RYLA Youth at Kentland Rotary May 7 2012

Four South Newton Students were selected by the Kentland Rotary Club to attend the RYLA Camp (Rotary Youth Leadership  Awards) held at Camp Tecumseh the last weekend in April.  Kimberly Carcamo, Aric Deno, Courtney Deno, and Zack Willhite shared their experiences in leadership development and team building activities.  According to the Rotary District 6540 website, “Malcolm McClure spearheaded establishing the first Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp in District 6540 in 1987. Since then, the district has held this event each spring. RYLA is a leadership camp for high school sophomores and juniors. Held at Camp Tecumseh each year, the camp offers an excellent learning environment and provides outstanding counselors for the students. The outdoor activities include a multitude of simulations, called initiatives, each designed to help students work together to understand and hone their leadership and communications skills. RYLA is an excellent, easily managed project for clubs and an excellent opportunity to develop the youth of your community. The cost is only $200 per student and is paid by the club.  There are no expenses for the students”. 

 The students presented a PowerPoint slide show highlighting some of their activities at the camp.  Local RYLA campers all shared positive comments and indicated that the camp should have been a week long.  They have formed a Facebook page and continue to communicate with other campers.  RYLA Camp certificates were presented to each student by Kentland Rotarian Steve Portteus.  Ms. Laura Bossaer, South Newton Guidance Counselor accompanied the students to the Rotary meeting held at the Kentland Depot.  Kentland Rotary will continue to work with the students to establish a RYLA Club in the Kentland area.