4-H exchange seeks host families

MAT-SU — Alaska families have an opportunity for cultural exchange this summer, thanks to a program through the Alaska Cooperative Extension 4-H.

The Cooperative Extension Service of the University of Alaska Fairbanks is seeking host families for the 2011 LABA Japan-Alaska youth exchange. Deadline to apply is April 1. The Japanese youth delegates will be in the Anchorage/Kenai/Mat-Su areas July 21 through Aug. 19.

Delegates stay with one family for the four-week exchange, and become part of the family for that period. That may include in-state vacations and youth camps, if those are part of host families’ plans.

Each host family must have a child age10 to 16 who is willing to be a host sibling. The family will be matched with a delegate of the same gender and similar age and interest as the family’s own child.

This is the 40th year for the program. For more information, people may visit a local 4-H office, visit online at states4hexchange.org or contact Tony Nakazawa (atnakazawa@alaska.edu; 786-6300) or Marianne Kerr (mlkerr@alaska.edu; 460-0825) at the Anchorage CES office.