Youth Leadership Award

District 7670

Leadership Camp, Brevard, NC

Brevard Music Center

June 15-21, 2008

What is RYLA?

Each year, thousands of young people take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program worldwide. Young people who are chosen for their leadership potential attend an all-expenses-paid seminar, camp, or workshop to discuss leadership skills and to learn those skills through practice. Rotary clubs and districts select participants and facilitate the event's curriculum. The RYLA program of the Rotary Club of Brevard and Rotary District 7670 is an annual Youth Leadership Camp.

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
• Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities.

So, who goes to Rotary Youth Leadership Camp anyway?

Participants at the camp are students who are rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors selected for their leadership roles in their schools, communities, sports teams, and churches. They come from all over Western North Carolina and occasionally from other countries. The camp is co-educational, staffed by caring counselors, and administered by the Rotary Club of Brevard. Students are selected to attend the camp by their local Rotary Club or their school's Interact Club. While students may not know others when they arrive, within a few hours new friendships are forged.

Where and when is the camp? What will we do?

The 2008 Rotary Youth Leadership Camp (RYLC) will be held on June 15-21 at the Brevard Music Center facilities in Brevard, NC. Students will stay in simple cabins and make use of the camp's dining hall, swimming lake, sports facilities and other amenities. During camp, the students will also travel to other sites for outdoor learning programs such as a ropes course. The programs are designed to be both learning opportunities and FUN! There will also be leisure time for activities such as volleyball, basketball, swimming and just "hanging out" by the lake.

How much does the camp cost?

Students are sponsored by their local Rotary Club which provides a RYLA scholarship ($400) that covers lodging, meals, activities, programs and transportation while at camp. Students only need to commit a week of their time and bring spending money for snacks. That's a small price to pay for an invaluable experience, one they will remember for a lifetime.

Sounds interesting. How can I get more information?

For more information talk to your school's Interact Advisor or contact your local Rotary Club. You may also contact the RYLA directly by writing to Post Office Box 1214, Brevard, NC 28712. Good leaders don't just happen. You need skills to help you be an effective leader now and in the future. That's where RYLA comes in. By bringing together some of the region's best outdoor educators, motivational speakers, and experiential teachers, we can help you become a more effective leader.

Is RYLA exciting? You bet!

The emphasis of RYLC is active, experience-based learning. You learn by doing, by being part of a team, by problem solving in challenging settings. Free from the constraints of a classroom, you'll be amazed at how much you can achieve in just one week.

To get started, download your application for the RYLA program from one of the links below.

Deadline for submission May 2, 2008:

2008 RYLA Application in Adobe (.pdf) format

2008 RYLA Application in Word (.doc) format