Rotary Youth Leadership Award

Join The Camp

RYLA is the “outreach arm” of Rotary involvement in our community. The Boys RYLA Camp and the Girls RYLA Camp are aimed toward empowering our youth before their senior high school year through exposure to experts in a variety of fields at a one-week leadership camp held at the beautiful Manzano Mountain Retreat. These experts contribute their time and expertise to our campers’ growth and development at this vulnerable stage of maturity. Examples of speakers in the past have included astronauts, judges, lawyers, physicians, and business owners. 

 

Speakers offer the tools and support that campers will be able to develop and rely upon for the rest of their lives. At this same time, experienced and supportive Counselors (2 Counselors per 7 to 10 campers in a cabin) spend the entire week with campers to support and guide campers’ decisions in alliance with the 4-Way Test - the cornerstone of Rotary. We are enormously proud of our counselors and speakers who donate their time and expertise to offer this experience to our youth.

 
The principles of Rotary underlie RYLA Camp including the solo and shared activities and projects. These activities and projects bring out a Camper’s best skills, build goodwill and better friendships, and create a sense of community, while also reinforcing ethical behavior and integrity of character.  Campers experience the principles and purposes of Rotary, and many choose to be Rotarians later in their lives.  Alumni have earmarked RYLA as being the best thing in their memories, exposing them to choices of careers, cooperation with others, forging of friendships and support that they would never be able to find anywhere else in their lives.
2025 Camp Dates
 
 
Timeline Details:
  • Boy's Camp: July 13th - 19th
  • Girl's Camp: July 19th - 25th
 
Rotary Clubs Details
 
RYLA Camp Timeline:
  • Determine the number of campers to sponsor.
  • Complete the Camper Commitment Form.
  • Request your supply of RYLA brochures.
  • Send recruitment letters and begin promotional visits to high schools & youth organizations.
  • Recruit potential adult volunteers.
  • Submit sponsorship monies.
  • Submit completed and accepted RYLA applications.
  • Please keep one copy of the application for your records and send one to x.
 
Camping Details
 
RYLA Camp Timeline:
  • Complete and submit the online Application.
  • The deadline for individual applications to sponsoring clubs varies, but is usually late March to early April.
  • Check with your sponsoring club and be sure to deliver the sponsor application by the deadline.