About Us
RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) is a weeklong leadership experience for high school students hosted each summer by Rotary District 5580. Though a mix of team-building activities, leadership workshops, service-learning, and lifelong friendship-building, campers leave RYLA with greater confidence, stronger communication skills, and a deeper understanding of what it means to lead with integrity and empathy.
We believe leadership isn’t just about titles. It’s about showing up, supporting others, and creating positive change in your community. At RYLA, we help young people unlock their potential and discover that leadership is something they can practice every day.
Our Mission
To empower youth to lead — with confidence, compassion, and purpose.
RYLA District 5580 helps high school students discover, develop, and refine their leadership skills. Whether students come to camp as emerging leaders or just beginning to explore their potential, our volunteer staff work closely with each camper to help them grow.
We believe every student brings something valuable to the table. And RYLA is where those strengths are recognized, celebrated, and expanded.
Our Vision for Camp
While each camper’s experience is unique, our goals remain consistent year after year:
- Help campers understand the fundamentals and challenges of being a leader
- Introduce and strengthen core leadership skills, including communication, problem solving, and collaboration
- Equip students with strategies to take positive, active roles in their schools, communities, and beyond
Where Camp Happens
RYLA is hosted on the campus of the University of Minnesota Crookston. Students stay in residence hall suites, eat in the dining hall, and use a mix of indoor and outdoor campus spaces. It’s a college-campus experience with the spirit of camp — full of energy, learning, and unforgettable memories.
Our Staff: 100% Volunteer Driven
Every year, a passionate team of volunteer staff comes together to make RYLA possible. Many of them are RYLA alumni themselves, returning year after year to give back to a program that made a difference in their lives.
Our volunteers travel from across the country, use their vacation time, and dedicate hundreds of hours to building a safe and empowering experience for every camper. RYLA exists because of their commitment — and their belief that young people are the leaders we need today.
Powered by Rotary
RYLA is an official program of Rotary International, a global service organization with 1.4 million members committed to creating lasting change.
Rotary District 5580 includes clubs around Minnesota, North Dakota, Northwestern Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada.
These clubs work together to support youth leadership, community service, and international understanding. They make RYLA possible through providing scholarships to each and every student attending camp.