What is RYLA? Answer: Rotary Youth Leadership Award

Posted by Robert Chambers 
on Nov 05, 2013
 

Members had the privilege of hearing our two 2013 RYLArians Seth Harles from Lidgerwood and Ramiro Perales from Wyndmere during the club's regular meeting at Prante’s on noon Tuesday November 5, 2013.  RYLA is the Rotary Youth Leadership Award camp held this past mid-July at the University of Minnesota, Crookston. High school sophomores and juniors are eligible for the free camp.  Wahpeton Rotary typically sends two students.  The objective is to enhance the student’s leadership skills over a broad base of skills.

            Seth Harles confirmed that the camp helped him overcome shyness but he emphasized that it also helped him listen to and embrace other’s ideas and to strategize based on that conversation.  As the Lidgerwood football quarterback this past fall he believes that the lessons learned at RYLA aided him be a team leader and the quarterback.

            Both students agreed that they had wondered why they were going to the camp while travelling to Crookston.  However the experience proved much more than they expected.  Both confirmed that they are still in contact with their “families” and both families are considering a reunion.

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Seth Harles (Lidgerwood) and Ramiro Peralse (Wyndmere)

           

 
                The speakers included Ryan Hreljac the now 22 year old from Kempville, Ontario who at the age of 6 started Ryan’s Well that has completed 500 projects bringing clean water to 650,000 people in communities in West Africa (Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Togo), East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda), and Haiti.  In general the focus of the speakers was to demonstrate how to be a better person and contribute to the community.  Training included how to listen and problem solve as a team as well as attempting to walk in other’s shoes to understand the situation of people in foreign countries.  The program even included night of fine dining where they were taught the purpose of all the forks and spoons.

                Some of the experience was hands on with an afternoon of “Acts of Kindness” where they handed out roses to individuals and companies throughout the city.  They also packaged food at a shelter.

                It was not all work.  One event was a visit to a water park in Thief River Falls.  The young men did acknowledge that the 4:1 female: male ratio was a good thing.

                Both students emphasized their improved skill of listening to others noting that at times they discovered them using the skills without realizing before that they were.  They spoke of the importance at school of “acknowledging younger kids” and showing them how great older teens can be.