Student Participant Report

Lions Clubs and Youth Exchanges

By Brad Crosson

Thirty years ago the Lions clubs of Sweden invited young people, ages 16-22, to attend the world’s first Lions international youth camp. The gathering fulfilled the first object of the Lions: to foster international understanding among the peoples of the world.

Today about 100 Lions youth camps are organized annually in about 40 countries. Lions invite approximately 20 young people to attend each camp. Activities range from singing in the Austrian Alps to overnight boat trips on the Aegean Sea.

Most international youth campers also become Lions international youth exchangees. As an exchangee, young people ages 15-21 experience another culture by living in the home of a Lions-sponsored host family and participating in their daily activities.

Local Lions clubs sponsor local youth for participation in the programs. Travel arrangements are made by district-level Lions youth exchange chairpersons.

Transportation expenses may be paid by the sponsoring Lions club, from district funds, by the participant, or by any combination of these three.

Each year, about 2,200 Lions clubs sponsor about 2,500 exchangees. Arrangements can be made between Lions clubs in any of the more than 192 countries in which Lions clubs exist. To learn more about the Lions International Youth Camp and Youth Exchange Programs log on to www.lionsclubs.org/EN/index.shtml, or contact your local Lions club or Lions Clubs International headquarters at 630-571-5466, ext. 323.

BRAD CROSSON is a senior at Purdue Univ. studying aerospace engineering. In 2003 he participated in the Lions Sea and Soil Youth Camp in Denmark.