Rotary Youth Exchange Program

Long Term Youth Exchange Program

Spend a Whole Year Abroad

North Star Youth Exchange offers international abroad opportunities for students who meet our requirements. You can choose to participate in the program either during your high school years or in a gap year following high school.

Program Objectives

  1. To further international understanding and goodwill.
  2. Learn and adapt to another culture, while sharing your own.

CLICK HERE FOR PROGRAM INFO

You are part of the North Star Youth Exchange  What does that mean?

North Star Youth Exchange encompasses two Rotary districts (5950 and 5960), which are large geographical areas in south-central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin. The area includes the entire Twin Cities metropolitan area, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Mankato (Duluth is part of the Central States Rotary Youth Exchange program). The outer part of our districts includes Albert Lea, Hayward, WI, Alexandria, and Redwood Falls.

Throughout this area, local Rotary clubs provide this international opportunity to eager, ambitious, and inquisitive high school students — both to come to our area to experience American life, or to go abroad to one of over 30 countries around the world.

Upcoming Events

2025-26 Long Term Exchange Application will be posted here

 

Application deadline for exchange year 2025-2026 will be November 2024

  • January 2025 – Outbound Long Term Exchange Orientation #1
  • February 2025 – Outbound Long Term Exchange Orientation #2
  • April 2025 – Outbound Long Term Exchange Orientation #3
  • Location – TBD
 
Rotary Youth Exchange Program
Being a Rotary Youth Exchange Student will change your life - it is an experience like no other. Spend a year becoming a true global citizen! Exchanges are for students ages 15-19 and are sponsored by Rotary clubs in more than 100 countries. 

Excelsior Morning Rotary Youth Exchange Scholarship Fund

This applies to the 2025-2026 academic exchange year.  The objective of Rotary Exchange Programs is to foster world peace and international understanding. It is hoped that the participants will experience firsthand, the challenges and accomplishments of other countries, by living with and meeting people of different cultures.

The goal for the scholarship fund is to remove financial barriers in order for local students to experience the youth exchange program.

The Excelsior Morning Rotary Club will offer a scholarship to cover up to 50% of the cost of participation.

Be a Host Family today!

The exchange process is mutually rewarding, it will open up your world.

By Seema Tamang, Rotary Youth Exchange student from Kathmandu, Nepal
What is the North Star District?
History
Participating Clubs
What is the Area Like?
Pedro - exchange student 2019-2020

Rotary Youth Exchange Annual Report

Rotary Youth Exchange inspires young leaders to serve as catalysts for peace and social justice in their local communities and throughout the world, long after their exchanges end. This program is possible because of the dedication, leadership, and passion of the tens of thousands of volunteers — Rotary members and nonmembers alike — who make this unique program so successful.

Read the latest about how Rotary Youth Exchange is a catalyst for service, cultural understanding, and lifelong connections to Rotary.

A True Minnesota Experience - the State Fair!

Club Youth

Exchange Officer

Contact Laura Hotvet for more information on the exchange program!
laurahotvet@gmail.com
Diversity, equity, and inclusion in Rotary Youth Exchange

The primary goal of Rotary Youth Exchange is providing young people with opportunities to experience a cultural exchange and to develop as leaders who promote peace and justice around the world. To achieve this, everyone involved in an exchange — including students and volunteers — must be open-minded, tolerant, and supportive of one another. Access the guide to learn more about how to support LGBTQ+ exchange students, and how Rotary’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion statement applies to Rotary Youth Exchange.