Enthusiastic Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening participants gathered at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola. Photo courtesy of Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Rotary Club meeting, members heard from Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening (RYLA) participants Annie Woods and Matthew Miskin described their camp experiences at the Oct. 3 Rotary Club meeting. 

In June, they were sponsored by the Gridley club to attend District 5180’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening Camp at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening is a program designed by Rotary to improve communication and problem solving, learn fundamentals and ethics of leadership, emphasize service and citizenship, and have fun in the process.

The big focus is Rotary’s motto “Service Above Self.” The camp experience is both intense and extremely challenging. Thousands of youths attend Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening programs worldwide. Usually, attendees are high school juniors becoming seniors but can be aged 14 to 30.

Matthew Miskin, second from left, and his Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening group prepares to break their boards. Photo courtesy of Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening

To begin the week, all participants were asked to give up their phones. Woods said that this was a little daunting but after a few days, “it was one of the best things that could have happened.” She enjoyed face-to-face conversations. Miskin said he found it relaxing not having any distractions through the week.

An essential element of the camp is the Rewarding Outdoor Personal Experience (ROPES) obstacle course. This was Woods’ favorite activity. She discovered it was less about climbing or balancing on ropes and more about building trust in herself and others.

“The course challenged us physically and mentally, but more importantly, taught us the value of teamwork and believing in one another,” Woods said.

Miskin’s favorite part was the service project where each person had the opportunity to interact with a young child between the ages of four and seven. Two members of each group built bicycles for the children that seemed to make them happy.

“The unconditional love and joy I received when I was able to make a kid’s day was remarkable,” Miskin said.

Another activity Miskin enjoyed was the first night when he and others in his group were asked to write down what they struggle with on a board. After they read off the list, they chopped their boards with a karate chop, while the group applauded.

Annie Woods and Matthew Miskin recap their Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening experiences at Rotary. Photo by Connie Voss

Both Woods and Miskin expressed profound gratitude to Gridley Rotary for the opportunity of attending the Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening Camp.

“RYLA wasn’t just a camp, it was an experience that encouraged us to grow as leaders and individuals,” said Woods.

Miskin voiced how he looked forward to applying the leadership principles he learned.

For those interested in attending Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening Camp in 2025, check out the website at https://camp-ryla.org/ and the Gridley Rotary Club’s Facebook page.