Grove Rotary Helps Local Students Prepare for the Future

Recently, on a crisp autumn Thursday morning, a van pulled up in front of the Grove High School. It was there to load thirteen eleventh graders, who had been accepted as participants in the 2016 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp. A close by observer, watched as the students loaded their “gear,” food, books, games and even their pillows. Rapidly talking above one another, some more reserved than others; all were excited for the experience they would encounter over the next four days.

RYLA is an intensive training program that brings together young adults to further develop character and leadership skills and learn about Rotary. The Grove Rotary Club, supports RYLA for our local students because it encourages servant leadership, awards students for their past leadership activities and allows students to gain exposure to a variety of issues and people; while inspiring them into building confidence for future leadership opportunities. Grove Rotarians provide this all-expense paid trip to the camp where the students participate in numerous teambuilding activities, hear motivational speakers and make life-long friends.

The students are in diverse groups where an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect is honored. Each student is encouraged to freely discuss the ethical and social issues they experience. When the students return to their school, the program has promoted confidence and self-esteem that often leads to additional leadership roles at school, as well as in the community.

Under the leadership of Rotarians, Kristi Wallace and Matt Henderson, the Grove students were interviewed and selected for the RYLA program. This year the Grove Rotary sent thirteen (13) juniors and a senior returned this year as a Chief in Training (CIT.)

Ms. Wallace attended the 2016 Camp as a sponsor and said, “I’ve been involved with RYLA for years. When our students return from camp, they are always highly enthusiastic about their experiences and ready to take on the challenges of making our world a better place.” She goes on to say, “What I didn’t realize is that the most introverted, reserved students, who are lacking in confidence, leave the camp empowered and equipped to step up and become leaders in their schools and communities.”

Attending the 2016 RYLA Camp from Grove, were the following students: Ben Cloud, Whitney Downing, Tessa DuBois, Nicholas Harrison, William Hopper, Jacob Houck, Ryan Jackson, Paul Paquin, Serah Reyes, Nick Schirloff Shawna Smith, Andrew Wallace and Katie Westover. Macey Wallace, a senior, returned to the Camp this year as a Chief in Training (CIT.)

During a recent Rotary meeting after RYLA Camp, students shared how they benefited from the program’s objectives, which are:

 To demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth

 To encourage and assist young people in responsible and effective youth leadership

 To foster continued and stronger leadership of youth by youth

 To publicly recognize young people who are rendering service to their communities as youth   leaders

Students are separated into tribes, with designated headband colors and names to allow them to “get out of” their comfort zone and become acquainted with others in the tribe. The Grove students described how this process allowed them the freedom to be “themselves” and openly discuss issues of concern. After attending RYLA Camp for two years, Macey Wallace enthusiastically exclaimed,

“Attending RYLA was an amazing experience. As a camper I learned how to identify some of my strengths as a leader and also learned how I could be more effective.” Wallace went on to add, “I think one of the most important things I learned as a camper is how a good leader works with teams. Every member of a team brings different strengths and a team can achieve the greatest success when team leaders encourage each team member and makes each person feel welcome and comfortable.”

When asked why she decided to return a second year, as a team counselor, Macey emphasized her first RYLA camping experience. “My experience as a camper was so positive, I wanted to come back as a Chief in Training (CIT). When I applied to be a CIT for the 2016 camp, I learned approximately 130 campers had also applied to be a CIT. I think this speaks volumes as to the effectiveness of RYLA that out of about 250 campers, more than half had the confidence and desire to return as a CIT. I was so excited to be one of 30 CIT’s to attend the camp. I enjoyed encouraging and inspiring the campers in my tribe. I loved playing a role in helping these students see their full potential.”

She went on to explain the primary responsibility of a CIT, “Each day is full of hands on activities designed to help campers identify their strengths, learn to work with and respect others and learn about team dynamics. We truly learn the importance of putting service about self; we assist the campers in developing a mission statement, and so much more during the four days we are together. I am so thankful for the Grove Rotarians who invest their time and money in our students. I look forward to the day I become a Rotarian myself so I can pay it forward by giving back to others.”

Rotary is a worldwide organization of more than 1.2 million business, professional and community leaders whose members provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and helps build goodwill and peace in the world. Grove Rotary currently has 186 members and is growing in membership weekly.

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