“RYLA camp is an amazing opportunity. I learned so much more about myself at the camp. It was one of the best experiences I’ve had,” shared Max Janick, a past participant and current junior at Notre Dame Academy.

RYLA is the acronym for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

NDA students have the opportunity to grow their leadership skills and make connections through the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a three-day camp focused on leadership that will take place October 3-5.

Sponsored by the Green Bay Rotary Club, RYLA is free for every student selected. Each student is supplied with a $450 sponsorship.

According to Rotarian Chris Vanden Hoogen, “We will be accepting forms through mid-September and will be reaching out to students as they apply.” 

Here are links to a handout and video on the RYLA program from Vanden Hoogen.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GfIuWcPNCbO7RWw6NcgqrKU8h_7OGkjy/view?usp=sharing

According to counselors and Rotarians, RYLA can help build a student’s resume and help prepare them for life beyond high school.

This camp brings together sophomores and juniors in high school from all across Northeast Wisconsin and parts of Michigan.

Campers engage in various outdoor activities, including team bonding exercises, rope courses, and problem solving puzzles. All immersive activities are meant to grow trust, confidence, cohesiveness and leadership in each participant. 

Notre Dame Academy students Joshua Huss, Michael George, Maxwell Janick, Pamela Escalera, Jasalynn Cruz and Jerson Torres attended the camp last school year. Shaun Huss, a 2023 participant, was so positively impacted by the program that he decided to return as a student facilitator.

“I came back to be a student facilitator because I had a life-changing experience at RYLA, and I wanted to give that same experience to someone else,” said Huss.

Applications are open now through mid-September for current sophomores and juniors in the Green Bay area. Candidates ideally should be able to carry out leadership characteristics and be open to learning more about cooperating with others. 

Students interested should submit their applications soon with the correct information. Use the link posted above for application information or contact Counselor Becky Bain.