Students from South America, Europe and Asia came north to visit the Keweenaw Peninsula and to celebrate fellowship in the Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) program.
President’s Day weekend marked the return of the RYE Winter Weekend to the Houghton Rotary Club. Thanks to an inquiry by Houghton High School Alumnus and District 6490 RYE Chair Doug Schwalm, the Rotary Clubs of Houghton and Marquette worked together to revive this great winter tradition. The Houghton High School Interact Club (including 2024 August Outbound Illya Velat) and Equipment Loans of the Keweenaw provided invaluable support and joined in the fun.
Inbound RYE students from Brazil, Italy, Thailand, Austria, and Argentina, along with members of the Houghton High School Interact Club gathered in Houghton on Friday, February 16 for a weekend of winter sports and friendship. In spite of an unusually snowless Copper Country winter, Heikki Luntta smiled upon our event and we received 18 inches of snow just in time for the weekend! Students enjoyed tubing at Mont Ripley, Sled Hockey at the Dee Stadium, Curling in Calumet, Snowshoeing at McLain State Park, and a Pizza and Bowling party on Sunday night.
Plans are already being made for next year, when we will expand the event to include as many District 6220 RYE students as possible and reach out to partner with the Hancock and CLK Rotary Clubs.
The warm bonds of international friendship that were made this weekend will last a lifetime!
