District 6540 RYLA will be April 25-27, 2025
Do your students have what it takes to become dynamic leaders and change not only themselves, but the world?
Send students to RYLA!
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership camp organized by the District 6540 RYLA Chairs. RYLA is a camp that allows Rotarians to demonstrate respect and concern for youth while recognizing, encouraging, and educating youth leaders. This camp, for high school students, gives youth the opportunity to develop their skills as effective and responsible leaders while having fun and making connections with peers throughout our Rotary District.
RYLA is not a normal type of award!
What are the benefits?
Students connect with leaders in the community and around the world to:
- Develop communication and problem-solving skills through fun, interactive challenges
- Discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their school and community
- Learn and hear from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors
- Unlock their potential to turn motivation into action
- Have fun and form long lasting friendships
How can you get Involved?
You can get involved by ensuring your Rotary club commits and sends students to this wonderful program. This camp is very popular, with your assistance in meeting all the registration timelines, your club can begin planning now to make this event a successful and meaningful venture. Each Rotary club that participates is allowed to select students to take part in the RYLA program. By doing so, your club is provides students with a once in a lifetime opportunity to move outside of their comfort zone and develop into great young leaders in your very own community! You will also be helping your club accomplish one of the five Avenues of Service, Youth Service.
The experience for us as RYLA Chairs has been amazing, and we are already planning for the 2018 RYLA camp! This intensive program is truly humbling to watch, as all the hours of planning unfold into this incredible opportunity for students across District 6540. We are committed and dedicated to making this experience educational, inspirational, and fun. We want to invite your Rotary Club to be a part of helping change these kids’ lives.
RYLA will be held April 25-27, 2025.
What will you get out of the RYLA experience?
Do not take it from us.
RYLA Alumni will tell you in their own words!
- “This camp has made me realize one person can make a difference.”
- “This has been the most life changing positive experience I’ve ever encountered.”
- “I feel like I fit in.”
- "This was awesome."
- “I want to get involved in my community.”
- "This camp was great. It was time well spent. I would definitely do it again."
- "Unexpectedly phenomenal!"
- "I think that the kind of effort & time that our leaders, the Rotary clubs, & RYLA put into the youth of America is tremendous. You have inspired us all."
- "Thank you for the opportunity to learn, share, and have a great weekend"
- "Counselors were awesome!"
- “It was amazing. Best program I’ve ever done!”
- "It was all so much fun!"
- “I have made friendships to last a lifetime.”
- "I learned a lot of things about others as well as myself. I especially learned about leaving my comfort zone. I had such a great experience here, and I wish more people could share the experience I did. Before I came to RYLA, I was really not looking forward to coming, but when I got here and we got into our group, I really had fun. I definitely learned many, many things."
- "You guys did a FANTASTIC job. I would really like to come again."
- “I will carry these skills with me throughout my entire life. I have made amazing friends. I will never forget anything about this camp.”
- “This absolutely changed many of my views on life. I want to HELP people!!! Thank you so much.”
- "This weekend was a million times better than I expected & I learned a lot about myself & others."
- "I never considered myself a leader...until now. I found a new side of me. Before, I would take leadership because I had to. Now, I want to. I’m willing to put myself out there, even if people don’t give back. I’ve had a fire ignited in me that I can do this leadership. Though the battle may be tough, I can do this, no matter what."
- "Unexpectedly phenomenal!"
- "This weekend was a million times better than I expected & I learned a lot about myself & others.
- "I never considered myself a leader...until now."
- "This was the greatest experience. It changed my life. I want to come back as a counselor."
RYLA History, District 6540
In 1987, Malcolm McClure (Monticello) spearheaded establishing the first Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp in District 6540. Since then, our district has held this event each spring. Jack Cross (Delphi) helped Malcolm and went on to serve as District 6540 RYLA Chair for 30 years. Denny Musser (Otterbein) served alongside Jack Cross for 25 years. Since then, Kyle Cross and Amber Beatty have served as RYLA Chairs.
The outdoor activities include a multitude of simulations, called initiatives, each designed to help students learn about leadership. They are guaranteed to challenge the students in ways that will help them become better communicators and better leaders.
RYLA is an excellent, easily managed project for clubs and an excellent opportunity to develop the youth of your community.
RYLA is held at Camp Tecumseh, one of the finest and largest YMCA Outdoor Camps in the country with over 660 acres and 30,000 guests annually, Their facilities to house and feed over 600 overnight guests. The camp offers an excellent learning environment and provides outstanding counselors for the students.
RYLA Club Chairs Important Links (If links do not work, copy & paste to a new browser tab):
rylachairreport.rotary6540.org
rylaapplication.rotary6540.org
rylahealthformandrelease.rotary6540.org
