Short Term Exchange
The Short Term Exchange Program (STEP) is a summer exchange between families. Your Outbound student lives with a foreign (Inbound) student’s family for approximately one month and then both students return to the USA where the Inbound student lives with your family for another month. STEP allows students to experience another culture, country, and language. It offers a fun learning opportunity while building lifelong friendships and broadening their horizons by increasing awareness, knowledge, and confidence.
Rotary International has sponsored youth foreign exchange programs for more than 50 years with the goal of building international goodwill and understanding. Exchanges generally occur from June through August. Some southern hemisphere countries have split-season exchanges with American students traveling in July-August and your exchange sibling visiting in December-February.
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Applications generally open in the late summer for exchange the following school year. We are currently accepting applications for travel for the summer of 2026. Application deadline: February 1, 2026.
Minimum Qualifications
Students are interviewed by their local Rotary Club/District and participate in districtwide
orientations and training. Your family becomes a Host Family while your match is
in the United States.
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For Ages 15-18 years.
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You and your parents agree to host a student for approximately four weeks during the summer (or December-February if going to southern hemisphere country). Your family is expected to arrange activities for the visiting student. Hosting costs are your responsibility.
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Apply online with the link below with an application fee of $450.00. Make checks payable to Rotary District 7670. Be thorough, as your potential matches will see most of this information and use it to decide if you are a good match for them. Contact your District Rotary STEP Chairperson, Jenny Bunn, with questions.
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Students and parents participate in interview with District Rotary club representative. Background checks are conducted on all household members age 18 and over.​
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Application deadline for Summer 2025: February 25, 2025
Cost
(Some local Rotary Clubs may offer financial assistance)
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District Program Fee - $450.00
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Cost of obtaining a passport (see local post office). Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your return home.
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Rotary travel/medical insurance. Cost is less than $5 per day.
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Round trip airfare
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Spending money
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Hosting costs for when match is with your family.
