2025 RYLA Campers Return Home With New Skills and Changed Lives
Another year, another RYLA. What is RYLA, you ask? It stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Award, a dynamic adult-led program hosted each February by Rotary District 5830 for high school juniors.
Just like in years past, 21 juniors from Texarkana and West Bowie County attended the 2025 RYLA camp, and once again, lives were changed.
RYLA brings together high school juniors from across Northeast Texas and Southeast Oklahoma for an immersive leadership experience. Each year, approximately 200 students participate in two dynamic camps designed to develop eight key leadership traits:
- Integrity
- Trust
- Communication
- Teamwork
- Planning
- Problem-Solving
- Decision-Making
- Self-Confidence
The camp, held at Clements Scout Ranch in Athens, Texas. RYLA is a fast-paced, high-energy program packed with activities from dawn until well past sunset. Students work in teams to tackle creative challenges that test their problem-solving skills, stretch their imaginations, and build resilience.
Through these hands-on experiences, they gain a deeper understanding of leadership and leave with the confidence to make a lasting positive impact in their communities.
Pictured Above:
Desiree Bowder, Kennedy Collins, Dax Cunningham, Addy Ford, Reid Hatridge, William McCauley, Josie Schilling, Emma Ortega, Wakley Autry, Julius Ricks, Zailey Wells, Deja Aubrey, Taryne Stiger, Avery Carver, Violeta Pena, Dayne Clark, Emily McGuire, Grayson Davis, Aniya James, Maike Giese, Carson Huckobey, Kaylon Grissom, Ava Herberg, Lynley Butler.
Adult Leader: Andi Darby
Congratulations to all of these young people on the completion of another challenging RYLA camp. We know the experience changed you for the better.
Rotary International is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
Learn more about Rotary at this link, RotaryTXK.com.