Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

Whitehall, Buxton

Information

Attendance on  this RYLA weekend is available to students who at the time of the course are 14 to 16 years of age, inclusive.

It is important to point out that this course is not a holiday.   It is a fairly strenuous outdoor activity based training experience.   This normally includes activities such as rock climbing, caving, canoeing, abseiling, mountain biking,  etc.    All elements of the course are designed to develop students’ self-awareness, public speaking, team building, leadership and a variety of other skills. There will also be indoor activities with the same aims.   All specialist equipment that is required for the activities can  be provided by the Centre.

It is important to ensure that ALL potential candidates are made fully aware of the nature of the weekend and that they know they will be required to take part in activities that may be outside their comfort zones.  This is done by each candidate being interviewed by at least one Rotarian from the club that intends to sponsor the candidate.   Rotary Clubs will be required to certify when and where this interview took place and who the interviewers were.   It cannot be stressed too much  that this initial interview is of the utmost importance to ensure that youngsters who attend, know exactly what they are letting themselves in for and are prepared to at least attempt the various activities.    The opportunity should also be taken to give candidates a brief overview of what Rotary is about as well as a little information about the sponsoring club.

To obtain the Application Forms and related documentation please contact:-
Rotarian Phil Stone, Ilkeston Rotary, by email on phil@aegis-alarms.com or by calling 0115 932 1080 or mobile 07850 350473. All the required documentation will be sent without delay.
Please note that they will not be available on the website for this year’s course.

Once completed by the candidate, the candidate’s parent or guardian and the sponsoring Rotary Club the forms should be returned to Phil with full payment. Completed Applications Forms will not be processed until full payment has been received, either by cheque, payable to “Rotary International District 1220”, or by electronic payment into the District account. (Contact District Treasurer for details)

What does RYLA do for youngsters?

Why should Rotary Clubs sponsor students on RYLA ??

The training that students receive on Whitehall RYLA courses is mainly, but not exclusively, based on outdoor pursuits, such as rock climbing, caving, abseiling, canoeing etc. Such activities often stretch individuals and make them address their own personal fears. For example many people have a fear of going underground or a fear of heights. Through training, a confidence in their instructors and the equipment, the encouragement of their peers and trainers, students are normally able to overcome these fears. These personal achievements cannot be over-estimated.

Students partaking in the course are expected to have a basic knowledge of Rotary and of their sponsoring club.   This can be achieved as a part of the pre-course interview process. 

When taking part in activities students are in turn required to act as “team leader”.   In doing so they have to take into account the feelings, ideas and thoughts of the rest of their team.    They are encouraged to discuss these issues during each session and to identify the lessons they have learned.

Students are also constantly encouraged to consider how their own actions, words and behaviour affect others. Students are not allowed to keep their mobile phones during the course. A result of this is that we see a steep increase in personal interactions between them.

The course aims to develop self-confidence and self-reliance by placing students in unfamiliar situations and carrying out activities that they otherwise would not have. There have been many examples of how students have “blossomed” during the courses.

At the end of each day all students have to contemplate what they have achieved during the day and then complete a feedback form showing their personal experiences of the day and what they have learned or gained from the day’s sessions.

Even undertaking the initial interview to secure a place on the course can have really beneficial results, not just in terms of communication skills and assisting in future job interviews but also in terms of general confidence. As an example the parents of a girl who was interviewed by a Rotarian and a teacher for a place on a previous course later told the Rotarian that since the interview (many weeks before the course) her daughter was a different person, much more confident at home and at school, volunteering for things that previously she would have completely shied away from. She went on to grow in confidence and played a significant part in the subsequent course. As an integral part of the course all students should be required to attend their sponsoring Rotary Club to report back about the nature of the course, what they did,  what they personally gained from it and any other interesting facts about the course.

Documentation

The documentation that you will receive on application will comprise of the following: