WHAT IS RYLA?

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth. RYLA aims to demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth, provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders, encourage leadership of youth by youth, and publicly recognize young people who are rendering service to their communities. District 6710’s RYLA is for incoming high school freshmen who show great potential toward leadership, but lack the experience needed to use these skills in their home communities.

Our goal is that the RYLA participants will go back to their local communities and apply the leadership skills they have gained over the weekend to enrich their community. In the past, participants have gone home to start Interact clubs at their high schools, where they have organized various service projects to help their local community.

At RYLA, participants develop their leadership skills through team building exercises, notable local speakers, and both small and large group projects that they present at the end of the camp.

WHY BE A COUNSELOR?

As a counselor you have the opportunity to get to know fellow Rotaractors and Rotarians from within the district, as well as, develop your own leadership skills. I have been a counselor at District 6710’s RYLA for the past two years. I have truly enjoyed my experience each time and I look forward to this coming year. Each year has been different because the participants have been different and each group has offered something new and special to the experience. I love when I run into one of our RYLA freshmen at the store or around town and hear how they have started a new club or taken a leadership role in local nonprofit organization as a teenager. It is a proud moment for me and all the other team members who were involved in RYLA.

RYLA is truly a district project where Rotary, Rotaract, and Interact can all come together, form one family, and help each other and our communities. Helping youth in your community, youth your sponsoring Rotary clubs will be sending to RYLA, can foster an Interact club in your local high school. These Interactors can then become Rotaractors, and eventually Rotarians. An added bonus is reminding Rotary just how much Rotaract can accomplish.

I encourage you get involved by becoming a counselor at this years upcoming RYLA.

-Tracy Law,Rotaract Club of Greater Hardin County

MORE INFORMATION FOR COUNSELORS

Counselor Orientation: September 10, 2011 in Elizabethtown  *MANDATORY*

Lodging and meals are provided free of charge for the weekend for all counselors.  Its like having a mini-vacation!

RYLA Weekend Arrival Time: Students will arrive at 5:00pm CDT on September 15.  Counselors will be asked to arrive at an earlier time.
RYLA Weekend Departure Time: 3:00pm CDT on September 18

Address: Ford Regional Training Center, 4675 State Route 181 North, Greenville, KY 42345. 
Directions: Take Western Kentucky Parkway to Exit 53, Greenville/Sacramento.  Turn left on KY 181 and follow signs to Ford Regional Training Center.

 

You will need to bring the following items:

• Sleeping bag or sheets
• Pillow
• Toiletries
• Bath Towel
• Prescription Medications
• Tennis Shoes
• Casual Clothing*
  

*There is no time in the schedule for doing laundry so bring enough clothes for the entire weekend including Sunday.