Since its founding in 1966, Aspen Sister Cities has been promoting the idea of community and connection across various cultures.

Aspen Sister Cities is a non-profit organization that’s based in the Roaring Fork Valley. Their goal is to create peace by bringing together communities through several exchanges. The middle school and high school exchanges involve seven small ski towns in Italy, Argentina, France, Germany, Switzerland, New Zealand, and Japan. Throughout the trip, students have the opportunity to learn new languages and immerse themselves in diverse cultures.

Students in middle school and high school go through an application process months prior to the exchange. Getting accepted into the program can be difficult, as there are limited spots. In Aspen, when students apply, they have to write two essays and one interview. Getting accepted into the program can be difficult, as there are limited spots. 

According to the Sister Cities website, their mission is “To experience another culture and develop relationships through online communication, family homestays, group activities, and language development.”

Jolaine Pfeifer, the registrar at Aspen High School and the student exchange coordinator of Shimukappu, Japan, has been involved with the Sister Cities program for many years. Not only has she helped organize the exchange, but her kids have participated in the program as well.

“I think it’s just really interesting to be able to give students the opportunity to live in that country and to see people, and experience life in another place, and that’s super unique,” Pfeifer said.

Lune Luciani-Kihm, a thirteen-year-old exchange student from Chamonix, France, just traveled to Aspen in January on the exchange program. The Aspen students who hosted traveled to France in March of 2026.

“It’s a very good trip that you pick just one time in your life, so… you have to speak, you have to ask questions, and you have to listen,” Luciani-Kihm said.