Following the success of last year’s international youth exchange to Germany; I am pleased to report that the RLSS will be welcoming lifesavers from Kaufbeuren to the UK in August 2012. Sixteen young lifesavers from RLSS UK will join sixteen members of the DLRG (the German Lifesaving Association) for a week long programme of activities from 15-22 Aug 2012 inclusive.
The exchange will start in Bournemouth where we plan to spend a few days playing team-building games, learning beach lifeguard skills (including open-water swimming, beach sprints, lifeguard patrol skills and how to use specialised rescue equipment) and taking a tour of the RNLI’s training facility in Poole. We’ll then travel to Bristol, which will be our base for the second half of the week. We’ll spend time with each of the three branches that make up the RLSS West Region: sightseeing, getting to know each other, and taking part in lifesaving and cultural activities together.
The aims of the exchange are to:
- Learn about the work of RLSS UK, the RNLI and the DLRG.
- Develop international friendships and learn about life in Germany and the UK.
- Develop as lifesavers and as young adults.
UK participants will be directly involved in organising and planning every aspect of the exchange from fundraising to the programme of events. To help us to prepare, we’ll be running two planning days in the Bath/Bristol area on Sun 13 May and Sat 14 Jul (UK participants should make every effort to attend at least one of the planning days). We’ll also set up a Facebook group to allow the UK & German participants to get to know each other before the exchange.
The exchange is open to RLSS members aged 13-18 (if you’re not already an RLSS member you can join for just £9.50). The total cost of the exchange is just £180 per person (or £220 if you want a personalised hoody as well) which includes food, accommodation, travel, activities, and attendance at the training days in the UK before we depart.
Should you wish to reserve a place on this trip please complete the consent form (see link, below) and return it by 3 Jun 2012 with a cheque for £180 (or £220 if you want a hoody as well) made payable to The Royal Lifesaving Society. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. For those who have arranged to pay by installments, the final balance must be paid by 15 May 2012.
If you have any questions, or would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
David “Blondie” Fielding
Downloads…
1) Here’s the application form and poster for this year’s exchange…
2012 International Youth Exchange Application Form (PDF, 213 KB)
2012 International Youth Exchange Poster (PDF, 314 KB)
2) We need instructors willing to teach a range of beach lifeguard skills whilst we’re in Bournemouth. We’re also appealing for willing volutneers to help prepare breakfast and lunch at the beach. If you think you can help, please fill in and return this form…
2012 International Youth Exchange Request For Helpers (doc, 1.6MB)
3) Here’s the report from last year’s international exchange to Germany so you can see what we got up to…
