By Ed Wier

The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program (https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/rotary-youth-leadership-awards), also known as RYLA, is Rotary’s leadership training program for young people. RYLA is a weekend camp experience and leadership conference for young people ages 14-18. Students are given opportunities to develop leadership skills, learn about Rotary, and create service projects centered on Rotary’s Causes (https://www.rotary.org/en/our-causes).

This year, RYLA will be held May 15-17 at Camp Copneconic in Fenton, MI, and this year, our district is partnering with District 6400 to bring together youth from throughout southeast Michigan and Canada.

Our Ann Arbor Rotary Club has been sponsoring local students attending RYLA for over 30 years. This includes paying their registration fees. We are currently in the process of identifying students to sponsor for this year’s program, and we need your help. Students do not need to be members of an Interact Club, but our hope is that they will inspired to be student leaders and future Interactors, Rotaractors, and Rotarians.

Please share RYLA with any high school aged students in your life—including children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, friends, and neighbors—and if they are interested in participating in the program. please let us know. You can contact Ed Wier or MJ Raab for more information.

The RYLA program is also looking for adults to serve as chaperones, mentors, and team leaders. If you would be interested as serving as a chaperone, please contact Ed Wier.

RYLA is a wonderful experience for the students who participate. It helps them develop their leadership skills and gain the confidence needed to make positive change through service.