The Rotary Club of Sunnyvale sponsored 4 students to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference June 24-29, 2018. The camp for our region was held at Mission Springs Camp and Conference Center in Scotts Valley. Upon their return, the students shared their experiences and takeaways with our club.
RYLA encourages servant leadership in youth by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th-grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an "award" for their past and present leadership and service activities. These select young people attend an all-expenses-paid camp where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues of today.
RYLA's intent is to encourage students to be more effective servant leaders. RYLA is not a camp intended to teach leadership skills (it is assumed that the students in attendance already possess those skills), however, the following topics naturally arise in the course of RYLA activities and discussions:
- Fundamentals of leadership
- Ethics of positive leadership
- Qualities of a "servant leader"
- Importance of communication skills in effective leadership
- Conflict management and problem-solving
- Building self-esteem and self-confidence
- Elements of community and global citizenship
- Rotary's purpose of service to the community and world
The Rotary Club of Sunnyvale is happy to have sponsored these four students from Homestead High School this year!
To learn more check out this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=1&v=cdErVq7nbCw