RYLA 2026 - Friday, May 22 at 10am - Sunday, May 24 at 3pm
Friday, March 13th, 2026 - Deadline for clubs to complete the Club Sponsor Form
Friday April 17th, 2026 - Deadline for clubs to complete the Club Participants Form
- Develop skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.
- Build communication and problem-solving skills.
- Discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in their school or community.
- Learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors.
- Unlock their potential to turn motivation into action.
- Have fun and form lasting friendships!
I’m a student and am interested in attending, where do I start?
Step 1: Check your eligibility. RYLA is open to individuals aged 15 to 17 located within Rotary District 7040.
Step 2: Connect with a Rotary Club! The Rotary club in your community is responsible for selecting candidates and sponsoring your attendance. Try reaching out to your school Guidance counsellor or click here to find your local Rotary club! No Rotary Club in your community? Send us an email at ryla7040@gmail.com and we'll connect you with another club looking to sponsor a candidate!
Step 3: Fill out the registration form! Once you've been selected for sponsorship by a Rotary Club, fill out this form so we can get to know you a bit before RYLA starts!
Step 4: Get ready for RYLA! We'll send you all the information you need to prepare to have an unforgettable week! Please keep in touch with your sponsoring club in the time leading up to RYLA and keep an eye on your emails!
Our Rotary club wants to sponsor participants, where do we start?
Step 1: Reserve your spot! Clubs that are interested in sponsoring one or more participants should complete the Club Sponsor Form as soon as possible. In order to reserve a spot for participants sponsored by your club, payment and the Club Sponsor Form deadline is Friday, March 13th, 2026. Please see below for information about payment options. This year we can accept up to 3 youth per club. If your club is interested in sponsoring more than 3 participants or needs help being connected with interested students, please contact us at ryla7040@gmail.com.
Please note that in order to directly sponsor students for RYLA, the club must have Youth Protection Program certification at the district level. Information about this certification can be found here. If your club has opted out of or not yet completed this certification, please contact us at ryla7040@gmail.com for instructions on how to proceed.
Step 2: Recruit interested students! Reach out to school guidance counselors, local Interact clubs, and other local youth organizations to recruit young leaders (aged 15-17) in your community! Having trouble finding interested students? Email us at ryla7040@gmail.com and we will try to connect you with interested young leaders from elsewhere in the District.
Step 3: Select your candidates! Youth should be selected based on the demonstration of leadership potential and a desire to be of service to their local and global communities. The selection process is club dependent but tends to be informal. Some clubs may carry out mini-interviews or CV/resume review while others will accept recommendations from the school or other youth organization. However, final selection of candidates continues to remain at the club level and is not the responsibility of the school or other youth organization.
Step 4: Submit your candidates' names! Once you have confirmed your candidates, please complete the Club Participants Form by Friday April 17th, 2026 to indicate your candidates' information.
Step 5: Get your candidates ready for RYLA! As a club, please ensure the chosen students complete the Registration Form by Friday, April 24th, 2026 so we can send them all the information they need! Please continue to stay in touch with students in the time leading up to RYLA.
Other important things to consider:
1. Does the student have any conflicts with the RYLA schedule (e.g. the Prom, assignments/tests on Friday,
track and field meets, shifts at work)? If so, please ensure they are communicated to us as soon as possible.
2. How will the student be transported to and from RKY Camp? Some clubs arrange carpooling with parents (Club Transport)
drivers while others have a Rotarian meeting the necessary YPP certification criteria make the trip. Transport of participants to and from the camp are the responsibility of the club!
- Participants are asked to arrive at RKY Camp between 10:00am and 10:30am on Friday, May 22nd.
- Our programming concludes at 3:00pm on Sunday, May 24th.
3. Do your candidates know that they must come present about their RYLA experience once returning home?
Ensure your candidates are aware of the expectation and set a date for their presentation.