Rotarians had the opportunity to learn about a Rotary youth leadership initiative at their Feb. 2 lunch meeting.
The Rotary Club of Lloydminster welcomed Iqmat Iyiola by zoom to speak on the Rotary Youth Leadership Experience (RYLE).
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“We run a really amazing program here in the districts and we just hope continue to impact as many students as we have and continue to do,” she said.
Camp Nakamun will play host to RYLE from April 30 to May 3 with between 80 and 100 high school students expected to attend.
“I believe, last year, 89 campers were sponsored by 35 rotary clubs from across the district,” said Iyiola.
RYLE is an annual conference hosted by the RYLE committee and sponsored by Rotary clubs in District 5370, which covers Saskatchewan, Alberta, B.C., Yukon and Northwest Territories.
For students attending the RYLE camp, there are core objectives and teachings they try to foster.
“With RYLE, we have three core objectives and these stay really the same throughout the programming,” she said. “We really prioritize student leadership, community building and local citizenship.
“We’re really giving campers an opportunity to develop their leadership skills.”
It also helps campers develop interpersonal relationship skills, public speaking, communication and teamwork.
“We’re really giving them opportunities to find themselves within those skills,” said Iyiola. “Our campsite really focuses on critical thinking and then enhancing their ability to think really critically, diversely and inclusively.”
She says the RYLE program also serves as an introduction for many to rotary.
“One thing we do is we divide the campers into the seven pillars of rotary,” she said.
Ultimately, the program focuses on the development of high schoolers, building friendships and developing key skills.
“A really key focus of our program is social development,” she said. “We’re helping and expecting these campers to build strong connections with like-minded youth.”
It’s largely hands-on learning with some lectures.
“We really do focus over the course of the four days, on experiential learning opportunities,” said Iyiola.
The program is supported by a team of volunteers.
“We do have a team of about 28 volunteer supervisors, camp counsellors that come out,” she said.
The weekend culminates in presentations in various forms by the campers.
“At the end of the weekend, the campers are given the opportunity to present their findings to the group, whether it’s a presentation, sometimes it’s a skit, sometimes it’s a play,” she said.
Iyiola pointed out they do change their programming every year. She gave an example of last year featuring a focus on debates to practise negotiation skills.
“We’re always looking at selecting new speakers,” she said.
Information regarding the camp can be found online or through local Rotary clubs.
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