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 Lions
Youth Exchange Program - MD37C Online Resource Center
WE NEED YOU .. to consider being a host
family! Local families needed to host youth age 15-21 in July 15-28th,
2002 and/or August 3-16, 2002 .. just before and after they attend our
Waterton, Alberta Leadership Camp. You need not be a member of the local
Lions club (although we will come interview you as part of the approval
process) and we will arrange additional group activities as required during
the hosting period. One parent must be in or near the home with the student
during the entire stay. For more information contact a member of the Magrath
Lions Club or read up on the experience:
[ Rules | Thoughts
| Host
Family Guide | Application
Form | Past Successes | Questions
] |
- Update Jul 13, 2002: All students seem to have been assigned host families!
Thank you for your interest and help! In Magrath this year 'Dor' a male 18
from Israel will be hosted Jul 16-28, 2002 thanks to our friends:
Dave and Bonnie Clark Family.
Each year several Incoming Students ages 15-21 from other Lions countries are
hosted by local club members and select host families for two weeks before and
two weeks after attending the MD37 Waterton Leadership Camp. Your local Lions
club may also choose to sponsor Outgoing Youth Exchange (YE) students to
participate in corresponding programs in many countries. The exchange
students and volunteer host families need not be Lions club members to
participate, but must be selected and approved by the local clubs, as they will
serve as ambassadors for the home club and home country. Lions Club
International has promoted the Lions Youth Exchange Program for over 40 years
involving youth from throughout the world. The MD37C Youth Exchange Committee
Co-Chairmen for 2002 are Lion
Kimberly Lyall of the Lethbridge Coulee Lions Club and Lion
Kim Donais of the Redcliff Lions Club.
For more information please contact:
 2002
Basic Application Form [ PDF
| XLS
]- 2002 Countries Available [ PDF
| DOC
]
- 2002 Host Families Poster [ PDF
| DOC
]
- 2002 Host Family Application [ PDF
| DOC
]
- 2002 How to Find YE Student [ PDF
| DOC
]
- 2002 How to Interview YE Students [ PDF
| DOC
]
- 2002 How to Sponsor [ PDF
| DOC
]
- 2002 MD 37 Application [ PDF
| DOC
]
- 2002 Sample Interview Questions Canada [ PDF
| DOC
]
- A Collection of Thoughts for a Good Youth Exchange [ PDF
| DOC
]
- Related Lions Club International Publications:
- YE-102
Host Family Guide
- YE-1402
Youth Exchange Host Family Application
- YE-101
Exchange Visitors Guide
- YE-1401
Youth Exchange Visitor Application
If you are interested in volunteering as a host family, or have a student to
be considered for sponsorship,
please contact a local Lions club member or one of
the co-chairmen above for more information.
Past Successes [ top
]
 My
Story: Lion Roger Davies - "My good wife decided years ago that hosting
exchange students would be a great way to expand the minds of my then 4 now 5
young daughters. Our first two hosting experiences were through NACEL Canada,
before I ever heard about Lions. Our latest three visitors were arranged
through the Lions Youth Exchange.
- In 1991, Anne Sophie of Paris, France stayed with us for 4
weeks. She was 16 then while my oldest daughter was just 11. In spite of the
age difference, we all had a great time touring around, attending family
reunions up north to Cold Lake and down south to Waterton .. after adopting
her as an unofficial new big sister.
- Two years later, 1993, we hosted Chrystelle, age 15, of Paris, France for 4
weeks. She was just older in age than my girls and enjoyed just spending quiet
family time at home. However, at the time we had just moved to small town
Magrath and with all our furniture in storage, we hosted while house sitting
first at my wife's sister's home for two weeks and then while house sitting at
my sister's home. In spite of the moving confusion, it all worked out fine in
the end.
- In 1995, we were asked by the Magrath Lions Club to host Mayu of Osaka,
Japan, age 15 for 3 weeks. My oldest daughter was the same age as her that
year. We were interested to note the cultural differences between them -
especially in study habits (she brought along all her homework so she wouldn't
get behind) and sleeping differences (she tended to cat-nap when sitting or
driving about). We enjoyed a great final barbeque along with all the other
youth exchange students, hosted by Lion Gail Witherspoon of Lethbridge.
- In 1997, my mother had joined the Lions Club and agreed to host a 21 year
old student, Vivian from Germany. We ended up sharing the hosting duties over
the 2 week visit along with my mother (who lived just a block away). Vivian
spoke English very well and we attended some group Lions events. One highlight
was an approved visit with us up north to the West Edmonton Mall water and
theme park.
- And finally, in 1999, while I was mostly away working in the states, my
wife agreed to host Antonia, age 15, of Austria for 3 weeks. She fit right in
with my other girls and spent alot of time in group activities around town
with all their friends. Swimming everyday at the local pool, bridge jumping
with friends, learning rope climbing out on the Jensen Dam cliffs (as part of
the youth group who were preparing for a caving activity next year). When I
returned, we spent the last week travelling around Southern Alberta a bit to
see the mountains in Waterton, the old fort at Ft. MacLeod, and Head
Smashed in Buffalo Jump.
In spite of all the different personalities, we enjoyed each of our summer
visitors and have grown as a family from spending time with each one of them.
The difference in age does not seem to matter much, it all seems to depend
mostly on our mutual attitudes. We seemed to have the most fun when we just did
normal family activities in the local area. So, just go out and have fun!
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