Exchange Day 2021

Get excited! Exchange Day 2021 will be held at Moonshine Beach, date and time TBD.

In the morning, the students will partner for a collective service project with the Boys & Girls Club of Branson.

 

Moonshine Beach events will start at 4:30 p.m. BridgeUSA participants will enjoy the following:

 

  • FREE food & drinks

  • FREE t-shirt for first 348 attendees & volunteers

  • FREE giveaways and prizes

  • Land and Water games

  • Fun times for everyone

  • FREE transportation provided by The Loop.

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For registration information, click the event details in the right hand screen. For more information, email Izze Martinez, Programs Coordinator.

Exchange Day 2019

Exchange Day in 2019 was a major success at Moonshine Beach. This is a day that international exchange students and local communities come together to "eat, play, and give" back through community service events. Participants enjoyed free foods, fun games, water inflatables and free t-shirts as a part of the celebrations.

 

Exchange Day also involved a service project with the Boys & Girls club of Branson. There they educated the children on what their culture is like. By doing this, the children could get a better appreciation for other people's cultures and customs. 

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Exchange Day 2018

Exchange Day (previously known as J Day) is a nationwide celebration to “eat, play, and give”. Students were able to share their culture and experience American customs. Because who does not love a good beach day with BBQ, volleyball, swimming and incredible music by DJ Christian! Students even had the opportunity to give back to their communities, and were presented with certificates by the Mayor!

Exchange Day 2017

J-Day in 2017 was incredible in Branson with more than 310 participants in attendance at Moonshine Beach. Participants enjoyed free summer foods, games, water inflatables and free t-shirts as a part of the celebrations. J-Day also involved a Culture in the Community activity with young local students at the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA, presenting to children age 5-12.

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The event was also attended by Mayor Karen Best and Hollister Mayor Tate, along with Hollister City Administrator Rick Ziegenfuss. The event received bipartisan support from the offices of Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt and Congressman Billy Long. 

Exchange Day 2016

Exchange Day just keeps getting better in Branson!  This year, more than 250 J-1 participants joined in the festivities!  Under the motto “Eat Play Give,” Exchange Day merges community service and celebration. Exchange Day Branson involved a morning session of Culture in the Community at the Ozark Mountain Family YMCA. J-1 participants volunteered their time to serve as J-Day Ambassadors, providing cultural presentations to local children ages 5-12.


Later at the Moonshine Beach celebration, J-Day Ambassadors were presented with Certificates of Achievement by Mayor Karen Best.

Along with a keynote speech by Mayor Best, J-Day attendees enjoyed American style cuisine, beach games, volleyball, swimming, and dancing.


The event received bipartisan support, as the offices of Senator Claire McCaskill and Senator Roy Blunt attended J-Day festivities. Both elected officials took to social media after the event to show their support of J-Day and the value of international exchange programs.

Exchange Day 2015

Exchange Day 2015 was a success as Branson area J-1 participants joined to Eat.Play.Give. Not only did Mayor Best thank students for their help during the busy tourism season, she also joined one of the teams in a fun game of Water Balloon Launch!! 200 Canned food items were collected and donated to Ozarks Food Harvest!  

Exchange Day 2014

The inaugural Exchange Day celebration was held at beautiful Moonshine Beach on Table Rock Lake.  Participants enjoyed playing sand volleyball, swimming in the lake, taking pictures in the photobooth and American BBQ cuisine. Mayor Presley thanked students for making Branson their home this summer.  She met with each of the students and posed in their selfie pictures!  Canned food items were collected and nearly 100 cans were donated to Ozarks Food Harvest.