Each year, thousands of young people throughout the world take part in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. Young people chosen for their leadership potential attend this conference, funded entirely by Rotary, to learn and enhance leadership skills through practice.

Rotary Districts 5440 and 5450 (Denver area, Northern Colorado, Wyoming, Eastern Nebraska and Western Idaho) have run Rocky Mountain RYLA conferences since 1986. These all-expenses paid five-day conferences bring together boys and girls from our districts – but also from as far away as New Jersey, Texas, California, and even Russia(!) to learn to become better leaders.

To assist young people in becoming responsible and effective leaders Objectives of RYLA To assist young people in becoming responsible and effective leaders To encourage continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth To recognize outstanding young people already providing leadership to their communities To help young people begin a lifetime of service to others, hopefully to return later – as great Rotarians

RYLA helps teenagers learn leadership skills through experiential activities, incredible speakers, small group discussions, large group presentations, while building life-long friendships. After attending RYLA, over 120 apply to become Junior Counselors, vying for the 20 available spots.

Weeks after RYLA, parents have said, “I tried for 16 years to make my child into a good person – without success. You did it in ONE WEEK! How did you do that?” The answer is “RYLA Magic”. Part of this magic is having no pre-expectations, which is why we carefully avoid telling applicants exactly what we do.

Rocky Mountain RYLA is one of only three RYLA organizations in the world that includes both RYLA and Young RYLA. RYLA (or Senior RYLA) is for High School Sophomores and Juniors. Young RYLA is for current 7th graders.

Young RYLA is an action-packed program of activities that help build confidence and leadership skills (problem solving games, challenge course, zip line, skits, group discussions and team building activities). Although RYLA continues to be our flagship program, slots for 7th graders at Young RYLA are guarded as carefully as diamond bracelets.

Who is involved in Rocky Mountain RYLA? Rotary Districts 5440 and 5450 combine efforts to produce RYLA and Young RYLA. 110 of the 120 Rotary Clubs are participating in 2012. 215 Rotary RYLA Reps recruit, interview and select their 480 charges. 100 Rotarians and Junior Counselors manage RYLA and Young RYLA. 50 Rotarians enjoy one fabulous week as Senior Counselors. Approximately 40 Rotarians come to visit – spending a day to see one of the most amazing and invigorating Rotary programs in existence.

What does RYLA cost? Rotary clubs pay the $450 conference fee for each participant – the same for RYLA and Young RYLA. Every Rotary club is guaranteed 2 RYLA slots and 2 Young RYLA slots (if they wish to use them).

(rmRYLA is short for Rocky Mountain RYLA) Where & When is it? Senior RYLA is held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado in July each year. Go to www.rmRYLA.org for exact dates (rmRYLA is short for Rocky Mountain RYLA)

Where & When is it? Young RYLA is held in Larkspur, Colorado (south of Denver) in late July each year. Go to www.rmRYLA.org for exact dates.

500 High School students apply to attend RYLA. We have 240 RYLA slots. 400 7th graders apply for Young RYLA. We now have 240 Young RYLA slots – twice as many as in 2011.

Reads about RYLA/Young RYLA on www.rmRYLA.org How do students apply? Rocky Mountain RYLA has the only known fully electronic RYLA registration system, to manage one of the largest RYLA programs on earth. The student: Reads about RYLA/Young RYLA on www.rmRYLA.org Completes the on-line application February 15 - April 30 Prints it, gets parent signature, brings it to the Rotary interview The Rotary club’s RYLA Rep: Finds and reviews applications on www.rmRYLA.org Decides which applicants to sponsor Approves those applications on the www.rmRYLA.org web site Ensures that the applicant(s) have safe rides to and from camp

Their Lives are Changed Forever If you, as a Rotarian, have yet to visit RYLA or Young RYLA, please do. It might just change your life too!