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Anthony Perez, junior at Prior Lake High School, shared his experiences at Camp RYLA. Congratulations Anthony for your leadership and service activities!

Prior Lake Rotary President, Paul Perez and Susan Perez, Prior Lake Rotary Member, are Anthony's proud parents.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a program that originated with Rotary International. RYLA encourages servant leadership in youth by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an "award" for their past and present leadership and service activities.

These select young people attend an all-expenses-paid camp where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues of today. These activities are conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The result is that these students return to their schools and communities motivated to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve. 

 

RYLA's intent is to encourage students to be more effective servant leaders. RYLA is not a camp intended to teach leadership skills (it is assumed that the students in attendance already possess those skills), however the following topics naturally arise in the course of RYLA activities and discussions: fundamentals of leadership, ethics of positive leadership, qualities of a "servant" leader, importance of communication skills in effective leadership, conflict management and problem solving, building self-esteem and self confidence, elements of community and global citizenship, and Rotary's purpose of service to the community and world.