2016 QC Youth Exchange Weekend a Blast!

Posted by Gary Francque
 

   District 6420 Inbound Youth Exchange students recently got a taste of the American Holiday Season, American farming history, American family fun, and life in an Italian Renaissance home. How?

 
MOLINE - On November 19-20, 2016 seven of D6420’s inbound students participated in Quad Cities Youth Exchange Weekend, hosted by Moline and Rock Island Rotary Clubs. The weekend was a celebration of American Midwest culture and those of the students.
 
Rotary Clubs in District 6420 that participate in International Youth Exchange try to provide monthly weekend events for our inbound students that provide more opportunities to experience our culture, and also allow them to support one another by sharing their experiences.    
 
Students arrived Saturday morning in Moline and then trekked to Davenport, Iowa for the annual Festival of Trees parade, an event that headlines the traditional opening of the Christmas Holiday season in the Quad Cities. After the parade students experienced the Quad City Arts Council Festival of Trees at the Davenport River Center.  The event is a display of hundreds of extraordinarily decorated trees, holiday themed displays, holiday goodies and food, and holiday music. Students observed American holiday customs and then shared stories of the holiday traditions in their home countries.   
 
Next, the group experienced the John Deere Pavilion Museum in Moline, an extraordinary educational visitor center which daily hosts folks from all over the world. Students learned about the history of agriculture in the US and about the technology behind the farm and excavation products of the world renowned John Deere Company, based in Moline. The museum features several giant farm implements and excavation machines that are set up for visitors to try out, and there are amazing educational modules in which visitors can virtually experience operating farm implements and huge excavation equipment. Students then visited the popular John Deere Store where everything John Deere, from clothing to toys to collectables is featured.
 
Students were then treated to an afternoon and evening at the Quad Cities Family Entertainment Center in Moline, a huge family fun center. The students touted their bowling skills and enjoyed pizza in the private party bowling alleys. The competition for pins was fun, but then the real challenge was on as the group formed two teams for a raving battle of Laser Tag in the center’s laser tag arena! It proved to be an intense blast! The students finished their adventure with a free hour in the center’s huge video game arcade.
 
Later, the students and their Rotarian chaperones then retired to the beautiful Old Italian Renaissance home of Rock Island Rotarians John & Sandy Daly, where everyone enjoyed great food, games and fellowship until the wee hours of Sunday morning. The students, and Rotarians, had a great time and another opportunity to get to know one another and share their youth exchange adventure.
 
Thanks to Moline Rotary Youth Exchange team members Melinda Urban, Gretta Knight, and Gary Francque, with support from Deni McCarter, and Rock Island Rotarians Jeff Dismer, Tom Hamer, and John and Sandy Daly for providing transportation, chaperones, complimentary tickets and overnight stay for the students.   
 
See photos of Quad Cities Youth Exchange Weekend on the Moline Rotary Clubrunner web site www.molinerotary.org Select Photo Albums / 2016 Quad Cities youth Exchange Weekend.