District 7930's RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Award) program is a two-year program. High school students attend the RYLA weekend as first-time attendees--participating in several leadership development activities and discussions. The following year, selected participants are invited to spend 20+ hours over five months training to be Youth Facilitators at the next RYLA weekend. Young adults who participate in both years come away with an amazing skill set and great friends from among their peers and from the Rotarians who help guide the program! Due to COVID, RYLA was certainly different this year! Instead of inviting Sophomores and Juniors in High School to attend, we invited back our RYLA Alumni. The program was held over two weekends. In late July, a Zoom session with special speaker Tisha Hood was held. Last weekend, an all-day in-person RYLA day was held with twenty young adults and the D7930 RYLA Committee. The day started with a paddle on the Ipswich River, various leadership activities and sessions, special guest speaker, a BBQ, and campfire at Camp Cedar Mill in Rowley. Our guest speaker was the extraordinary endurance athlete Katie Spotz, who inspired the entire group with her efforts to raise funds and awareness of the issue of clean water around the world. Learn more about Katie at www.katiespotz.com.
The RYLA Reunion was a wonderful success. All who attended were inspired to continue to serve their communities and the world beyond, and several of the attending young adults agreed to help with RYLA in the coming year!
A special Thank You to the Rotary Clubs of Malden and Ipswich for their support of our impactful day!