WELS America, Inc. was founded in October 2003 as a premium quality education program provider to the international market. WELS currently has offices in California, South Korea, Philippines and Cambodia, and plans to open offices in Thailand and Nicaragua in 2009.

WELS has four divisions - 1) Summer & Winter 2) Academic 3) College & Adult 4) Camp Highland Outdoor Science School (CHOSS) - all of which are operated and managed entirely by WELS. Each division directs programs that are very unique and distinct from one another, providing specialized services. A cultural and language-based program is offered during the summer & winter months. An academic program that is school-based is run three to twelve months during the school year, as is a fully accredited outdoor science school program. Finally a service-based college & adult program is also offered.

WELS' summer and winter programs typically run from six to eight weeks and offer unique educational opportunities for elementary, middle and high school students in some of the world's most exciting cities. WELS' innovative programs have two components.

First, they provide practical instruction necessary for daily living in North America and Europe. Real life situations such as using banks, getting around and shopping are explored through actual experience. Second, students learn to communicate in a variety of social situations as they discover the fantastic arts and cultural prospects in their chosen city. The goal at WELS is to help students become global citizens who are comfortable in any Western setting. Students attend American private schools during the program, through which they are given a taste of the American education system. They are provided with a valuable opportunity to practice and improve their English skills, and more importantly to make lifelong friendships with their classmates.

What sets WELS apart from the many English study abroad programs is quality. Security is a priority and special care is given to the safety and well-being of students at all times. WELS also puts a high premium on healthy living, offering advice to its students during their stay, providing organic meals and promoting exercise. Moreover, students participate in an array of premium arts, entertainment and travel activities, designed for education in culture and etiquette as well as for enjoyment. Through these events, students also have the opportunity to meet artists, businessmen, politicians and other prominent professionals who live and work in the city of their choice.

WELS programs are especially beneficial to students who plan to live, study or do business in North America or Europe. WELS' hands-on approach to learning helps students prepare for their stay abroad in a way that books and the classroom cannot. Through its focus on experiential learning, WELS enables students from abroad to transition smoothly to life overseas. Students gain the knowledge and confidence necessary to avoid the embarrassing mishaps that routinely befall travelers unfamiliar with the cultures of North America and Europe.

For students who are looking for a more long term option, WELS offers its Academic Program. This is an extension of the Summer and Winter Programs, lasting one school semester to a full school year, with its main emphasis and focus on academic performance and development. Students are provided with academic counselors and tutors to monitor their progress and to guide them successfully through linguistic and cultural differences.

In November 2005, the program operations team was relocated from New York to California. The reason behind this was a large percentage of WELS' clientele who had children in grade school preferred the West Coast and this relocation served to expand this area of the business.

In September 2006, WELS took over operations of Camp Highland Outdoor Science School (CHOSS), a youth program designed to bring awareness to today's environmental issues. Its mission statement is: "To provide innovative educational opportunities that will awaken individual potential, cultivate a consciousness of community, while inspiring wonder and encouraging compassion for the diversity of our world."

CHOSS is privileged to be headquartered at Highland Springs Resort (HSR) in Beaumont, California. CHOSS typically runs two to five-day programs for various local schools, offering adventure activities ranging from wildlife ecology to environmental action, and teaching science in a non-classroom setting. Students explore and learn about our natural world on site at the preserved environs of HSR.
CHOSS has helped diversify WELS and has been a wonderful addition to the company.

In 2006, WELS started its College/Adult Program. This program is innovative as WELS works with international students who wish to pursue their post secondary or post graduate studies in America. This program caters to students who want to either improve their English, obtain college and/or university degrees and/or receive the experience and expertise necessary to succeed in their chosen field of study.

WELS offers specialized curriculum for students who have a desired field of study. To help students ultimately become experts in their field, WELS offers guidance through its exclusive Job Shadowing and Career Education programs, in which students get a taste of what a particular career may entail. Students gain hands-on experience while accompanying a professional to his/her workplace, gaining insightful information while corresponding closely with professionals.

Recently, many of our clients from our past Summer/Winter and Academic Programs have been looking to enroll in American undergraduate and graduate degree programs, and are coming to us for assistance and guidance. Through their positive experiences with WELS, they have come to trust our business practices and philosophy. They know WELS will do its utmost to guarantee high quality customer care.

Our goal is to offer a full-service experience that is unmatched. WELS strives to conscientiously provide comprehensive services to its clientele, from the beginning of the admission process, to their transition to a new country, and following their progress regularly to ensure a successful and fulfilling experience.

WELS has already enrolled some of its College/Adult Program clients at post secondary academic institutions in Orange County, Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside and is looking to expand its operations to other locations in California. With a built-in client base on hand, in conjunction with unstinting marketing, WELS hopes to form strong and mutually beneficial relationships with the excellent higher learning institutions on the West Coast.

With the invaluable support of the institutions it forms agreements with, WELS looks forward to guiding its College/Adult Program clients in their search for the best education.