The purpose of the Host Family Program is to facilitate informal friendships between alumni, faculty, administrators, other friends of Harvard College, and first-year students. To accomplish this goal, the program matches a member of the Harvard community with a student (or two) and encourages periodic communication, interaction, and meetings. The Host Family Program offers four events throughout the academic year for hosts and their students, but what happens beyond these activities is up to the pair. Examples of activities shared by hosts and students include attending Harvard and professional athletic events, apple picking, visiting a museum in Boston, or enjoying dinner at a local restaurant.