Meredith Rotary Club hosts weekend adventure for exchange students

MEREDITH — The Meredith Rotary Club recently sponsored a weekend of fun and adventure for 11 Rotary Youth Exchange students from Rotary District 7870, which covers much of Southern Vermont and Southern New Hampshire.

The students were from Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, Germany, Japan, Netherlands, Paraguay, Peru, Romania, Spain and Venezuela. Students in the Rotary Youth Exchange Program spend the entire school year with host families in the United States.

In early October, students met their weekend host families at the Meredith Bay Village Great House function room in Meredith, during a dinner provided by the Meredith Rotary Club.

Saturday, Oct. 7 began with a trip to the Squam Lake Natural Science Center. At the center, the group enjoyed a bag lunch, compliments of George’s Diner. Then they attended the Sandwich Fair, compliments of the Sandwich Fair Association. Their busy day ended at Funspot, where each student was provided a $20 gift certificate, compliments of the Meredith Police Department.

Students also spent much of a day at Gunstock Mountain Adventure Park, enjoying the zipline, aerial tree top adventure, chair lift and mountain coaster. Lunch was provided by the Gilford Rotary Club.

Events such as this are rewarding experiences for both the students and host families. The Meredith Rotary club is seeking students who wish to participate in the long-term or short-term exchange program and host families who are willing to host a young adult for half of a school year.

For more information, visit exchangestudent.org/ and portal.clubrunner.ca/2942/page/youth-programs.

Those interested in being a long-term Rotary Youth Exchange student during the 2025-26 academic school year, a short-term exchange student during the summer of 2024 or hosting a student during the 2024-25 academic school year or beyond, contact Dean Gulezian at 603-677-7172 or 631-235-8654 for more information.

Throughout the years, The Meredith Rotary Club has donated more than $2.9 million into the Lakes Region community for charitable projects, area improvements, scholarships and for individuals and families in need.

For additional information, visit meredithrotary.org.