RYLA Camp 2011

Posted by Stephanie Connot 
 
The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp is held in Carthage, Tx each year for approximately 200 high school juniors from the northeast region of Texas (14 Lamar County students)  This 2 ½ day camp is held each year for area high school juniors who have already begun to exhibit leadership qualities in their school.
 

The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) camp is held in Carthage, Tx each year for approximately 200 high school juniors from the northeast region of Texas (14 Lamar County students)  This 2 ½ day camp is held each year for area high school juniors who have already begun to exhibit leadership qualities in their school.  RYLA camps are also held throughout the world and began in Australia in 1959.  The camps help further develop student's skills by emphasizing leadership, citizenship, and personal growth.  The camp is staffed by Rotary volunteers.  This year 7 Paris and Greater Paris Rotary members helped make this camp successful.

The RYLA experience is comprised of small focus groups that tackle various problems and work together for solutions.  Group dynamics, counseling, leadership styles and risk taking are all subjects which are discussed and taught. Also, the curriculum has a strong emphasis on challenging physical obstacles, which must be overcome on the outdoor obstacle course. So the RYLA adventure has both indoor and outdoor components and is both mentally and physically challenging. It is an experience the student  (and the Rotary volunteers) will never forget.