1.
Get a fresh perspective. When you leave familiarity behind, your eyes will be opened to new ideas, opinions and ways of thinking. You’ll be exposed to different traditions, food, and accents or languages. It’ll make you see everything in a whole new light.
2. Discover who you are. Travelling forces you outside your comfort zone and in doing so, allows you to recognize your personal values and to appreciate your own strengths.
3. Experience personal growth. Even the best trip will have its challenges. How you handle these disruptions will set you up for greater success in dealing with obstacles back home.
4. Be a chameleon. If you’re normally the life of the party, take the time to slow down and appreciate the natural beauty of the aurora borealis in Yellowknife. Or, if you’ve spent your life in a small town, cherish the feeling of being in a big city like Ottawa!
5. Learn something new. No matter if your passion is music, fashion, food or something in between, travel lets you explore the things you love outside of a familiar context. Chat with new friends about the best local bands in California, take in the innovative street style of Toronto or compare cuisines with a maritimer.
6. Make new friends. Travelling with someone, or meeting someone along the way, can be the start of a friendship that will last a lifetime. The bonus: you’ll have a go-to partner for future trips! The only challenge will be deciding between returning to Helsinki to see the midnight sun, or to Kyoto for cherry blossom season or to go somewhere completely new.
7.
See how other people live their lives. It can be amazing to witness the diversity of people within a single nation. You’ll be in awe of how unique everyone is, and also by the ways in which we are similar.
8. See a new part of the province, country or world. Whether it’s strawberry fields, tall buildings, or crashing waves that you’re after, you’ll feel humbled by the greatness of Alberta, Canada and the world by experiencing it first hand.
9. Bragging rights. One of the best parts of a trip is reliving it through stories and pictures once you’re home. While you’re away, make your friends jealous with Instagram pictures of the stunning seascape of Santa Cruz, or daring shots from atop Toronto’s CN Tower.
10. G ain an appreciation of your home. Return to Alberta with new insight of your home and its beauty. That is, until wanderlust hits and you’re ready for the next adventure!
E
ach year, 4-H offers a variety of opportunities that involve travelling within Canada as well as internationally. Opportunities for members include 4-H Canada’s Club to Club and Going Global exchanges plus 4-H Alberta’s Japanese and Finnish exchanges. There are also the various trips that are awarded to member through 4-H Alberta’s Selections, Judging and Equine Extravaganza programs. Leaders can also apply for various developmental and chaperoning opportunities. For more information, visit www.4h.ab.ca or contact Katelyn Strang with the 4-H Branch. *
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TOP 10 REASONS TO TRAVEL WITH 4-H