Overview

Japanese Summer Inbound

Japanese youth from the LABO program come to Idaho for a one-month stay in the home of a host family. The dates are usually mid July through mid August. The timing provides a great opportunity for the LABO students to experience fairs and maybe even to participate with a demonstration about their country! We receive information sheets on the Japanese youth and one adult chaperone in February. Host families are expected to have a child of the same gender and within two years of the age of the student they host. The most successful exchanges match the interests of the host sibling with the Japanese student. Chaperone host families may be any family willing to take a Japanese adult into their home for two weeks. The chaperone stays with two host families in separate parts of the state in order to be available for the maximum number of Japanese students. It is important to identify interested families early in order to ensure compatible matches. Host families will get a $200 credit for their children to visit Japan on the Summer Outbound program in the future.

Japanese Summer Outbound 

The best way to truly appreciate another culture is by living in that culture. The 4-H International Exchange program presents that opportunity to 4-Hers through the LABO summer outbound program. 4-Hers from 12 to 19 are eligible to travel to Japan in the summer, stay with host families, and participate in a one-week camp with other exchangees and their host siblings.

4-Hers have the option of visiting Japan for four or seven weeks. The seven-week program participants will depart in early June and the four-week program participants will depart in early July. All participants return home in early August. The approximate cost is $2650.00.  We also have a 4-H Endowment scholarship for outbound delegates.  There are also many ways to raise funds for such a worthwhile experience. We have developed an outbound packet that we can send to Idaho 4-Hers who have expressed interest. If you know of 4-Hers in your county who may be interested, have them contact the State 4-H Office. Applications and a $100 deposit for this program are due by March 1, and the entire program fee is due by June 1, so it is important to identify interested 4-Hers early in order to help them find the support they need for this program.

Japanese Year-Long Inbound

We also participate in a high school exchange program with the LABO and LEX programs in Japan. Japanese high school students come here and attend the local high school for a year. They arrive in late July and depart in June. This is a great chance for families to share their lives with a Japanese teenager. Host families for year-long delegates can claim an income tax credit for the months that the youth is living in their home. Host families for high school students will receive a $1000 credit for the Summer Outbound program.