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May 09

ABETONE MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT EXCHANGE

The middle school students that participated in the Abetone 2025 exchange came to the Sister Cities board meeting to share their experience. Once again, we were all reminded of the importance of making meaningful connections and friends around the world. Take a look at their presentation!
May 05
May 04

ACRA: PRIVATE GROUP TOUR TO VISIT ASPEN’S SISTER CITY, QUEENSTOWN.

Join ACRA's private group tour to experience the highlights of New Zealand including Auckland, Christchurch, and Aspen's Sister City, Queenstown. Trip departs Aspen-Pitkin County Airport on November 9, 2025 and returns on November 22, 2025. Land only packages are available for departures from other airports. See the full itinerary here.
Jan 23

GRAYSON BAUER: WHAT MAKES THE SISTER CITY BOND SO SPECIAL

In the West, Japanese culture is often portrayed as reserved when it comes to open displays of emotion. Nowhere have I seen this oversimplification more clearly disproven than during the Shimukappu Exchange Program in Aspen. From the welcome at Sardy Field to the farewell dinner, the delegation’s heartfelt enthusiasm for all things... read more →
Jan 23

THE ASPEN TIMES: JANUARY VISITS FOR ASPEN SISTER CITIES INCLUDES STUDENTS FROM NEW ZEALAND, JAPAN, AND ITALY

What do Shimukappu, Japan and Aspen, Colorado have in common? They offer world-class skiing, spectacular mountain vistas, and have students willing to take risks, cross borders, and explore new cultures.  Four middle school students from the small mountain town in Northern Japan came to Aspen earlier this month, as did... read more →
Dec 11

MEDICAL EXCHANGE IN BARILOCHE

The annual medical exchange to Bariloche was conducted in early November, 2024. Participants this year were: Jodi Callison, RN, Robert Christensen, DDS, Tito Liotta, MD, Kara Morgan, Medical Assistance, Mark Purnell, MD, Daniel Ritschard, PT, MSPT and Elle Stark PT, DPT. Griff Smith was the Aspen Sister Cities coordinator who... read more →
Dec 04

WEBINAR with QUEENSTOWN: SISTER CITIES CHALLENGES

Winter Sports and Climate Change: What's the Plan Please join us for the inaugural session of the Sister Cities Challenges series, a platform for open dialogue on shared challenges facing our communities with partners: Aspen Chamber Resort Association, Queenstown Lakes District Council, City of Aspen, Queenstown Chamber of Commerce, Destination... read more →
Oct 09

GRAYSON BAUER: SHIMUKAPPU’S SMALL SCHOOL PUTS ON A BIG SHOW

Special for The Aspen Times. Here in Shimukappu, Aspen’s Sister City in Hokkaido, Japan, my classroom schedule was greatly diminished after the summer break, as English class got bumped for the annual gakkousai (school festival) preparations. Unlike Aspen’s array of parent nights, art shows, science fairs, band recitals, school plays, and forensics competitions,... read more →
Sep 10
Aug 18

SHIMUKAPPU DISPATCH: THE UNIFYING POWER OF SPORTS

Greetings from Aspen’s Sister City of Shimukappu, Japan!  My name is Grayson Bauer, and after having lived in the Roaring Fork Valley since 2015, I was lucky enough to become the English Exchange Teacher here this past spring. In the event that you just learned that Aspen has a sister... read more →