Nathan Tracey - RYLA

Barrow Sixth Form College student, Nathan Tracy, was the guest speaker at a Barrow Rotary Club meeting in January. Nathan had been sponsored by the Club to attend the week long Rotary Youth Lead-ership Award (RYLA) course in July 2014 at Castle Head outdoor centre which is situated between Lindale and Grange-over-Sands. 

The course is for 16 to 18 year old students or apprentices who either have already displayed, or shown potential to develop, leadership qualities which are likely to be of value in their future educational or ca-reer plans. The course is open to Rotary sponsored candidates from across Cumbria and Lancashire. Nathan started his talk by thanking Barrow Rotary Club for giving him the opportunity to attend the course which had proved to be both a valuable and enjoyable experience. Over 30 candidates of both genders from across the North West had assembled at Castle Head on a Saturday in July, most of whom were un-known to each other. As a consequence the afternoon welcome and introductory tour of the centre had been followed by being put into four mixed groups for ice breaker activities, these groups of 7 or 8 to form the basis for many of the following week's activities.

Nathan described how the initial feelings if apprehension were soon dispelled by the initial activities which included climbing up Hampsfell, and a raft building exercise and race. He was pleased to able to report that within a short time the groups had emerged as viable units for what was to follow. These activities had extended into the second day and gave Nathan an opportunity to try rock climbing for the first time, an activity he particularly enjoyed and described in some detail.

Also included in the day were preparation of questions for the two evenings' guest talks and also planning for the charity car wash on Monday, and for the high spot of the week, the two day expedition on Tuesday and Wednesday The charity car wash took place for Nathan's group at the Lindale Inn with other groups at Cartmel and Holker Hall raising a total of £350 to support Rotary's Shelter Box Appeal for providing emergency accommodation across the world in crisis areas.

The following overnight expedition was in the Coniston area and Nathan showed photographs of the group climbing two mountains and setting up wild camping for the night in between. The weather had been good and resulted in a number of the group sleeping outside under the stars. As with other activities in the week, members of the group took it in turns to act as group leader ensuring that all had the opportunity to develop leadership skills and taking responsibility for safely following the route in unfamiliar territory. On their return there were group and individual debriefs followed by preparation for Thursday evening's presentations to sponsoring Rotary Clubs representatives and parents. The evening had then concluded with a formal dinner and presentation of certificates to candidates.

In response to questions at the end of his very successful and concise talk to the Rotary Club, Nathan said that he felt his communication, teamwork and leadership skills had all benefitted from the course. Lots of people had been nervous about being with a group of un-known people, but this had soon been overcome and the experience and confidence gained from this would stand them all in good stead for going off to higher education and/or employment in the future.

Nathan has aspirations for university or a career in project management with BAE, and Rotarian Bob Red-head in his vote of thanks congratulated Nathan on the success of his talk and the value he had taken from the course, both of which all those present agreed augured well for his future.