Academic Year Program (AYP)

Unlike shorter exchanges, which offer brief glimpses into other cultures, spending a year abroad provides you with an opportunity to understand another culture on a deeper level.

This immersion experience allows youth to develop self-awareness and to consider their own world-view from a new perspective. Participants grow their leadership skills, independence, initiative and ability to navigate new and challenging experiences on their own. Students return to the USA with a new appreciation for America and their host country.

While States’ 4-H does not offer a year-long abroad program, our two partners in Japan offer year-long programs for different age groups.