Community Counts: Local High Schoolers Reflect on First RYLA Camp Since Pandemic
MONTICELLO. (WCIA) — This morning, three local high schoolers joined the Morning Show to share their experiences at the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Camp held in Monticello.
This was the first camp held since the COVID-19 Pandemic, where 43 sophomores and juniors from area high schools attended. 14 Rotary Clubs sponsored the students including Arthur’s, Bloomington-Normal Sunrise, Charleston, Clinton and Champaign’s, just to list a few of them.
From line dancing, challenge courses, speakers and even a visit from State Senator Paul Faraci. Students like Gabriel “Gab” Accorsi, Francesco Barbieri and Amelia Kern shared what it was like meeting new faces, learning how to help with disaster response, even making dog and cat toys.
Gabriel is a Rotary Youth Leadership Exchange inbound student from Brazil. He has been hosted by Francesco, who plans to become a Rotary Youth Exchange student next year to Columbia. He is also “Gab’s” second “host” brother. Amelia will be a Rotary Youth Exchange student next year to Argentina.
The Rotary Club of Champaign sponsored all three students we invited. They told us Parkland College had a speaker share benefits of trades. They heard why volunteerism is so crucial and discovered how to trust each other through a Challenge Course. A weekend full of memories.
For more about Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), visit here.
You can also learn about Champaign’s Rotary Club if you click here.
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