We Need YOU!
Current high school students are the future of our society and future Rotarians. Help teach our them leadership by volunteering for a short-term or long-term position. Help instill leadership skills in the next generation of Rotarians!
Interested in having the best week of your life?
Rotary Districts 5630 and 5610 would LOVE to have you at RYLA with us. Below is a list of the positions needing filled and a description of each.
General Volunteer Requirements (for week-long staff only)
- No cost to serve on staff but must get yourself to and from camp.
- Those serving on staff during the week at RYLA cannot drive students to and from camp.
- Must have a willingness to work with high school junior and senior boys and girls.
- Submit a personal medical history including a physical
- Participate fully in all sessions and activities as appropriate.
- Must be able to attend RYLA beginning the day before the first day of camp through the end.
Leadership Team Applications open december 15, 2024!
Members of our Leadership Team must have attended RYLA as a camper AND previously as a junior counselor. Team members must have good communication skills, possess the ability to motivate campers, the ability to lead without taking over, and work cohesively with the RYLA chair and committee.
Leadership Team members will support a team of junior counselors with the goal of creating a successful experience for the RYLArians. You will be the junior counselors first point of contact and will need to share and document appropriate information with them from the RYLA chair and committee.
You will actively participate in the selection of junior counselors with the support of the RYLA chair and committee. Assist the RYLA chair to refine and confirm the camp program and speakers. You will prepare and direct the staff development with the RYLA chair. You will actively participate on monthly ZOOM/phone conference calls with RYLA committee.
During the RYLA week, you will be required to facilitate the RYLA program and act as MC throughout the week, direct daily junior/senior counselor meetings and solve any junior counselor disputes. If necessary, you may need to document and communicate disputes with the RYLA chair and coordinator.
You will be invited and should plan to attend the Rotary District 5630 Conference in the spring.
SUPPLIES
- Obtain materials necessary for RYLA activities.
- Make arrangements to get materials to and from camp.
- Communicate with Maranatha camp staff with need for:
- Etiquette dinner supplies, table service
- Specials meals
- Audio/visual equipment
- Tables and chairs
- Order t-shirts, water bottles, lanyards and gift items.
- Order notebooks and make copies of needed materials.
PUBLIC RELATIONS/PROMOTIONS
- Work with the District 5630 Public Image Chair to develop a list of local media contacts within District 5630.
- Develop and implement a promotion plan within District 5630 to promote RYLA
- Promote Rotarians serving as volunteer senior counselors.
- Develop a plan to update video, brochures, and flyers.
SPONSORSHIPS
- Contact businesses or individuals that would provide financial resources to help fund RYLA.
- Contact businesses or individuals that would provide gifts-in-kind to help support RYLA with materials needed.
- Find opportunities that we can do business with Rotarians for items needed for RYLA that we can purchase or borrow.
ACTIVITIES
- Lead Great Plains RYLA program by promoting leadership to all activities.
- Involve all staff as needed in the setup and execution of activities and events.
- Make sure all audio-visual materials are setup for speakers and presenters.
- Provide fillers between activities and speakers.
Junior Counselor Applications Open february 15, 2025!
You must have attended RYLA as a participant in the last three years. You will need to demonstrate excellent leadership skills during RYLA, be a good communicator, and should feel comfortable leading a group of peers. You will need to attain a high level of confidence and skill to be a success.
You will be required to attend staff development sessions with all other counselors. You will work closely with the Senior Counselor you are partnered with to develop a team dynamic in addition to honing your own skills. During the week of RYLA you will lead your team of RYLArians through the activities. Your primary role is to encourage individual and team growth through RYLA. You need to be able to initiate activities to occupy the RYLArians in a productive manner at all times. Through this process you will facilitate team activities and discussions demonstrating confidence.
You will learn and demonstrate various techniques to help the RYLArians develop their own leadership skills, challenging RYLArians to break barriers, be bold, be creative, and be an initiator.
Put the needs of the RYLArian’s ahead of the needs of the Junior Counselors or staff. Report all problems and emergencies to the senior counselor or RYLA chair or coordinator, maintaining communication with the Leadership Team. If you are an experienced Junior Counselor, you can assist in mentoring first-time junior counselors. At the end of each day as well as at the end of the week you will collect surveys from all RYLArians.
Senior Counselor Applications Open april 1, 2025!
Our past Senior Counselors tell us that this is one of the best experiences of their Rotary life. If you would like to share this experience with other district leaders, then come to RYLA as a Senior Counselor. You must be a Rotarian or Rotaractor in good standing with your club in District 5630 or District 5610. Must be at least 21 years of age or older. You will be required to participate in the entire camp experience and attend all dates of Great Plains RYLA.
Your primary function at RYLA is to 1.) Enable young adults to continue their leadership development and 2.) Ensure the fulfillment of the goals for the RYLA participants. You will need to demonstrated excellent leadership skills and possess the ability to motivate youth.
During the week-long camp, you will support and stay in communication with the junior counselor you are paired with, develop a team dynamic as well as the individual RYLArian’s skills. You will attend all activities with your paired team (junior counselor, and RYLArian campers.)
You will actively oversee the safety of the junior counselor and your team. Help make connections between RYLA and Rotary. Serve as a mentor to the junior counselor and the RYLArian’s. Enforce team rules and implement necessary consequences. Any issues that extend beyond group dynamics need to be reported to the RYLA chair. Assist the junior counselor in facilitating all activities and group discussions as necessary.
Accomplish any tasks that require leaving the group temporarily; the junior counselor should never leave the team.
Maintain communication with the RYLA chair and committee.
