October 17, 2022
Outbound Exchanges for 4-H Aged Youth
States’ 4-H International Exchange Programs (States’ 4-H), Kansas 4-H’s partner providing International Exchanges for 4-H members to travel abroad in 2023, were announced the first part of October. They include an 8-week and a 4-week exchange in Japan, a 4-week exchange in Costa Rica and a 4-Week exchange in South Korea. The exchanges, dates, fees, airfare estimates and eligible ages are as follows:
| Program | 2023 Dates | Program Fees* | Airfare Estimate** | Ages |
| Costa Rica | June 21-July 20 | $1895 | $800-$1300 | 15-18 |
| Japan 4-week | July 12-Aug 10 | $2,745 | $1700-$2600 | 12-18 |
| Japan 8-week*** | June 14-Aug 10 | $3,895 | $1700-$2600 | 12-18 |
| South Korea | July 12-Aug 10 | $2,450 | $1300-$2300 | 12-18 |
*Plus airfare
**Varies with departure location in U.S. and availability around March 1.
***Includes 4-wk. with a Tokyo-area host while attending language and culture classes and 4-wk. home stay somewhere in Japan.
4-H’ers experience daily life for kids near their age and see historical, cultural, and natural sites in the host country. These exchanges are managed by States’ 4-H, a non-profit supervised by 4-H in the participating U.S states. Exchanges involve traveling from a U.S. destination as a group with teens from Kansas and other states and 4-H approved adult chaperones. Financial assistance is available for those willing to conduct follow up activities.
Color flyers with details about each program and the online application link will be available on the Kansas 4-H website Global Citizenship | Events and Activities | Kansas 4-H Youth Development. The online application link may be accessed directly at https://smr.to/p84038. Applications may be submitted beyond the November 1 application date if individual are just learning about the opportunities by contacting state coordinator Mary Kay Munson at 785-375-3189 or mkm2@ksu.edu. Required Interviews and the First Orientation are November 20 in Junction City. An additional Orientation is held in Spring. However, it is important that we know who is planning to apply as early as possible, so that we can provide more information regarding the Interviews and arrange for appropriate interviewers and resource people for the first orientation.
The above information was sent to 4-H’ers 12-18 with 2022 4-H enrollment October 11. Applications for Inbound Exchanges from Costa Rica, Japan, and Norway are available now, and we would be happy to hear of families’ interests in hosting anytime. Contact Pam Van Horn pvanhorn@ksu.edu with interests in hosting Japanese junior high youth in July-August. Contact Mary Kay Munson mkm2@ksu.edu with interests in hosting Costa Rican 4-S or Norwegian 4H exchanges (ages 15-18) in June-July. Further information will be available after the first of 2023.