In June 2020, a group of nine or 10 high school students led by Rotarian leaders will depart for a two-week adventure in northern Japan.

It’s called Wings of Rotary and is an annual trip to part of the Tohoku region identified as Rotary International District 2520.

The trip, started over 40 years ago, is a district-to-district short-term youth exchange.

It is between Rotary International District 5750, which encompasses the northwest quadrant of Oklahoma, including Kingfisher, and Rotary International District 2520, north of Tokyo including the Sendai region of Japan.

High school students interested in the adventure need to be freshmen or sophomores (although juniors will not be barred), complete the application and submit it to the Wings committee to be considered for selection.

The cost of the trip is $2,600, which includes airfare, high-speed bullet train, medical travel insurance and luggage.

Some scholarships are available.

Japanese Rotarian clubs provide hospitality, including homestays, meals, tours and all other travel.

The team will leave in June from Oklahoma City, fly to Tokyo, and experience two weeks of Japanese culture and the Japanese people, experiencing homestays with Japanese Rotarians.

They will see the sights, experience the people, feast on the cuisine, and attempt to create lifelong friendships and memories.

“This truly is a trip of a lifetime,” said David Reid of Cushing, past governor for District 5750 and a member of the Wings of Rotary committee. “Team members will develop bonds with fellow team members that will last forever while making Japanese friends and memories they’ll cherish forever.”

In March 2020, District 5750 in Oklahoma will greet the Japanese Wings Team at Will Rogers World Airport and host them throughout this district for two weeks.

The Oklahoma Outbound Team will have the opportunity to meet and become friends with the Japanese Team while in Oklahoma and then see them again when visiting their country.

For more information and to download an application, go to the Rotary District 5750 website at www.rotary5750.org under the “Committee” tab near the top and select “Wings of Rotary.”

There will be photos of recent exchanges.

Applications must be received by Dec. 1, 2019.

Interested students and parents can always contact their local Rotary Club for information and assistance.