Rotary District 5220 offers students the chance to spend several weeks during summer 2012 in our short -erm youth exchange program. Most exchanges are family- to- family. For example, one of our students will go to Germany for 3 weeks and stay in a family with a child of similar age and gender.  Our student will return with that child for 3 weeks in California.

Students that want to go abroad but are unable to host a student can go to Germany or Brazil.  Families that want to host students but are unable to send can host Germans.

How much does the short-term exchange cost?

Basic food and lodging expenses are provided by the host families.  Students are responsible for airfare, medical insurance, and spending money, which we estimate will run about $1,500.  (Given current conditions it is difficult to estimate airfare cost for summer 2012.)  There is an administrative fee of $400 per student, usually covered by the sponsoring Rotary Club.  The fee allows us to host each foreign exchange student at Yosemite National Park from 7/29/12 – 8/1/12.

Who is eligible?

Rotary’s traditional Youth Exchange program is open to students ages 15 to 19.  Interested students must complete an application, be interviewed and agree to abide by Rotary’s established standards and guidelines for safety.  Students will be interviewed and notified of selection within one month of applying for the program.  Early application is encouraged, final application deadlines depend upon the program.   There is also a program with Brazil for young adults 18 to 25 years of age. 

Who qualifies?

Students must live, work, or go to school in Rotary District 5220, which includes 55 clubs and more than 2,300 members in The Northern San Joaquin Valley and Mother Lode.  The district ranges from Galt to Madera and Oakhurst to Angels Camp, including Yosemite National Park.  It includes San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Madera, Calaveras, Mariposa, and Tuolumne counties.  Exceptions are allowed for students in Rotary districts, who are members of WESSEX,

How do I apply?

First, fill out the short-term exchange application.

Applicants will need to attend a District level interview and the Host family and Host home are required to be visited by a Rotary member.

More information on specific programs is shown below:

Germany

This family to family exchange program has been running successfully for many years.  Students will go to the southwestern corner of Germany, which includes the beautiful rolling hills of the Black Forest, Lake Constance, and the lower Rhine River valley.   An advantage of this location is that students will have the opportunity to visit neighboring countries such as France, Switzerland, and Austria.  Students will travel together to and from Germany with an adult chaperone.  They will stay in family homes, except during a four day break at a youth hostel, where all students will participate in group activities.   Knowledge of the German language is not required for this trip.   Students can participate in this trip without hosting and families can host German students without sending a student.  Our students go to Germany from June 30 to July 21, 2012.  They return with their German exchange students on July 21, 2012.  The Germans leave for home on August 11, 2012

Application deadline for Germany: April 15, 2012

England 

Our partners are in East Anglia, which includes cities such as Cambridge, Norwich, and Ipswich.  This region is to the north and east of London and includes gently rolling hills, forests, farmland, and marshes known as the Fens.  This is a family to family exchange.  One challenge is that English students don’t get out of school until mid-July, which means that the host student might be in school for a week during the exchange.  An advantage of going to England 2012 is the London Olympics. 

Application deadline for England: February 29, 2012. 

Italy

This family to family exchange program is in Northern Italy, around the City of Milan and the lakes, hills, and mountains of the Alps.  It is a prosperous and historical region with great natural beauty.   This is a popular program and students are encouraged to apply early.  Knowledge of the Italian language is not required for this trip.   Once students are matched they set exact dates for the trip with the exchange family.  Normally they go to Italy in July and return with their Italian exchange students for the first three weeks of August.  Students wanting to go to Italy should apply as soon as possible as this increases the possibility of finding a matching family. 

Application deadline for Italy: February 29, 2012

Denmark

This is a pleasant country of beaches, hills, forests, and islands.  You are never far from a lake or the ocean.  Summer days are long due to its northern location.   Students are not expected to know Danish as English is a mandatory school subject for Danish students.  This is a family to family exchange program.  Once students are matched they set exact dates for the trip with the exchange family.  Normally they go to Denmark in late June and return with their Danish exchange students in mid to late July.

Application deadline for Denmark: February 29, 2012

Spain

Student’s applying for the family to family program with Spain must have studied at least a year of the Spanish language.  Spain is large and students could end up being matched with a family anywhere in the country.  Once students are matched they set exact dates for the trip with the exchange family.  Normally they go to Spain in July and return with their Spanish exchange students in August.  Students wanting to go to Spain should apply as soon as possible as this increases the possibility of finding a matching family. 

Application deadline for Spain: February 29, 2012

Brazil

Students go to the region around Curitiba, Brazil for three to six weeks during the summer of 2012.  Exact dates would be set by the sending families and the Rotarians in Brazil. This is a one way visit to Brazil.  Our students stay with families.   Curitiba is the capital of Parana state and is the largest city in Southern Brazil with a population of approximately 1.8 million.  Brazil is available for students 15 to 19 or young adults 18 to 25. 

Application deadline for Brazil: March 31, 2012

France

Rotary District 5220 does not offer youth exchange to France.  Instead, if you are interested in France, we recommend that you apply to a program run by Modesto Sister Cities International.   This is a family to family program, though participating families are not required to host French students if they are unable to do so.  Prior study of the French language by participating students is encouraged but not required.  Students will be placed in La Mayenne, which is located in the Pays de la Loire region south of Normandy and east of Brittany.  Students go to France for the last 3 weeks in June, the French students come to California in July.   For more information please visit www.modestosistercities.com/yexchange/index.htm.

Other Countries

If you prefer to go to a country not on the list, please let us know.  We will consider whether or not we can try to find you an exchange there.  If you want to do this please apply as early as possible.

Application deadline for other countries: February 29, 2012.