A lot of sister cities are based on business. But a true sister is someone who you’re family with. That’s what Kim Wisnosky, who is co-chair of Medford’s All-Sister City Program, said of Medford’s sister city: Alba, Italy. Sunday, 26 students and two chaperones arrived from Alba, Italy to spend a week with students from North and South Medford and Phoenix schools. Their week includes scheduled dinners, a hiking trip on Tablerock, and a meeting with Medford City Council.

But Tuesday, the students gathered at Lost Creek boat ramp near the dam to embark on a 3-hour rapid float trip on the Rogue River. “They come about every other fall.” Wisnosky said. “We go every other year, so we went last spring of 2019 and we will send another group in 2021.”