Our club recently welcomed back the students we sponsored to attend District 6250 RYLA in May 2026 — and what they shared reminded us exactly why we invest in young leaders. Here's a look at their experience and what they're taking home with them. Keep reading to learn more about RYLA and hear their story.
At our most recent club meeting, we had the privilege of welcoming back the students our club sponsored to attend District 6250's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) this past May — along with their parents — for a moment of celebration, reflection, and gratitude.
For those unfamiliar, RYLA is Rotary's flagship leadership development program for young people. District 6250's program takes place at Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center in Wisconsin Dells over a long weekend each spring. Designed specifically for high school sophomores, it immerses students in leadership skills, teamwork, and the values at the heart of Rotary — grounded in the Four-Way Test. The goal isn't just a great camp experience. It's to send students home with the tools, confidence, and connections to make a real difference in their last two years of high school and beyond.
Based on what we heard at our meeting, that's exactly what happened.
One student shared something that stopped the room: "We all decided we were going to talk — we were going to communicate." In just a weekend, a group of young people made a collective commitment to each other. By the end of camp, as another student put it, "you could tell we knew our part and who we were on the team." And perhaps most exciting of all — one student came home already thinking ahead, eager to start an Interact Club because they believe kids at their school want to be involved in community service.
That's RYLA working exactly as it should.
To our sponsored students: thank you for representing our club with enthusiasm and openness. To the parents and guardians who supported this experience and joined us at the meeting — your partnership means everything. We can't wait to watch what you do next, in your schools, your families, and your own lives.
The world needs the leaders you're becoming.