4-H seeks hosts for Japanese youth and adult chaperones

The Montana State University Extension is looking for Montana families to host Japanese students and chaperones for a summer cultural immersion program.

According to a university press release, families hosting youth can be located anywhere in Montana and should have a child at home who is between the ages of 9 and 18. Families hosting chaperones do not need to have children in the home or may have children of any age.

The Japanese youth will know some English but are not fluent. The purpose of the program is for both the family and their guest to enjoy cultural immersion while learning from one another, according to Stephanie Davison, citizenship, sustainable communities and international programs coordinator with MSU Extension and Montana 4-H.

The university is looking for host families for 25 Japanese youth and two adult chaperones from July 22 to Aug. 17. The youth and their chaperones are part of an international exchange program with the Labo International Exchange Foundation and with LEX, or Language Experience, Experiment and Exchange.

The application deadline for host families is May 15. To apply, go to states4hexchange.org/apply/host/ or contact Davison at 406-994-3502 or sdavison@montana.edu.