion program for European teenagers aged 14 to 18. For one full year, you become part of an American family and attend a local high school. Not watching from the outside: you’re in the hallways, on the team sheet, and in the yearbook like everyone else.
Whether you’re chasing a sports scholarship, want to sharpen your English, or just crave an adventure that actually means something, Westbound puts you there.
Every placement is personal. We match you with a family that fits your lifestyle, a school that fits your goals, and a spot somewhere in America that feels like it was made for you.
Five steps to
going west.
Apply
Fill in a short form and we’ll reach out within 48 hours. No stress, no commitment, just the first step.
Preparation
We give you your homework. Research, paperwork, and everything you need to get ready. We guide you through every step.
Info evening
You and your parents come to our info evening. Everything on the table: what to expect, what to pack, what America is really like.
Meet your new life
Your host family. Your new city. Your school. We introduce you before you fly so day one already feels like home.
Fly out
Bags packed, boarding pass ready. Your American year starts the moment you land.
The moments
you’ll never forget.
Own the game.
Varsity sports & scouting
Try out for a varsity team, train with a real US program, and get seen by college scouts. Most schools offer 10+ sports to choose from.
Own the stage.
Drama, music & more
Join the school musical, marching band, or choir. American high schools run full arts programs most Dutch schools simply don’t have.
Own the culture.
Homecoming to prom
Pep rallies, homecoming, spirit week, prom: the full high school experience you’ve seen in every American movie, for real.
Own the adventure.
A whole new world
Weekend road trips, a new state to explore, and a host family showing you their America. A year of firsts, start to finish.
Your shot at a
US scholarship.
American college coaches scout high school programs. Playing a full year in the US system is the most direct path to getting noticed, and funded.
Host families
we trust.
300+ Local Coordinators
Every region in the US has its own coordinator on the ground. Families are never paid: they host purely to give back. Each one is screened yearly through home visits and interviews.
Close to Your School
Your host family lives inside the school district. You take the bus or carpool to school and practice like every other kid on the team.
Full Support Included
24/7 local support, full insurance coverage, after school support, and a quarterly check in. A coordinator is always within an hour’s reach for anything that comes up.
One price.
Everything included.
- Application preparation & guidance
- Guaranteed school placement matched to your sport
- Host family placement & matching
- High school tuition & enrollment
- Full insurance coverage
- Visa & paperwork support
- Prom & graduation included
- 24/7 Westbound support on the ground
Not included
Everything else is covered in the €16,950. These are the only costs you arrange and pay for yourself before departure.
- Visa appointment & English tests
- Flight tickets
- Monthly personal allowance
- A gift for your host family
Something Dutch, like stroopwafels, Delft, or a book about the Netherlands. Your host family is giving you a home. A small gesture goes a long way.
Backed by real
experience.
Westbound is backed by Slamstox, with over 10 years spent opening doors to the US for ambitious young people, and more than 2,500 students already placed successfully. With Westbound, we lean on that same experience, our strong team, and a deep knowledge of the US market.
Together, that track record and network make Westbound the most reliable route for young, ambitious kids to live their dream year at an American high school.
Straight
answers.
What age do you need to be?
Westbound is open to students aged 14 to 18. You need to be within that range at the time of departure. We place students in schools appropriate for their grade level.
Do I need to speak English fluently?
No, you need a working foundation, but immersion does the rest. Most students are conversational within 6 weeks. That growth is part of the program.
How are host families selected?
All host families are screened, interviewed, and checked at home by our US partner network. We personally match each student to a family based on lifestyle, sport, and interests, not just geography.
Will my Dutch school credits be recognised?
We help with the credit transfer process and work with your Dutch school before you leave. Most schools cooperate, and we guide both you and your school through it.
What if something goes wrong while I’m there?
Slamstox is reachable 24/7 for students and parents. We have local US contacts in every state we operate in. No student has ever been left without support.
Is a US sports scholarship realistic for my child?
It depends on level, sport, and effort, and we’ll be honest with you about that upfront. What the Athlete program guarantees is the right exposure, the right profile, and the right conversations with coaches. The rest is earned on the field.