RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a three-day leadership conference for high school juniors. It is a reward for outstanding youth to further develop their leadership skills.
This year Rotary District 5330 is holding two RYLA camps – one took place in March, one is scheduled in May – at Idyllwild Pines Camp. District 5330 is made up of 63 Rotary Clubs in San Bernardino and Riverside Counties.
Recently, two of the students sponsored by the Mountain Sunrise Rotary Club spoke to club members about their experience. They were introduced by Assistant Governor Michelle French, who had served as a discussion group leader at a previous camp.
“This is the largest RYLA in the world,” French said, noting that more than 400 juniors will attend the two camps. It is also the longest, spanning three days.
District 5330, she added, “offers the best experience of RYLA in the whole world.”
“Everyone said it would be fun and life changing,” Carli told the Rotarians. “I thought they were hyping it up but it lived up to its reputation.”
Carli went on to say that she met new people and made new friends – in three days. The experience helped her “come out of my shell, meeting hundreds of people in one day.”
Her favorite activity was the ice breaker on the first day when each student had to introduce themselves and then did activities with new partners. “I had never experienced something like that before,” Carli said. “It made you talk about yourself, open up about yourself.”
“At first,” said Lyla, “I wondered who all these random people were. At the end, I was sad because I was saying goodbye to new good friends.
“I talked to people I probably wouldn’t have talked to otherwise,” Lyla added.
French showed the Rotarians a video of the students arriving at camp, getting their sweatshirts, participating in a variety of activities.
“Don’t forget the things you learned at RYLA,” French cautioned the girls. “Thank you for bringing your heart and courage to RYLA. Keep building on the lessons you learned.”
Both Carli and Lyla plan to apply to be alumni – seniors who have already been through the RYLA experience. The alumni plan the camp for the next year’s juniors.
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