West Virginia Lions Youth Camps & Exchange

06/08/2021

With the pandemic restrictions coming to an end we are looking forward to our 2022 exchange season. We have students ready to travel and look forward to hosting students in West Virginia (WV). It is a beautiful state with lots to see and do. Host families are looking forward to meeting you and learning about your culture and if course you. Until next summer, stay safe and have good year.

03/15/2021

March 15, 2021 - To date our WV students have been closed out of travel to Australia, Italy and Japan for the summer of 2021. I am still waiting further information from France, Poland and Spain.

03/26/2020

Due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 17, 2020 our WV Lions Council of Governors voted to cancel our Youth Exchange program for the summer of 2020. This was done
out of the concern for exposing incoming and outgoing youth and their host families. Many countries are also canceling their Youth Exchange programs.

To our youth in WV, we will be starting our program in September 2020 seeking youth who would like to participate in the WV Lions Youth Camps & Exchange program.

The application period will start on September 8, 2020 and the filing deadline will be November 13, 2020. You may get an application from your high school counselor or at the WV Lions Multiple District website: http://wvlions.org/youth.html. Also, watch for an announcement in your hometown newspaper during the month of September. Until then, stay healthy and we will look forward to hearing from you.

Seeking Host Families WV Lions Youth Exchange Committee is seeking families to host a foreign exchange student. The exchange students' stay will be from late June to the beginning of August.

09/11/2018

05/31/2018

As of today we have 5 students traveling abroad from WV and we will host 7 students from abroad. Our WV students are traveling to Japan, Italy, Germany and Finland. Our students from abroad will be coming from Japan, Italy, Germany and Finland. Our host families are located in Romney, WV, Augusta, WV, North River Mills, WV, Gore, VA, High View, WV and Capon Springs, WV.

All of the students are excited about their upcoming adventures as are the host families. We would like to say thank you to all of the host families on both sides of the big pond for without them none of this would be possible.

02/02/2018

The West Virginia Lions Youth Camps and Exchange program is a travel scholarship program provided to youth aged 16-21 through the generous donations by the Lions Clubs of WV. This is a cultural exchange program that provides WV youth the opportunity to travel to countries around the world.
To apply a student may contact the counselor’s office of their high school, any Lions Club or though this page in order to receive an application. The application process runs from September through mid-November each year. Applicants will be invited to attend an interview by a panel of educators and Lions. The number of scholarships available is dependent on funding received through the year. Winning applicants will choose the destination country of their choice. The scholarship funds generally cover transportation costs, passport cost and other minor expenses.

Travel is for a 4-6-week period and will involve a homestay with a host family and may involve attendance at a youth camp. The host family is a critical component of the Youth Exchange program. Without a host family there can be no program. As we in WV send our students abroad we in turn host students wishing to come to WV.

We invite you to consider opening your home and sharing your time as host family and provide an opportunity for a youth to come to the US and experience the American lifestyle in WV. It is not necessary to have children in the home. As a host you will be the parents of the youth who will be a guest in your home. There must be an adult available to be with the youth as you don’t want to leave them alone and unattended through the day and evening.

You will involve your guest in everything you do and take them with you everywhere you go. You will expose them to local community activities, clubs, church and family events. You will want to take them to places of interest. They are a part of your family.

We hope you will consider our invitation to host an exchange student. Don’t be afraid to encounter an experience that will forever change your life. For more information contact:
Henry Krautwurst, WV Lions Youth Camps & Exchange – Chairman - [email protected]

02/01/2018

Welcome to the WV Lions Youth Camps and Exchange page. This page is being presented to highlight the activities and share information regarding this program.