How to Start a Youth Camp and Exchange Program

1
How to Start a Youth Campand Exchange Program
2009 Lions Clubs International ConventionMinneapo
lis, Minnesota, USA July 9, 2009
2

• Moderator
• Lion Debra Wasserman
• International Director
• Presenters
• Lion Christopher Knag
• YCE Chairperson, MD 104 Norway
• Lion José María Fernández
• YCE Chairperson, District O 3 Argentina

3

• Part I
• YCE Program Overview
• Lion José María Fernández
• YCE Chairperson, District O 3 Argentina

4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
YCE Program Numbers
1961 190 15 - 21
1974 100 39 16 22
7
Youth Camp and Exchange Types

• 1. Exchanges
• Can be arranged in hundreds of countries and
  geographic locations where there are Lions clubs
• Last between 4 - 6 weeks
• Participants (ages 15 -21) stay with one or
  more host families in another country

8
Youth Camp and Exchange Types

• 2. Camps
• 1-2 weeks long
• Bring together young people (ages 16-22) from
  around the world
• Usually include a family stay that lasts between
  1-4 weeks
• More than 100 Lions camps in about 40 countries
  are held every year
• Camp activities include visits to places of
  cultural or natural interest, sporting events and
  country presentations by camp participants

9
Examples of Youth Camps
Camps have been held in rural and urban settings,
college dormitories, hotels and even on sailboats!

• Massachusetts, USA, camp for young people with
  diabetes
• Winter camp in Canada for youth from the Southern
  Hemisphere
• Arctic camp sponsored by the Lions of Norway
• 10-day sailing camp around Finland
• Camp for young people with physical disabilities
  located in Italy

10

• Sound of Music camp for musicians and vocalists
  held in the Austrian Alps
• Cruise from Moscow to Saratov down the Volga
  River
• Outdoors camp held in New Zealand
• Cultural camp in Thailand which featured a visit
  to the Grand Palace
• Nature conservation camp in the Republic of South
  Africa

11
YCE Program Objectives

• To bring young people into meaningful contact
  with youth and adults of other countries.
• To share family and community life of another
  culture.
• To promote international understanding and
  goodwill throughout the world.
• To develop leadership potential in outstanding
  youth.
• To encourage respect in young people for the
  thinking of others.
• To work toward the goals of world peace and human
  understanding.

12

• YCE participants will
• Live with a family in another country.
• Meet people their age from around the world.
• Learn about the bonds we all share  and the
  differences we respect in each other no matter
  where we live.

13
All YCE participants must

• Be between the ages of 15 and 22.
• Be sponsored by a Lions club.
• Have basic knowledge of the language spoken in
  the host country.
• Be qualified and ready to represent their
  community, sponsoring Lions club and country.
• Have an open attitude to explore and accept new
  customs and new cultures.
• Provide proof of insurance (health, medical,
  travel) and a liability release agreement.

14
Program Costs

• Costs of arranging a youth camp or exchange are
  the responsibility of the host Lions club.
• Host families agree to provide lodging and meals
  for the young person.
• Travel arrangements and costs (fares, insurance,
  airport fees, customs duties) are the
  responsibility of the sponsoring Lions club.
• In accordance with board policy, any camp fees
  must be nominal and used to meet specific aspects
  of the cost of organizing the camp.

15
Program Requirements

• Exchanges are not to be considered a holiday or
  conducted for the purpose of formal education,
  employment or career advancement.

• 2. All Lions International youth camps include
• The word "Lions" in their official titles
• A minimum one-week program
• Participation of young people from different
  countries
• Activities consistent with the program's
  objectives

16
Camp Activities

• Visits to places of historic, industrial,
  educational, scientific, religious or natural
  interest
• Visits to the homes of representative families
• Structured group activities such as folk dancing
  or flag presentations
• Non-political, non-nationalistic discussions
  concerning world issues
• Physical activities such as team sports
• Quiet, relaxing activities

17
Duties of YCE Chairpersons

• Comply with all LCI board policies concerning the
  Youth Camp and Exchange Program.
• Inform potential participants about the Lions
  International Youth Camp and Exchange Program.
• Start communications between an interested
  sponsor club and a host club.
• Ensure the host club screens all host families
  and provides orientation to host families on the
  objectives and requirements of the program.

18

• Ensure that YCE applicants are screened by the
  sponsor Lions club prior to their acceptance into
  the program, and given orientation once accepted.
• Communicate travel arrangements, insurance and
  indemnity requirements, and other needs to all
  involved parties in a timely manner.
• Take appropriate measures to prepare for possible
  emergency situations.
• Ensure applicants and arrangements are in
  compliance with board policies.

19
Starting a YCE Program in Your District

• Study current information and board policies
  related to the program.
• Inform youth (ages 15-22) about the program.
  Starting with your Leo club members is a good
  place.
• Promote the program online and in district or
  national meetings during workshops and seminars.
• Invite youth to participate in the program.
• Contact other YCE chairpersons for ideas and
  suggestions.
• Host an orientation meeting for participants and
  families.
• Comply with all formal procedures.

20
End of Part I
21
Part II Starting a YCE Program in Your
District Lion Christopher Knag YCE Chairperson,
MD 104 Norway
22
Case Study How MD 104 Started a YCE Program

• We first sent youth to camps and exchanges in
  other countries to see how they were organized.

2. When they returned, the youth compiled and
presented a report about their experiences for
our clubs YCE committee.

• 3. We then set up our own youth camp program
  and chose a camp leader who happened to be a
  student who served as a delegate to one of the
  youth camps.

23
Case Study How MD 104 Started a YCE Program
Important Questions to Consider

• How long should the camp be?
• We decided to have a two-week camp and one week
  with a host family.
• Overseas students were offered a family stay for
  two weeks.

• 2. Who should be responsible?
• The responsibility was, of course, the Lions
  club.
• During the camp, Lions had an office near the
  camp.

24
Case Study How MD 104 Started a YCE Program

• Important Questions to Consider
• 3. How should the program be organized by a
  district or multiple district?
• Appointment of a YCE chairperson for each
  district. In Norway we have 10 districts, and
  each district has its own YCE chairperson.
• Development of a MD YCE Committee. The committee
  consists of the following members the MD YCE
  chairperson and two program chairpersons,
  including an overseas chairperson and a European
  chairperson.

25
Case Study How MD 104 Started a YCE Program

• MD 104 YCE Chairperson
• Responsibilities
• Reports to the Council Chairperson and the MD
  Board of Directors.
• Is responsible for all camps and for planning
  five years ahead.
• Is the contact person for all students coming to
  Norway.

26
Case Study How MD 104 Started a YCE Program

• MD 104 Program Chairperson Responsibilities
• Ensure that all students are qualified to be
  representatives of their Lions club and their
  country.
• Make contact with representatives in countries
  where we are sending students.
• Review all applications before they are sent to
  different countries.
• Order tickets and make all travel arrangements
  for the students.

27
Case Study How MD 104 Sustains Their YCE Program

• MD 104 YCE Planning
• Plan five years in advance.
• This means each district is responsible for one
  youth camp every other year.
• Each district is responsible for the financing
  and running of the camp.

28
Case Study How MD 104 Sustains Their YCE Program

• MD 104 Camp Finances
• A budget is created two years in advance.
  Usually, the amount is divided by the total
  number of Lions members in a district.
• If the camp has unanticipated expenses or loss of
  income, we have a multiple district account where
  they can apply for supplemental funding.
• The budget has to be approved by the MD YCE
  Committee in advance.

29
Case Study MD 104 AIM Program
AIM Aid in Meeting A Norwegian youth camp in
Uganda? Why not?
30
Case Study MD 104 AIM Program 2007
31
(No Transcript)
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
(No Transcript)
35
(No Transcript)
36
(No Transcript)
37
Question and Answer Session
38
For More Information
Official LCI Web site http//www.lionsclubs.org Y
CE Program http//www.lionsclubs.org/EN/our-work/y
outh-programs/youth-camp-and-exchange/index.php Y
CE Directory http//www.lionsclubs.org/EN/common/p
dfs/yce_directory.pdf YCE Application
Form http//www.lionsclubs.org/EN/common/pdfs/yce1
401.pdf