ELLSWORTH — A pre-dawn pancake breakfast at Ellsworth High School will greet 37 Belgiums this Saturday, July 28. Seventeen are soccer players from Achel, Belgium and travelling with them are their coaches, parents and friends who are part of a return exchange arranged last summer.

Marc Tormas, the school’s 1988-89 American Field Service exchange student from Belgium, and his father coordinated the Ellsworth High soccer team to visit their country last August.

The EHS team, along with coach Brian Higgins and a few parents and friends, visited many cities in Belgium, Holland and Germany. While in Belgium they were able to see two professional soccer games and played several games with their Belgium counterparts.

While in the Ellsworth area, the Belgiums will participate in two soccer games at the EHS soccer field. The first will be a mixed soccer match at 2:30 p.m. Saturday following a “welcoming ceremony” at 1 p.m. at the city hall council chambers. The second game will be played at 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4. Former EHS soccer players will be participating in the EHS-Achel match.

The Belgiums will travel to Nova Scotia via the Bluenose Ferry for a soccer match with a Yarmouth soccer team. The following day, the Belgiums will tour and enjoy a barbecue at Digby.

One of their requests while visiting the United States was to see a professional baseball game. The group will travel to Boston to watch a game between the Boston Red Sox and the Chicago White Sox on Monday, July 30. Interested citizens are encouraged to join the group. While in Boston, the group will visit the U.S.S. Constitution, Faneuil Hall, Haymarket Square, the Old North Church and the New England Aquarium. After an overnight stay at the University of South Portland, the group will spend a day at Old Orchard Beach.

A few of the local activities on the agenda are trips to Acadia National Park, the Black House, Vokes Mini-Strokes, a picnic and water skiing at Branch Pond, a clambake at Hancock Point summer home of Nick and Pattie Holt, and a bike ride to Schoodic.

On Monday, Aug. 6, a two-hour sail among the islands of Frenchman’s Bay on the three-mast schooner “Natalie Todd” is planned. A pizza party and a dance will follow the cruise.

Anyone wishing to meet or travel with the Belgium group is encouraged to do so. Further information on the return exchange may be obtained by calling Joanne Richmond at 667-8932 or Audrey Carter at 667-2634.