Youth Exchange Program

Since 1965 the Rotary Club of Lake George had been sending local students abroad and receiving foreign students in their place for a full year of study. The students, ages 16 to 19, were hosted by local families, usually 3 of them during the course of the year.

Unfortunately, due to COVID -19 the Youth Exchange program for 2019-20 was cut short and suspended for the 2020-2021 school year. However, Rotary International has decided to re-instate the program for the 2021-2022 school year. This means applications and interviews will take place in the Fall of 2020. If you, as a student, or the parent of a student, are interested in learning more, please contact Secretary Nancy Jefts at 518-744-0653. You may also contact Lake George Central School guidance counselor, Steve Preuss.

Short-term, summer exchanges that are directly family to family are also an option and a good, short-term introduction to another culture.

Over the years exchanges have been made with:

AustraliaEnglandMexico            
Ecuador
BelgiumJapanPhilippines         Bolivia
FinlandArgentinaThe Netherlands Sweden
FranceBrazilGermany             Denmark

The purpose of the program is to foster goodwill and promote tolerance and understanding for different cultures and ways of doing things. It is open to students 16 to 19 years old. They may take their Junior, Senior or immediate postgraduate year abroad. It is a marvelous chance at very little expense, to experience another culture, make friends from all over the world and learn another language fluently.