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Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)
Rotary Youth Leadership Award [RYLA]
It does what it says on the tin!
RYLA events are for young people aged 16 to 17 years, who are about to start their working lives or to enter higher education, and who have shown leadership potential and are likely, as adults, to become future leaders. Students are put into mixed groups of complementary ability where they take part in outdoor activities. They are placed in challenging situations to help develop leadership and team bonding skills and to increase personal confidence.
RYLA CHANGES LIVES
“The experience of RYLA has truly been one of the most memorable and best things I have ever done in my life. The staff at Castle Head are brilliant, the activities are very good, the food was great, but most importantly the people I met there are now true friends.”Dien Curtis from Barrow-in-Furness"
Click here to read Dien’s whole article.
WHAT HAPPENS ON A RYLA COURSE:
(Age Range – students must be aged 16 to 17 years whilst on the course.)
Activities may include canoeing, abseiling, ghyll scrambling, hiking and camping overnight under canvas. Students are closely supervised by specialist staff at all times.
The students must be prepared for a range of tough physical and mental challenges, such as a getting wet, problem solving and practical group leadership exercises where each student has the opportunity to develop key leadership skills. Students also take part in a charity car wash to raise money for local causes.
The course is run in Castle Head Outdoor Centre near Grange-over-Sands in Cumbria . Castle Head are part of the Field Studies Council organisation. The cost of the course, which is paid for by the sponsoring Rotary Club, is £510
GETTING INVOLVED
The most essential part of any ROTARY Youth Programme is the strength of your Club’s relationship with a local school, educational establishment or other organisation.
Success depends entirely upon identifying the student who is likely to benefit most from the experience o f this course. It can’t be stressed enough that students should be chosen using extremely close co-operation between the School / Other Organisation Leader/and the Rotary Club. This starts with Rotarians passing on as much information about the objectives and content of the course to the Headteachers/ Group Leaders with a detailed profile of the type of young person best suited. Clubs are encouraged to be fully involved with the selection of candidates but nobody knows the potential candidates like the school staff/ other organisation leaders. Their input at the selection stage is vital.
WHEN DOES IT ALL START?
Schools/ Other Organisations are busy places. They need plenty of notice to get things moving, however start too early and your approach may get put onto the back burner and forgotten, start too late and you may run out of time. Contact your local school/other organisation no later than the middle of the Spring Term. Arrange to see the Headteacher or representative and give them a chance to identify students who will fit the profile.
A FEW SUGGESTIONS:
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Initial contact with the school / other organisation is best done by appointment (face to face) with the Head or representative in the Spring Term (beginning of March).
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The school /other organisation should be encouraged to prepare the shortlist at or shortly after the start of the Summer Term.
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Arrange to meet and talk to short-listed candidates in later April/ early May. A list of possible questions is on the back of the ENTRY FORM for 2013.
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Keep an alternative option up your sleeve in case a Candidate, after accepting a place, withdraws.
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Put as much information about your candidate on the ENTRY FORM. It will make a great difference to their RYLA experience.
INFORMATION AND GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS ,OTHER ORGANISATIONS AND SPONSORING CLUBS IN SLELECTING SUITABLE STUDENTS FOR THE RYLA COURSE.
PARTICIPANT DETAILS AND ENTRY REGISTRATION FORM.
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND STUDENTS. (PLEASE MAKE SURE TO INCLUDE A KIT LIST AND COURSE PROGRAMME TO BE SENT TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS).
EQUIPMENT LIST – (Recommended Kit – Castle Head may be able to help with this.)
RYLA COURSE PROGRAMME – what happens and when.
