Welcome Parents & Guardians!
Embarking on an Experiences Canada exchange is the adventure of a lifetime for your child. Through this unique, reciprocal homestay program, youth between the ages of 12 and 17 will travel to another province or territory, discover Canada’s rich history and diverse cultures, and build lifelong friendships.
As a parent or guardian, you are a foundational part of your child’s exchange journey. Your involvement, support, and enthusiasm contribute to the safety and success of each youth. Your Group Organizer and the Experiences Canada team are here to support you every step of the way.
Why Say Yes to an Exchange?
Sending your child on an exchange is about so much more than a week away from home. It’s an investment in their personal growth, confidence, and understanding of the world. By stepping outside the traditional classroom, youth are given a rare opportunity to experience learning in the real world.
Here’s why parents across the country say yes to an Experiences Canada exchange:
Firsthand Experiential Learning
Instead of just reading about Canadian history, geography, or culture in a textbook, your child will see and experience it live.
Language and Cultural Immersion
Whether they are participating in a bilingual exchange or exploring a community with a different lifestyle, youth expand their cultural horizons and build an authentic appreciation for diversity.
Life Skills & Personal Growth
Navigating a new environment, staying with a host family, and collaborating with peers build self-reliance, leadership, and adaptability.
Lifelong Connections
This program uniquely pairs youth with a peer from another province or territory. The bonds created during an exchange can turn into lifelong friendships that span across the country.
Your Role & Key Responsibilities
An exchange is a team effort involving youth, Group Organizers, families, and Experiences Canada. To ensure a smooth experience, parents are asked to be actively engaged in the following ways:
Be Part of the Planning: Attend all mandatory group information sessions hosted by your local Group Organizer and take part in group preparations, which may include fundraising events to help cover local activities and transportation costs.
Complete Required Forms & Deadlines: Fill out and submit all required participant documents, medical forms, and registration fees on time.
Host Family Screening: Because many exchanges include homestays, safety is our top priority. All host families must successfully complete a screening process. Every adult (18+) living in your household will need to provide a clear police record and vulnerable sector check.
Communicate & Support: Stay in regular contact with your Group Organizer and build a strong connection with your child’s twin family before the travel dates arrive.
Share Your Feedback: Once the exchange wraps up, both you and your child will complete a post-exchange survey to help us continue improving the program for future youth.
How We Support Safe Exchanges
At Experiences Canada, your child’s safety, security, and well-being are our top priorities. Every adult (18+) living in a host family household must complete criminal record and vulnerable sector checks, and all chaperones are thoroughly vetted before approval. Each travelling group is accompanied by at least two screened adult chaperones aged 21 or older, with a minimum ratio of one chaperone for every ten youth. We also collect detailed medical, health, and emergency contact information for every participant to ensure their needs are understood and supported throughout the exchange. Additionally, our dedicated 24/7 emergency support line gives chaperones and Group Organizers direct access to our team whenever unexpected situations arise. With multiple layers of safety measures in place, you can feel confident that exchanges focus on discovery, friendship, and unforgettable learning experiences.
Frequently asked questions
Host Family Tips
- Introduce yourself and let your twin youth know how you would like to be called
- Be open and communicate
- Call their family and introduce yourself
- Give them a tour of the house
- Let them know about your laundry schedule
- Give them your meal time schedule
- Review the week itinerary so everyone is aware of morning wake up time and afternoon schedule
- Review the pickup and drop off schedule
- Meal plan for the week-discuss allergies, food preferences, times
- Make the youth feel comfortable and part of the family
Preparing your youth for Travel
- Be open to new things — explain to your youth that there twin may speak a different language and eat different foods, encourage them to be open and try new things!! Trying new things will build their awareness for diversity and support their appreciation of differences
- Establish a schedule on when to check in with you when they are on the exchange
- Encourage them to communicate with their twin family
- If they are homesick or if something is bothering them, encourage them to speak about it right away with their group organizer or host family
- Pack appropriate clothing for weather-speak to your twin family for tips
- Provide spending money, during the exchange there may be time for youth to shop
