Short Term Exchange Information

Applications for the summer of 2024 are NOW CLOSED. Check back in December 2024 for the summer exchange 2025.

All candidates and families must be fully vaccinated against Covid 19.

The Short-Term Exchange Program (STEP) is a short-term summer exchange between families. The student lives with a foreign student’s family for approximately one month and then both students return to Canada where the foreign student lives with the student’s family for another month. In some cases, the foreign student spends the first month with our students, and then both travel overseas for the next month.

The program needs students and parents as a team who are committed to spending the Summer with their exchange experience. You can find more information below.

You must be aged 15 to 19 years and may have graduated from high school.

Timeline

Your initial interview will be held before March 15th - If accepted, all application materials must be submitted as requested no later than April 30th.

An orientation is held for students and parents in April or May. You should expect to have been matched with your family by May at the latest.

Travel

Travel arrangements are the sole responsibility of the families involved and the travel arrangement preferably should be done through a travel agency, however, it is not necessary. You will need to coordinate the travel with the family abroad.

You will be expected to host the incoming student for the period they are in the country.

Finances

If accepted into the program, there is a $300 deposit payable which does include orientation(s) and Rotary administration fee. This program is fully funded by the student and their parents. We estimate costs to be around CAD 3,000 to take part in the program which includes:

Return airfare
Insurance
Spending Money

Countries

If you are accepted, you will be asked to select countries that you might like to exchange with. Countries with whom we exchange change from year to year. Most often we can exchange with European countries such as Spain, Italy, Germany, France, Belgium, and The Netherlands.

Your Family

Your family will be required to go through an interview and home visit by the Sponsoring Club. In addition, if the student is successful, all persons living in your home will be required to go through a full volunteer screening, which includes an application, references, and a police background check that includes a "vulnerable persons" check.

Training will also be provided to families accepting the exchange.

Contact RYE Committee by email: Click Here

CLUB MEMBERS: For Club Documents regarding Youth Exchange, login to District 5360 website - www.Rotary5360.ca, Member area - Organization/District Committees/Standing Committees - password required