LONG TERM OUTBOUND CANDIDATE  PREPARATION FOR EXCHANGE

District 5100 provides comprehensive pre-exchange training. Rotary volunteers spend a minimum of 12 days with each student prior to their departure. During the events held on these days, YEOs are observing your student’s reactions to a variety of situations and events planned to help them learn what to expect in their exchanges. When appropriate, suggestions designed to improve their chances of success are made to the students. Some YEOs hold additional training for students going to countries they are responsible for at times not listed on the District Schedules. These sessions are also very important to the success of the exchange. Because of the opportunities for enrichment provided to the students by this program, we, the members of the District Committee, have allowed our own students to participate. As experienced youth exchange parents, we can help answer many of your questions prior to, during, and following the exchange.

Most of the members of the District Committee have often served as host parents to a large number of students from around the world. We ask that Rebound Students attend a two-day debriefing retreat following their exchange. This event is used to highlight ways to improve the programs and aid in the ‘second exchange’ the students are then experiencing.

Outbound Candidate Required Training Events

Attendance at the October Application Seminar (3 hours) (LTEP, STEP, and LTEP ALTERNATES) is STRONGLY ENCOURAGED, but not required.

The following training events are REQUIRED for Outbound Candidates from District 5100.
  • November/December In-Home Training (2-4 hrs) (LTEP and LTEP ALTERNATES and Parents/Guardians)
  • January Outbound Orientation (2 ½ days) (LTEP, STEP, and LTEP ALTERNATES)
  • January Outbound Parent Orientation (1 day) (LTEP, STEP, and LTEP ALTERNATES Parents/Guardians)
  • Eastern Oregon Trip & Outbound Orientation (5 days) (LTEP Students and Inbound Students)
  • Final Outbound Parent Orientation (1 day) (LTEP Students and Parents/Guardians)
  • District Conference (4 days) (LTEP Students and Inbound Students)
  • Rebound Event (1 day) (LTEP Students)
Following is a brief explanation of the information covered at our Training Events:
  • November/December In-Home Visits
    • Program Description and Rules of Exchange
    • District 5100 Program Structure
    • Student Preparation Process
    • Program Costs and Travel Arrangements
    • Student preliminary identification of regions of interest, Asia, Latin America, Europe)
    • Identification of Exchange Country parent restrictions (if any)
  • January Outbound Student Orientation
    • Meet District Committee
    • Small Group Sessions on various topics
    • Discover program characteristics and learn teamwork
    • Learn about available exchanges at Country Fair
    • Rebound Student Panel sharing their experiences.
    • Identification of current Exchange Country choices
  • January Outbound Parent Orientation
    • Meet District Committee Members
    • Country Fair for parents to learn more about available exchanges.
    • Rebound Parent Panel
    • Small Group Sessions on a variety of topics
    • Time ask questions of District Committee Members
  • Eastern Oregon Trip – Outbound Orientation
    • Meet Inbound Students
    • Spend a day skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing
    • Visit Eastern Oregon venues
    • Final chance to identify Exchange Country choices
    • Students notified of Host Country assignment
    • Training session with a country officer and inbounds after country selection
    • Begin learning host country’s language and customs with the Inbound Students
  • Final Outbound Parent Orientation
    • Combined with Rebound Parent Orientation
    • Meet experienced exchange parents
    • Discuss possible issues facing returning students and families
    • Meet with the assigned Country Officer
  • District Conference
    • Speech Contest – Required five-minute presentation – From the LTEP group, 2 to 4 students will be selected to present at the District Conference.
    • Talent Show – Optional – presented as part of the District Conference on Friday night.
    • Service Project
    • Country group activities
    • Flag Ceremony at District Conference
    • Students introduce themselves at the District Conference in English and the Language of their Host Country.
    • Meet Rotarians who make this program possible
  • Rebound Event (REQUIRED)

Rebound training occurs in August of the year of return. Additional optional events may be held by Rotex throughout the year.

D5100 YEC recognizes that the families and students participating in the LTEP program lead very busy lives. Owing to the nature of youth exchange, we insist that all OBC and their Parents commit to attending the events listed above. Each one is different and provides a progressive training/learning experience designed to improve the student’s chances of success in a very challenging adventure. As volunteers, we commit a large portion of our lives to this program and feel that none of the time students spend at our events is wasted, even if the students do not immediately understand the purpose of the event.