The Julien C. Hyer Lions International Youth Camp is a five-week camp/program to promote peace and understanding by showing youth from around the world life in Texas. 

Our Mission is “To create and foster a spirit of understanding among the people of the world.” 

A little about the International Camp:

The Julien C. Hyer Youth Camp is a joint project of Lions Clubs of the Dallas/Ft Worth areas - Districts 2-X1 and 2-E2, who work together with Lions Clubs in the Wimberley & Lubbock areas - Districts 2-S3 & 2-T2, to facilitate the camp. We are one of the 123 listed Youth Exchange Camps on the LCI website. Of the 14 in the United States, we are the ONLY one in the great state of Texas. 

The Camp is open to boys & girls that are 17-19 years of age from countries all over the world, including local students who want to learn more about their state.  The official language of the Camp is English, which allows our foreign students to immerse themselves in the language while learning about the culture of Texas. The youths stay with Host Families in and around the Dallas/Fort Worth area (DFW), as well as the Wimberley & Lubbock areas, and become part of their families. They also have one week of camp at Lake Texoma to bond as a group. Throughout the 5 week program, they receive the complete Texas experience, including rodeos, line dancing, BBQ and much more. 

The application cost of the Camp for campers is $325, other sponsored events are paid for through JCH Camp funds or by local Lions Club sponsorship/donations. Please visit our donations page if you would like to contribute!

Camp Experience:

The International Camp typically begins the last Sunday in June & ends around the first Sunday in August.

1st week: Arrival & first week with DFW host families.

2nd week: Group camp at Lake Texoma.

3rd week: Group trip to Wimberley, TX (near Austin) with host family stay.

4th week: Group trip to Lubbock, TX with host family stay.

5th week: Final week in DFW, ending with Farewell Dinner/Dance.

History/Background of the Camp:

The Camp is named in honor of Past International President Lion Judge Julien C. Hyer (IP: 1931/32). He was an active Lion for over 55 years in the Dallas Founders & Ft Worth Founders Lions Clubs.  He distinguished himself as a Lion, Attorney, Judge, Writer, Poet, Theologian, Soldier, Father, Husband and as the Founder of the Lions Clubs International Youth Exchange Program. During his time as Judge Advocate during WWII, he participated in the prosecution of war criminals during the Nuremberg trials, which is where he wished to find a way for there to be an exchange program that created or fostered a spirit of peace and understanding among people. He felt that the youth of the world is were where it needed to begin.  His friendship and love for others is living testimony of the Great Spirit of Lionism. In recognition of our love and respect for him and his principles, we dedicated this camp, the Julien C. Hyer Lions Youth Camp, in his honor. 

The Julien C. Hyer Lions Youth Camp (JCH) was organized in 1973 and the first camping session was held in 1974. Since then, an average of 25-40 youths (boys and girls) have visited Texas each year to attend the Julien Hyer Camp. During this time the program has changed slightly, but the objective “to foster and create a spirit of understanding among the peoples of the world” remains the same. This Camp gives each attending youth the opportunity to learn about other people of the world while visiting Texas and the United States of America.