YMCA Youth Exchanges Canada

Giving Canadian youth the experience of a lifetime.

YMCA Youth Exchanges provides groups of youth 12 to 17 years of age with the opportunity to explore Canada while learning leadership, communication and teamwork skills. Youth work together on community projects, and have the opportunity to make new friends while discovering the history, geography and diversity of Canada.

The YMCA Summer Work Student Exchange is a unique national exchange program that brings together youth from various communities across the country. Participating youth, aged 16 and 17, have the opportunity to improve their second official language skills, and gain important employment experience through a work placement while on their exchange.

Within local participating communities, other community partners such as exchange hosts, employers, our summer staff and the community at large also both contribute to the program and benefit from participation.