From Feb. 7 to Feb. 9, high school students from Rotary District 5890, including students from CVHS, attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) camp at Carolina Creek in Huntsville, Texas. This annual overnight camp is designed to develop leadership, teamwork and service-oriented skills through interactive activities and mentorship.
“It is a great experience and I really do push everyone to apply,” John Nguyen, the interact senior advisor, remarked.
Officially created by Rotary International in 1971 and sponsored by local Rotary clubs, Camp RYLA is a renowned program that gives young students practical experience and leadership training.
“It was like an actual camp. There were cabins, lots of activities, and a lot of people. I’d guess around 150. It was a lot more interactive than I thought,” Suzanna Paez, a sophomore at the camp, said.
Campers were assigned teams when they arrived and worked together on multiple team-building activities. Many had the opportunity to connect with people outside their usual circles, including exchange students from Clear Lake.
“Many activities required multiple people doing different things, so we had to plan strategically,” Paez explained.
One particularly noteworthy task was an obstacle course that required individuals to stay silent while crossing platforms made of wooden planks. This was designed to build teamwork and cooperation skills. “Some people got frustrated because others weren’t listening. We weren’t allowed to talk, so we had to use non-verbal communication and be aware of our surroundings,” Paez explained.
The camp offers more than just physical activities though, Camp RYLA encouraged reflection and personal development. On the second night, campers wrote down their personal hardships on a piece of paper and threw them into a fire, symbolizing letting go.
In another activity, campers had to place tape as high as possible on a wall and repeat the task multiple times. “Each time, the instructor changed the wording of the instructions. At the end, he explained that we could have gone higher if we had interpreted the instructions differently. It was about understanding the rules of what you’re trying to do,” Paez recalled.
In addition to teamwork, students learned about different models of leadership. They were divided into four groups based on a leadership evaluation: Orange (energetic), Gold (traditional/parental), Green (analytical), and Blue (mediator, compassionate). Students learned how to work with people of different and similar personalities as a result.
To further reinforce leadership lessons, campers heard from a local millionaire and philanthropist who shared insights on service and leadership. “His talk about his work was really impactful,” Paez said.
Students interested in attending future Camp RYLA events can contact their Interact Clubs or local Rotary clubs for application details.
