Youth Service Committee

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ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARD (RYLA) - Donna Hultin, Subcommittee Chair

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is a program for junior and senior high school students that was officially adopted by Rotary International in 1971. Conducted on a District level, RYLA offers Rotarians a special opportunity to take part in developing qualities of leadership and good citizenship among the young people in their communities. A leadership camp is conducted at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park , serving 250 high school students. The camp generally occurs the last week of July or the first week of August. The camp provides a five-day opportunity for Rotary Clubs to combine their efforts in a project to acquaint youth in our community with opportunities for service. Students learn the benefit of living in a free society and gain an understanding of the greatness of the free enterprise systems, and realize the value of the 4-Way Test in establishing moral values. Several years ago, a Young RYLA Camp was established for 75 eighth grade students in Larkspur, Colorado . This is a beginning leadership camp introducing students to the qualities found in effective leaders. Volunteers are needed to interview and select students, provide transportation to and from camp, participate in camp activities and to teach the various workshops at camp. The process of selection of students takes place from February through May each year.