Longmont Sister Cities had to take a break from traveling when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Since 2019, the organization has been able to send a few delegations but never has it been able to visit all three sister cities in the same summer. In the coming year that will change.
Longmont Sister Cities is looking for chaperones for the 2023-2024 student exchange. The organization is looking for two chaperones for each sister city, which includes Chino, Japan, Cuidad Guzman, Mexico and the Northern Arapaho of the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming.
Applications for chaperones are available online and are due on Sept. 30.
Chaperones will be selected in the weeks following and their first duty will be to help select the student ambassadors for the upcoming year, according to Courtney Michelle, spokesperson for Longmont Sister Cities.
Chaperones are trained by Longmont Sister Cities to work with up to eight students. Travel expenses are reimbursed by the organization. Chaperones must be at least 21 years old.
Applications are also available for students currently in the eighth through eleventh grades within the boundaries of the St. Vrain Valley School District. Students do not need to be enrolled in SVVSD but do need to live within the district’s boundaries, Michelle said. Applications are due on Oct. 31.
Longmont Sister Cities hosts its monthly meeting on the second Thursday of each month in the Longmont City Council Study Room adjacent to the Longmont City Council Chamber Room. The next meeting will take place on Sept. 14 at 6:30 p.m.
The Sept. 14 meeting is an opportunity for interested parties to listen to the meeting and ask questions about being a chaperone, student ambassador or volunteer.
The nonprofit is looking for volunteers to help in Longmont. According to Michelle, there are board seats available along with other volunteer opportunities at home.
