Amber introduced Erin Rannefeld one of the two RYLA campers we sponsored. RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, which is a camp that focuses on service AND leadership. Campers are sponsored by the 62 Rotary Clubs in our district and spent a week at McKinney Roughs learning about Rotary. We sponsored Erin and Josh Ozoa, who could not be with us today. They are both in the Interact Club we sponsor at Bowie High School.
First, Erin thanked us for sponsoring her and talked about some of the highlights of her week at RYLA. The first day included an icebreaker, building a Shelter Box Tent – some worked and some didn’t, and a presentation by Ronnie McDonald, the first Black Yell Leader at Texas A&M. They learned how to put their trust in others through wearing blindfolds and being led around by one of the other campers. They learned about their strengths and weaknesses and how to help others bring out their strengths. There was a mock Rotary Club meeting, a talent show and lots of fellowship. The campers learned a lot, made lots of new friends and cried when it was time to go home.
