Our Projects - For Our Youth

Budding Readers
The Rotary has partnered with Budding Readers to bring the program to the Naples community. Babies, up to 36 months of age in the Naples School District can receive a free “bundle of books” along with our Parent Guide, which contains tips for reading to babies and young children. In addition, a gift of age-appropriate books is provided for siblings through age 7. Budding Readers also provides a new book for each UPK, Kindergarten and First Grade student in the Naples district at least once each year.
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Backpacks and School Supplies
In collaboration with the faculty of Naples Central School, which identifies areas of need, our Rotary Club donates backpacks and appropriate supplies at the beginning of every school year.
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Dictionary/Thesaurus for Elementary Students
Early literacy is critical to the success of a child’s later education. Rotarians must continually work with children and educators to encourage and build reading skills.  Literacy is a human right, a tool of personal empowerment and a means of social and human development. Literacy is at the heart of basic education for all, and essential for eradicating poverty, reducing child mortality, achieving gender and racial equality and ensuring sustainable development for peace and democracy.   A good quality basic education equips pupils with literary skills for life and further learning to help meet pressing developments of society.
 
"Thanks to Naples Rotary and Interact as they provided a dictionary for each third grader and a thesaurus for each 6th grader today at NCS. Our students also engaged in an important discussion about the importance of service, both in school, at home, and in our community."
- Kevin Swartz
Naples CSD Superintendent
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Arbor Day Seedlings
The Naples NY Rotary Club wants to give every child the priceless joy of planting and watching trees grow.

By doing so, we will beautify our neighborhoods, put a significant dent in our carbon footprint, and help instill in the hearts of our little ones a sense of magic, wonder, and love for our planet. This is part of the Earth Day project.

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Christmas Books

The Naples NY Rotary Club donates and distributes books to children during an event at Naples Central School at Christmas time. Our Club buys new books each year for this event. 

The books are appropriate for children in UPK through grade 6, with assistance from Budding Readers, supplying books for UPK and Kindergarten.

Santa delivering books
Cub Scout Pack 40
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. The Naples NY Rotary Club charters Pack 40 and supports many Eagle Scout projects.
Dental Health Contest

The talent and creativity our children show every year, under the supervision and inspiration of our school art teachers is amazing!

The Rotary Club sponsors this contest and the winning students get to share their work with the Rotarians at one of their meetings. The past poster contests have been terrific. 

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Naples Central School Band
The Naples NY Rotary Club supports students in band as they learn so much more than music (which is proven to impact brain power!). They learn self-discipline, team skills, goal setting, and work ethic. 
One year, the marching band needed Igloos to keep their beverages cold. We made that happen for them.
NCS Band Photos
Naples Central School Interact
Interact is a service and social club for young people aged 14- 18. Each Club is sponsored by a Rotary club which guides the Interactors in developing local and international service projects. Interact clubs are self–governing and self-supporting, offering many opportunities for members to develop valuable leadership and teamwork skills.  Interact’s name is a combination of the words international and action.  It’s one of Rotary’s fastest growing programs. 
Interact Students
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a life-changing leadership training program where young people learn, develop, and enhance leadership skills and principles in an atmosphere of trust and respect. RYLA encourages and assists current and potential youth leaders in methods of responsible and effective leadership. Many past "RYLArians" claim, “It was the best weekend of my life!”

Students who are currently high school sophomores or juniors may apply to attend RYLA. Generally, applicants selected have excelled in one or more areas of high school involvement and have potential or proven leadership experience. 

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Rotary Club Exchange Program
Youth Exchange is a program offered in Rotary Clubs from over 100 countries. Serving as a way to learn new languages, discover new cultures, and provide peaceful relationships, Youth Exchange is an important part of young people becoming global citizens. 
 
Short term and long term exchanges are offered. Short term exchanges last from several days to 3 months and are often structured as camps, tours, home-stays and occur when school is not in session. Long term exchanges usually last one full academic year and students attend school and live with multiple host families. 
 
Various Rotary Clubs contribute by providing room and board as well as school fees. Students are usually responsible for round trip airfare, travel insurance, travel documents and spending money/additional travel/tours. 
 
 
Click on the link below for...
 
More Pictures
Oratorical and Vocal Contests
The purpose of the 4-Way Test Speech Contest is to foster the principles of ethics in everyday life as well as in business. The Contest is designed to introduce high school students to Rotary by creating interest through a competitive speech contest, sponsored by Naples NY Rotary club. The specific goals of the Contest are:
  • To acquaint a large number of youth with Rotary, and specifically, the tenets of the 4- Way Test.
  • To demonstrate and enhance Rotarians’ commitment to youth.
  • To heighten awareness of Rotary among students, parents, school officials, and the community at large.
  • To recognize, encourage and reward hard work and accomplishment in our youth.
  • To provide an opportunity for Rotarians to participate in a Community/Vocational Service program which focuses on the 4-Way Test as our standard of behavior.
More About Oratorical Contest
Naples Central High School Scholarships

Our Rotary Club invests in our future leaders and philanthropists by funding scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study. Naples NY Rotary Club support this project by giving 4 scholarships totaling over 2,200. These are in remembrance of long time Rotarians; Brad Clawson, Bruce Clawson, Duane Schultz & Tony Long.

Naples Central School Student Assistance
The Student Assistance Fund makes small awards to help eligible students with indirect costs of attendance such as books, printing and copying costs, film, developing, other required course supplies, personal items, transportation, and food. Naples Rotary helps supports this project.
Naples Youth Corp
The Naples NY Rotary club helps support the Naples Youth Corporation which provides all youth of Naples and its surrounding communities a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment to explore opportunities in education, recreation, and personal growth.
More about the Naples Youth Corp.

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