Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, or “RYLA,” is a program that originated with Rotary International and has since been specifically designed by Rotary District 5340 for students in San Diego and Imperial counties.
RYLA encourages servant leadership in youth by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an "award" for their past and present leadership and service activities.
These select young people attend an all-expenses-paid full-day experience where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues of today. These activities are conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The result is that these students return to their schools and communities motivated to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve.
RYLA's intent is to encourage students to be more effective servant leaders. RYLA is not a camp intended to teach leadership skills (it is assumed that the students in attendance already possess those skills), however the following topics naturally arise in the course of RYLA activities and discussions:
Fundamentals of leadership
Ethics of positive leadership
Qualities of a "servant leader"
Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
Conflict management and problem solving
Building self-esteem and self confidence
Elements of community and global citizenship
Rotary's purpose of service to the community and world
Facilitators
One of the great joys of being a Rotarian is to share your vision of leadership and service with young people. RYLA gives you the opportunity to participate in leadership, learning and fellowship activities with some of the District’s finest high school juniors.
Your RYLA "Family"
Families are the essence of the RYLA conference. Participants will be divided into families to provide a more intimate learning and sharing experience. Each family consists of a Rotarian facilitator and up to 10 students from different high schools throughout our Rotary District. The family will become a close-knit community as a result of working together and sharing ideas after each major presentation and activity.
The process of facilitation is to guide or lead the family as it reflects on an experience, whether that experience was a speaker, a workshop or an activity. Effective facilitation enables students to share perspectives on a common experience through a productive dialog and then develop behavioral changes through enriched communication, trust, and teamwork.
What's required?
A desire to spend a weekend in a beautiful location with a group of inspiring young leaders.
All facilitators must undergo the Rotary District 5340 youth certification process.
Facilitators have a list of supplies to bring, which typically cost around $100. If you need assistance with this cost, please contact the facilitator coordinator.
RYLA takes place at a youth camp in Idyllwild, which is at an elevation of about 5,400 feet.
Facilitators may share a dorm or cabin with students. In this case, they are expected to ensure students are accounted for each night before lights out.
RYLA is a busy three days starting at around 7 a.m. and ending between 9 and 10 p.m. You won't have time to check in with the office, take phone calls or much else while you are with your student family.
The terrain at the RYLA camp is uneven with some hills. Facilitators need to be able to walk a couple of miles a day and sit on the ground.
If you have questions about becoming a RYLA facilitator, contact our club’s Youth Chair Bélgica Crespo.