How to Get Started with Experiences Canada as a Parent, Teacher, Group Organiser or Youth

Experiences Canada is a national registered charity that arranges reciprocal youth exchanges, forums, conferences and other opportunities for young Canadians to explore the country. The fastest way to get started is to use the homepage selector tool: choose who you are (Group Organiser, Parent, Teacher / Youth leader, or Youth) and what you are looking for, then follow the path it takes you to. Group exchanges are offered for youth aged 12 to 17 and their chaperones, and Experiences Canada states that it covers all group travel costs from your community to your twin group.

Start with the selector tool

The homepage includes a short selector that asks two things:

• I am a: Group Organiser, Parent, Teacher / Youth leader, or Youth
• Looking for: the option that matches your goal

After you submit those choices, the tool takes you to the relevant section of the site. This is the intended entry point for all four audiences, so it is worth using before you dig through menus.

What each role can do

Group organisers and teachers / youth leaders

If you are organising a group, the site gives you two direct actions on the homepage:

• Apply for an Exchange — the application path for a group exchange.
• Fund an Exchange — the path for supporting an exchange financially.

Experiences Canada describes itself as Canada's leading service provider for youth exchanges and says it arranges travel and programming for thousands of young Canadians each year. Exchanges are reciprocal: your group is twinned with another group, and Experiences Canada covers all group travel costs from your community to your twin group. The stated age range for participating youth is 12 to 17, and chaperones travel with the group.

Teachers and youth leaders also have access to Learning Resources — curriculum-based interactive lessons that examine topics relevant to today's youth. These can be used alongside or independently of an exchange.

Parents and youth

For parents and youth, the two main options are Exchanges and Youth Forums.

• Exchanges are group exchanges for youth aged 12 to 17, with chaperones, and all group travel costs from your community to your twin group are covered.
• Youth Forums bring together youth from across Canada to explore current issues facing Canadian society. Experiences Canada describes them as a safe, inclusive space for learning outside a classroom setting.

Youth can also use the Learning Resources directly.

A concrete example of what an exchange looks like

Experiences Canada's site describes a ski exchange between Nakkertok Nordic (Ottawa, ON) and Bulkley Valley Nordic (Smithers, BC). With funding and support from the Experiences Canada Youth Exchange Program, the two cross-country ski clubs took part in an exchange across the country in winter. This shows the model in practice: two groups in different parts of Canada are twinned, and the exchange is built around a shared activity.

Background: what Experiences Canada is

• A national registered charity.
• Launched in 1936, previously known as SEVEC, and celebrating its 90th anniversary.
• Arranges travel and programming for thousands of young Canadians annually through reciprocal exchanges and youth events.
• Focused on helping young Canadians explore the country's history, culture and geography.

Common questions before you start

Who is eligible? The site states group exchanges are for youth aged 12 to 17 and their chaperones.

Does it cost anything? Experiences Canada states it covers all group travel costs from your community to your twin group. The site does not list other fees, so check with Experiences Canada directly about anything beyond group travel.

What if I am not sure which path fits? Use the selector tool first — it is designed to route each role to the right place.

Where do I go if I want to support rather than participate? Use the Fund an Exchange action on the homepage.