Yes. We ask students to commit to the entire week. There are a number of activities and experiences that build on each other and missing parts of the week can affect not only the absent camper but the entire group. In rare instances, we make exceptions to accommodate unexpected life events.
Not for another couple years! In order for you to have the best experience possible, it will be in your best interest to wait until the summer before your senior year of high school. Having students within the same age range gives common experiences and upcoming decisions (post-high school, yikes!) to think about. In the interim, stay involved in school and keep finding extracurricular opportunities, which will make you an outstanding camper!
Well, yes and no. Camp takes place on the beautiful University of Minnesota Crookston campus and we do stay in the dorms. BUT each dorm is equipped with a living space, small kitchenette, sleeps up to 4 people and has between 1-2 bathrooms, so you'll still be living comfortably!
We have a pretty full schedule during RYLA to make the most our of your time there. The Camper Schedule details out what the sessions are for each day.
This is an interactive environment, while we do have speakers that give you some need to know information to improve your leadership skills, for the most part, we'd want you to get to practice these new skills yourself. Also - it's summer for everyone so we want to keep it fun. You'll be included in a small group, called a family, that you can navigate each day with, a volunteer facilitator will use family time to help you apply those new skills and focus on what you all find most interesting from the day. There's also time set aside just for play - this includes a water obstacle course, dance, variety show and many others. Overall, you'll be doing a mix of everything - diving in and engaging in the moment is the best way to use your RYLA experience!
The sponsoring Rotary club is responsible for camper transportation. Drop off is between 10:30 a.m. - 11 a.m. on Sunday, the start of camp at Evergreen Hall, University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC). Pick up is at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, the last day of camp at Evergreen Hall, UMC.
Checks are due by April 30. Approved student applications are due by April 30 of every year. Applications can be emailed to ryla5580@gmail.com.
You can find many of these answers on the Rotarians page of this site. A few quick tips include meeting with the local high school counselor, asking previous campers to help recruit, and working with youth leaders in your community.
Students who have applied online received the release forms in an email. The form is 4 pages long including a liability release, waiver, and medical authorization. You and your parents/guardians will need to complete these forms and get them Notarized (local banks & libraries often have free Notary services). They can also be found here for your reference as well.