• Provided by the Friendship Force Clubs of  Cedar Rapids/Iowa City, and Central Iowa.

22 spaces available

• Ambassador Application

• Immerse yourself in early agriculture at the Living History Farms and within the Amish community.
• Marvel at the wonders of modern farming--tour the scientific research facilities transforming agriculture and the world’s food supply and the World Food Prize Hall of Laureates honoring those revolutionizing our planet’s food production.
• Stand in the room where American Gothic was painted and begin to understand the connection between agriculture and art.
• Experience traditional gardening, art, and a friendship Pow Wow at the Meskwaki Indian Settlement.
• View various art collections, interact with artists, and make your own artwork.

Description: Want to immerse yourself in the development of Midwestern agriculture and nurture your creative spirit with diverse and complementary art? Two clubs in America's Heartland have partnered to provide you an exchange that will do that!! Iowa is the home of some of the largest collections of world-class contemporary art outside major US metropolitan areas. Iowa's diverse cultures show how creativity can produce many forms of art and help to feed the world. Your journey will follow food from seed to table. You’ll even get a chance to learn from a chef how to prepare some of Iowa's food. The exchange will be topped off by a day at the Iowa State Fair where agriculture and art come together in celebration of our ways of life. Many new friends, who if cultivated will last a lifetime, await your arrival.

• Provided by the Friendship Force Clubs of  Niagara, Stratford-St. Mary's and North Bay.

• 5 spaces available
  

• Ambassador Application

• Majestic Niagara Falls, the famous Bruce Hiking Trail and Canada’s prettiest town, Niagara-on-the-Lake. 
• The beautiful Thames River and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Stratford-St Marys 
• Toronto, home of the newest Friendship Force club in Canada, and the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere
• North Bay, a caring community of energetic, high-spirited people

Description:  Join us on this “mini discovery of Canada.” We will begin with stopover visits of 3 nights each in Niagara and Stratford-St Marys, 3 nights hotel stay in Toronto, and a week-long home stay offered by the FF of North Bay.

There is so much to do and see in each of these cities, while making friends along the way, including the Shaw Festival and tour of Niagara Falls including Maid of the Mist, beautiful museums of Toronto, visit to Mattawa outside of North Bay-natives of the area. We plan to attend the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, and in Toronto: Royal Ontario Museum, Harbourfront, one of North America’s largest recreational waterfronts, and possibility of numerous historical sights.

• Provided by the Friendship Force Clubs of  Lethbridge and Flathead Valley.

• 13 spaces available
  

• Ambassador Application

• Lethbridge, a city that boasts 320 days of sunshine every year
• The Oldman River valley
• High Level Bridge - the longest and highest operational train bridge of its kind.
• Flathead Valley, situated west of the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains
• Flathead Lake, Big Mountain, Glacier-Waterton and International Peace Park, and many exciting cultural and outstanding recreational opportunities

Description:  The Friendship Force of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada and the Friendship Force of Flathead Valley, Montana, USA are welcoming you to spend a week with each of our clubs.
Lethbridge is located in the southwestern part of the province of Alberta, a one-hour drive away from the Alberta-Montana border.  Surrounded by flat prairies, our city has a population of about 85,000 and is growing steadily. Agriculture and associated industries and services are the mainstay of the economy. Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump World Heritage Site is fairly close by for a day trip as well as the historic town of Fort Macleod, Alberta. Attractions in the city include: Fort Whoop-Up, Galt Museum and Archives, and Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden.  Additional information may be found at: http://www.exploresouthwestalberta.ca/index.asp.  Our program will include a welcome reception, assorted day trips, a supper hosted by a non-hosting club member, and a farewell dinner. Come visit us and experience prairie hospitality.

Flathead Valley is beautifully situated in the northwest corner of Montana, just west of the Rocky Mountains and 65 miles south of the Montana-Alberta border. Notable towns include Bigfork, Kalispell, Polson, and Whitefish. In addition to the lake, the area's proximity to attractions such as Whitefish Mountain Resort and Blacktail Mountain Resort and Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park has made this area a major tourist destination. Many outdoor activities can be pursued such as hiking, backpacking, rafting, canoeing, skiing, hunting, and some of the best trout fishing in the world. Additional information may be found at: http://www.fcvb.org/abouttheflathead.php. Our program usually includes a welcome get-together, a visit to the Conrad Mansion, a local museum, Whitefish Big Mountain ski resort, a trip to Glacier Park, etc. and a farewell party.  We look forward to having you experience our mountains and valleys!

• Provided by the Friendship Force Club of  Whidbey Island.

Waiting list.
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• Custom Ambassador Application
• Health and Mobility Information

• Take a whale watching tour on the Salish Sea
• Explore saltwater tide pools with a trained steward to identify species
• Experience Pacific Northwest birdlife with Audubon guides
• Catch mountain flora and fauna on film in Olympic National Park

Description: Under the guidance of trained stewards from Washington State University’s Beach Watchers program, guests will wander an island beach and search tide pools teeming with Pacific Coast sea life:  sea stars, anemones, barnacles, sea urchins, mussels, Dungeness crab and more.

Our local whale watching tour boat captains know just where to find those orca (killer) whales among the islands of the Salish Sea.  Along the way you may spot California and Steller sea lions or elephant seals as well as our resident porpoises plying our waters in search of salmon.

Knowledgeable guides from Whidbey Audubon Society will help you find and identify native water birds: loons, grebes, cranes, blue herons and see a bald eagle as well as sight western coastal songbirds.

At Hurricane Ridge in Olympic National Park you can walk a trail for possible sightings of mountain goats and deer.  The park’s milk-vetch (legume plant), Mazama pocket gopher and Olympic marmot, mud minnows (fish), Beardslee and crescent trout are found nowhere else on earth.

So pack your camera, bring layered clothing for our unpredictable Pacific Northwest weather, and don’t forget your binoculars.  You’re in for the nature treat of a lifetime.  Your Whidbey hosts will welcome you with a sampling of our northwest foods, our western hospitality and all the Friendship Force trimmings:  welcome and farewell dinners and northwest latte land cultural experiences, all wrapped up in the tranquility of our rural island setting.

NOTE—this does not include a sightseeing trip into Seattle downtown.  That costs $80 per person more.  Also, please note that ALL ambassadors MUST have good ability to understand the English language.  They would not enjoy the interpreted walks and explorations if they don’t understand English.  And they MUST be able to walk 2 miles in uneven terrain.

• Provided by the Friendship Force Club of  Canadian Capital Region and Winnipeg.

• 6 spaces available
  

• Ambassador Application

• Winnipeg: See Fort Whyte Nature center, home to thousands of migrating waterfowl, with nature trails and interpretive centers.
• Visit “The Forks” historic area with walking tours, shopping, the St. Boniface French quarter, and the Canadian Human Rights Museum.
• Ottawa: Tour some of the unique neighborhoods in Winnipeg.
• Visit the Canadian Parliament Buildings, the Governor General Residence, and the Museum of Civilization
• Take a day outing to Montebello and the wildlife Parc OmegaExperience both English and French Canadian cultures
• Both Cities: Enjoy the beautiful Canadian fall colors

Description:  We expect an exchange packed with interesting and exciting adventures!  We will begin in Winnipeg, the capital of the province of Manitoba.  It is located in the plains area of Canada and is near many areas of natural beauty and wildlife.  It has a mixed population, including French-speaking and Native communities.  We will visit a nature preserve and view waterfowl roosting in the evening.  We will also explore the city of Winnipeg, including the area where the Assiniboine and Red rivers meet – “The Forks”.  Our hosts will provide a mix of group activities and free time.

Ottawa, the Canadian capital, has many sites of historic interest, as well as government buildings.  It is situated on the border between the provinces of Ontario and Quebec, resulting in a mix of English and French cultures.  FF Canadian Capital Region is a French-speaking club.  We will have an official welcome by the City of Ottawa.  A highlight will be a group dinner at one of the college culinary schools.