Traveling abroad can be exciting and daunting. Will I understand the language and be able to speak some of it? What will the food be like? Will the experience and people live up to my expectations?

A wide variety of questions and opportunities filled the minds of the participants in the inaugural library exchange program between the Nederland Community Library and the ZB Library in Zeeland in The Netherlands. In fact, these two libraries launched a Sister City Library partnership in 2022.

Nederland Library Director Elektra Greer shared that they wanted to partner with a library in The Netherlands “since it’s our town’s namesake and it’s a leading global powerhouse in sustainability initiatives, something of great interest to our mountain community.”

Greer continued, “The Nederland Community Library’s International Sister Library student exchange was designed to provide our library youth with a global learning experience culminating in an overseas homestay program in The Netherlands. We believe it gives our Nederland-area youth the opportunity to be ambassadors for our community and to develop 21st century skills necessary to take on today’s global challenges.”

Greer admitted that there were quite a few bumps in rolling out a new program. Many libraries in Europe facilitate student exchange programs throughout Europe, so they have experience and knowledge of such programs. In the US, while there are many opportunities for international student exchange programs, public libraries rarely take the lead. “Our Nederland Library team wanted to try to change that,” said Greer. She added, “Our Nederland and Dutch families were amazing hosts and were key to the program being a success.”

The primary goal of this student exchange was for Nederland library youth to have a global educational and leadership experience. The American and Dutch students worked together remotely for months on how to educate youth and families about how global misinformation and disinformation affects climate policies. The summer travel and exchange portion was the culmination of a year of the students’ working together.

Students in the Nederland area were selected for the program in the Fall of 2023 through an application and interview process. Eleventh, twelfth and gap year students could apply. From July 1 to July 11, 2024, Nederland hosted seven Dutch students and four library chaperones. From July 11 to July 21, Dutch families hosted seven Nederland students and two library chaperones.

The seven Nederland students were Eliza Brundege, Ben Weber, Ezekiel Fitzer, Maeve Dufton, Olive Strum, Evie Gustafson, and Ruby Gustafson. The two travel chaperones from Nederland were Shayna Beckham and Austin O’Pry.

The seven Dutch students were: Jed Cimanez, Isis Heijens, Victoria Liplijn, Maya van Es, Aiden Simon, Ivana van der Wilt, Roel Verstraeten. The Dutch chaperones were Bjorn de Nooijer and Shammie Ritoe and the Team Leads were Jeanine Naerebout and Danielle Dominicus.

Jeanine Naerebout feels the experience has been a great success. “We look back at a very successful project and unforgettable experience for the kids in both Nederland and The Netherlands, I think. It was really amazing that we could organize this as sister libraries.”

Shayna Beckman shared, “Adventure awaits, go find it! I made memories that will last a lifetime. What a truly eye-opening experience. I saw pretty things, learned a bunch, and met beautiful people. Remember not all classrooms have four walls. Definitely left my heart in The Netherlands.”

Eliza Brundege thought it was amazing to spend time with Dutch students and learn about their culture. She added, “I am also glad that we got the chance to see presentations about important issues about climate change and misinformation.”

Olive Strum said that through the library exchange program she got to travel and live with a Dutch family and experience Dutch culture first hand. “I made lifelong friendships and connections, and now I will always have a Dutch sister!”

Maeve Dufton remembered the sense of excitement and adventure they all felt when their plane landed in Amsterdam. “One of my favorite memories is riding down cobblestone streets lined with houses from the 1600s to buy fresh pastries at the market. Dutch and American teenagers have a few things in common – a love for good pastries and a frustration with politics. I will never forget the friendships and memories we formed in both Colorado and The Netherlands.”

Austin O’Pry said that he was very impressed with the friendships that developed with the students. “They had been in contact for roughly six months prior to the exchange through texting and Zoom, but when they finally got to meet they became fast friends. Something I will never forget was, during the first day together we were having a BBQ and without any prompting they all had gotten together and started playing slamball. From the smiles, laughter, and just general happiness in being together, I knew then that the exchange was going to be a success. Playing a part in fostering these lifelong friendships made my involvement in this program very rewarding not only for myself but for everyone involved.”

Scarlett Ponton de Dutton is a Nederland Community Library board member. She believes that this was a learning experience “truly extraordinary and exquisitely crafted, programmed, and executed by Elektra and her staff and our partners in The Netherlands.”

Ponton de Dutton adds, “Students participated in so many immersive events and the whole town of Nederland opened up their hearts and homes to welcome our visitors and share all of the unique cultural events, food, and activities that are a beautiful part of our community! This unique program provided amazing international learning opportunities for our community and specifically for our students who expanded their learning and growth on a global scale.”

This program could not have been possible without financial support. There were several private sponsors, as well as ZB Bibliotheek van Zeeland, Nederland Community Library Foundation, Lions Club, Mountain Forum for Peace, Peak to Peak Endurance, The Mountain-Ear, and the Netherland-America Foundation.

Greer concluded by saying, “This exchange has been a long and somewhat quixotic and chaotic dream of mine and I’m so thrilled and, frankly, relieved, it went so well. The level of maturity, curiosity, and inquiry displayed by all the students and families far exceeded my expectations. My faith was reaffirmed in our collective global futures.”

And with a wink she said, “Now, who’s in on building a Nederland-Netherlands windmill on our new Library Reading Garden property??”