RYLA is an exciting camp where your leadership skills are identified, developed, and improved. The Camp lasts six days and is held in the beautiful Manzano mountains in central New Mexico. RYLA is the camp that will sharpen your leader skills. RYLA is a camp designed for you and for your future.

The camp is a weeklong seminar run by volunteer Rotarians and spouses. RYLA provides each staff member and participant with the opportunity to reach for the highest standards and to experience leadership at its best. RYLA's main focus is to develop young leaders. RYLA aims to: demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth, provide an effective training experience for selected youth leaders, encourage leadership of youth by youth, and recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities.

We do this through speakers who address: ethics of positive leadership, community leadership and involvement, problem solving and conflict management, the importance of communication skills, building confidence and self-esteem, exploring values and moral responsibility, and what is Rotary. We develop leadership skills by team building activities with organized games such as volleyball, relay swimming and a low ropes course. The challenge of the high ropes course then builds self-confidence.

RYLA is a official activity of Rotary International. The program was first developed in New Zealand and Australia in 1959 to fulfill a need to recognize and develop outstanding young people. RYLA was later adopted by Rotary International and is now held throughout the world. RYLA programs are held in Asia, India, Africa, Europe, South America and North America.