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ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP Academy (RYLA) This program is designed for High School Juniors and Seniors.
RYLA Group Photo 2022
Basic RYLA Group Activities 2022
This Year's Camp
Dates and Times
July 14-16, 2023
Friday 3:30 PM
Cost
Rotary District 6360 and local sponsoring Rotary Clubs underwrite the cost of the RYLA camp. Cost is $225/student and this year the club can pay for one and send the second one free unlimited BOGO.
Location
Battle Creek Outdoor Center
10160 S. M-37 Hwy.
Dowling, MI 49050
269-721-8161
Participants must bring their own clothes and bedding - Bunks provided.
ABOUT RYLA
Each year young people from throughout southwest Michigan take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program sponsored by Rotary District 6360, a community service organization. Awardees are chosen for their leadership potential to attend an all-expenses-paid camp to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice. Rotary clubs select participants and facilitate the event's curriculum.
The focus of the RYLA program is leadership, citizenship, and personal development with elements designed to:
- build on the existing leadership potential of the student, providing them with the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills and put them into practice.
- encourage participants to further develop their own talents and abilities.
- remind the students that they have a responsibility to their communities and to the world.
Who can attend RYLA?
Rotary District 6360 is looking for outstanding young leaders and potential leaders who are about to enter their sophomore or junior year in high school when they attend. Students should have a good academic record and be involved in school activities such as athletics, student council and community service.
If you are a student or a parent interested in RYLA, please contact your local Rotary club, school guidance counselor, or write Don Deibler at donalddeibler@yahoo.com for more information.
RYLA history
In 1959, the state government of Queensland, Australia, invited local Rotarians to help plan a festival celebrating Queensland's upcoming centenary. Learning that Queen Elizabeth II was sending her cousin Princess Alexandra, who was in her early 20s, to the celebration, Rotarians planned activities specifically for the princess' age group.
The gundoo, an aboriginal word meaning "festival" or "fun together," was a rousing success. More than 300 men and women between the ages of 17 and 23 attended. Encouraged by the event's popularity with the young attendees, Rotarians saw potential to create a similar annual youth program. With little hesitation, Governor Art Brand of then-District 260 approved the project, and on 2 May 1960, RYLA was born.
Australian districts 258 and 260 shared in establishing a committee that developed the official framework of RYLA which then expanded to all Rotary districts in Australia. In 1971, RYLA was approved as an international program by the RI board at the annual Convention in Sydney, Australia.
OEC FORMS ENCLOSED IN APPLICATION MUST BE INITIALED AND SIGNED BY A PARENT OR GARDIAN ALL FORMS MUST BE
PRINTED AND SIGNED AFTER THE FORM IS FILLED OUT.
Four groups of RYLA Campers created as possible campaigns for addressing important world issues.
- - Pop-Cans for Afghanistan - Increasing Educational Access for all youth!
- - UGLY PRODUCE - Solutions for addressing FOOD INSECURITY!
- - The importance of Education in the Dominican Republic!
- - STUDENT Academic Stressors (mental health challenges) and possible solutions!