Youth Exchange Update District 5040

Outbound Orientation: May 11- 13 at Quest University, Squamish.  13 Outbound students with parents, 16 Inbounds, 9 Rotex and 12 District YE Committee members attended.   We also had a visit from DG Hans on the Sunday morning.   The outbound students have gone to Belgium, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands and Taiwan.

District Conference: May 18 – 20 at the RiverRock, Richmond.  Our 16 Inbound students were involved in the flag bearing at the opening ceremony and entertained us with a great skit later in the program.

Between Outbound Orientation and District Conference, our seven Inbounds from the North enjoyed some sightseeing in the Lower Mainland, including the mining museum at Britannia Beach, a bike ride around Stanley Park, Vancouver Aquarium and some shopping, all in beautiful sunshine!

Students were billeted while in Vancouver – thank you to all those involved.

B.C. Tour:  From June 29 to July 21^st, ten of the 2011-12 Inbounds went on this annual camping tour, organized by Dave Bradley with support from drivers Jerry and Janet Wager.  The first stop was the Williams Lake Stampede with the students and our DG Rebecca participating on the Williams Lake Daybreak Rotary Club float in the Saturday morning parade.   After wards the students enjoyed the rodeo as well as the steak BBQ organized by the Williams Lake Rotary Club.   Students were billeted for two nights by local Rotarians.  On Sunday morning they set off on the tour visiting Blue River, Jasper, Golden, Fort Steele, Christina Lake, Manning Park, Vancouver, Victoria, Port Alberni, Texada Island, Sakinaw Lake, Pender Harbour and back to Vancouver.  Most students then flew back to their home country within the next day or two.

STEP (Short Term Exchange Program): This exchange is organized by our District STEP Chair, Liz Scott.   10 students participated from our District in this two week exchange during the summer with families in 8 countries (Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, and The Netherlands).   Clubs involved with this were: Burnaby Metrotown, Prince George, Prince George Nechako, Tsawwassen, and West Vancouver Sunrise.

Tweedsmuir Trek: August 17 – 23.  This is the 27^th annual camping trip organized by the Burns Lake Rotary Club, in particular Leone McHugh, the club YEO.  Six of our 2012-13 Inbounds were able to attend as well as three local youth.   The students are taken by boats to a remote camping site in Tweedsmuir Park where they enjoy fishing, swimming and incredible scenery.   These students have just arrived in Canada, not all with English language skills!

Rebound: August 24 – 26 at Cottonwood House near Quesnel.  Fifteen newly returned students with some parents, some Rotex and some District YE Committee members, will get together to relive some of the students adventures in their YE year, and talk about some of the challenges they and their parents may have now that they are back home (“Reverse Culture Shock”).

Inbound Orientation: September 14 – 16 at Gavin Lake near Williams Lake.  Our 13 Inbound students, some Rotex and District YE Committee members will discuss the rules and regulations of being a Rotary YE student as well as enjoying the time to get to know each other.

Next Steps: Now that we are off and running with the 2012-13 YE programs, it is time to look ahead to the 2013-14 exchange year.   Since clubs need to select an Outbound students by mid October, the YE Chair needs to know which clubs will be participating so that exchanges with countries can be set up.  This requires clubs sending two forms (Club Agreement, Appendix C, and Certification of Compliance, Appendix A) to the YE Chair by mid-September.  Clubs who sponsor an Outbound student MUST host a student.  If a club is unable to find a suitable candidate to send as a Rotary YE student, they may still host a student.  A second choice student from another club can act as their sponsored student

Petrie Neave
District 5040 YE Chair