For 40 years, Rotary Clubs from north and south of the US border (BC, Idaho and Washington) have been operating week-long Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camps each summer, sending hundreds of young adults (18-25) off with enhanced leadership and living skills.
More recently, the four Rotary clubs in Nelson and Creston have added a “Mini RYLA” to their efforts by sponsoring a 3-day leadership camp for Grade 9-12 students in the School District No. 8 (Kootenay Lake) area.
“This year the camp was held at Crawford Bay School from November 11 – 13 and was a resounding success,” organizer Dave Douglas, formerly of Creston, said last week. “This was the second year for the program and planning is already underway for next year’s camp.
“Through 15 different interactive sessions, related to helping the campers discover and build their leadership skills and offered by a variety of skilled presenters, they explored such areas as critical thinking, ethics, communication, global perspectives, community service and much more.”
Mini RYLA is fully sponsored by the participating clubs and sponsors, so there was no financial cost to the participants.
“We received generous support from many individuals and organizations including; the four Rotary clubs, School District No.8, Columbia Basin Trust, Creston & District Credit Union, Selkirk College, Overwaitea Foods of Creston, 12 Mile Storage, and RDCK directors Ramona Faust (Area E), Tom Newell (Area F), Hans Cunningham (Area G) and Garry Jackman (Area A),” Douglas said. “In addition, many Rotarians and members of the community volunteered to organize the event and assist in preparing and serving the food and generally supporting the event.”
The staff for the camp were former RYLA campers from the area, including Jennifer Matosevic, Nik Wood and Mateus Dachwitz, from Nelson, Tara Kowalchuk from Rossland and Danielle Sonntag, staff coordinator, from Creston.
Douglas also expressed his gratitude to Lori Fehr, Director of Innovative Learning for the School District No 8, a key member of the planning team.
“To the participants, we thank you for your contributions of enthusiasm, thoughtfulness and wisdom,” he said. “We know you are and will continue to make a difference in the world.”