Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Facilitator Orientation

1. Facilitator Orientation Rotary Youth Leadership Awards District 5300, Rotary International April 15 – 17, 2016 Thousand Pines Camp Crestline, CA

2. What is RYLA? • Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive training program for community youth leaders. • 300+ high school juniors, chosen for their leadership potential, attend an all-expense-paid three-day camp in Crestline, Calif. • The Rotary Youth Leadership Award program started in District 5300 in 1987 under District Governor John Fee and RYLA Chairman Roger Schulte. • RYLA affects our communities, Rotary clubs and Rotarians in many ways. It is one of the most important annual programs our District does each year.

3. what does • Develops understanding of Rotary among youth participants. • All programs emphasize the 4 Way Test, ethics and Service Above Self. • Reinforces and provides recognition for students’ efforts, accomplishments, skills and potential as leaders. • Develops leadership skills of youth participants with emphasis on: • How to motivate others, • Ethics of positive leadership, • Communication skills in leadership, • Leadership in problem solving and brainstorming, • Group dynamics and peer pressure, • Self-confidence and self-esteem.

4. What happens at RYLA? • Plenary Sessions and Motivational Speakers • 5 Leadership Lab Activities • All experiential – no desks or note taking! • RYLA Challenge • City Club Meetings • Fellowship Activities 4

5. RYLA is an exciting and inspirational experience for the youth of our district. 5

6. In one student’s words: • I cannot say the words “thank you” enough, for being able to let me experience this once in a lifetime opportunity! We’ve spent around 48 hours at RYLA, 48 hours of activities, of labs, lessons, sessions, of meeting and creating lifelong friendships with many others, and 48 hours of finding out more about the world, and what we can do to make it a more prosperous place to live in. We all came excited and anxious as to what we were getting into, and we all left 48 hours later, feeling inspired, ready, prepared, to actually TAKE ACTION, and make change. Who knew what 48 hours can do? • I treasure every moment I’ve spent there, every person I have met, and my goal, starting now, is to show others what I have learned, share the vision that I see. There are many who say they are “inspired” after coming back from a leadership retreat, and they may stay motivated for a period of time, but eventually, it wears off. For me, I hope to keep the inspiration, keep the mindset, and keep dreaming. • Thank you Thank you THANK YOU, RYLA, for making me open my eyes onto a bigger and greater world other than our own!

7. Moment for Rotarians as well! • Meet new Rotarians from around the District. • Be an integral part of making a difference in the life of the youth in our communities. • Work hard, and get way more in return! • It takes nearly 100 Rotarians to make RYLA happen each year. • So we need you to be involved! 7

8. What’s next? • After you have served as a Facilitator, you can apply for other roles on the committee in future years, with duties ranging from working with the clubs to get their students enrolled to leading labs at camp to coordinating any number of the many activities that make RYLA happen.

9. RYLA Chair Participant Coordinator Program/Plenary Session Coordinator Housing Coordinator Facilitator Coordinator ORGANIZATION* *There are several other positions; Labs, Security, etc.

10. Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator Facilitator No. America Continent Leader Australia Continent Leader Africa Continent Leader Europe Continent Leader So. America Continent Leader Asia Continent Leader ORGANIZATION Facilitator Coordinator

11. Labs & Programs • Plenary Sessions and Mini Programs • Leadership Laboratory Activities • Trust Fall • Rylarians on a Line • Egg Drop • Communicate to Win • Decision Dilemma • RYLA Challenge • Culture Walk • City Club Meetings • Fellowship Activities 11

12. The RYLA challenge • Objective • RYLA participants will be presented with a special challenge for the weekend, centered on the 4 Way Test and this year’s Rotary theme – Has not been determined at this time. This will be the topic of City Meetings and the Final Plenary session of the weekend.

13. Rylarians on a Line • Objective • To demonstrate the importance of communicating information, encouragement and support between members of the continent. It emphasizes the concept that all continent members are of equal importance, even persons with perceived disabilities who can contribute in a unique way to the effort. This lab is designed to develop strategic thinking and cooperation; practices balance and agility.

14. Trust Fall • Objective • This Leadership Lab has proven successful as an instrument to turn a diverse group of individuals with no prior experience with each other into a group of bonded team players.

15. Culture Walk • Objective • To stimulate participants to understand the sensibilities and needs of others The purpose of this activity is to help create awareness about our feelings about our own culture identity and our relationship with people from other cultures and groups.

16. Egg Drop • Objective • To stimulate participants to work together in a thinking and doing exercise. • Experience in understanding the need to be flexible to changing circumstances

17. Communicate to Win • Objective • To provide the participants an opportunity to learn their communication style and teach them how to align themselves best with others for more effective communication. • Uses DISC-style evaluation. • Students will fill out initial assessment on bus.

18. Decision Dilemma • Objective • To demonstrate how difficult making ethical decisions can be. • To build an understanding of how the 4-Way Test can be used for making ethical decisions.

19. The Facilitator’s Role • The Facilitators are the MOST important Rotarians at RYLA. • The challenge is to facilitate discussion, growth and development. • An excellent Facilitator will encourage the group to utilize the ideas and skills they are exposed to throughout the weekend by asking how those ideas might apply to the discussion at hand. • You not there to teach but to encourage the students’ learning through exploration of the debriefing questions. 19

20. The Facilitator’s Role • Facilitator as: • Leader • Catalyst • Guide • Mentor • Peacemaker Ask questions, instead of answering questions. Allow students’ opinions to flow, without injecting yours.

21. The Facilitator’s Role • Competencies of a Facilitator • Approachability • Compassion • Integrity and Trust • Listening • Ethics and Values • Composure • Humor • Knowledge Base • Time Management • Patience 21

22. The Facilitator’s Role • Provide direction • Balance content and process • Build capacity • Stay with your City at all times • Know where your kids are • Continent Leaders, Lab Leaders & Senior Counselors will be there to assist you. RYLA is meant to allow youth leaders to discover their own competencies, with the GUIDANCE of Rotarians.

23. The Facilitator’s Role • Your No. 1 resource for the weekend is your Facilitators Guide. • Schedule • City assignments • Lab descriptions • Discussion questions • You will get an online version ahead of time – READ IT – but know the final one will be given to you on the hill. • You will need to have Youth Protection Training & a Background Check if you are selected.

24. Friday’s schedule* • Rotarian Arrival and Orientation. • Participant Arrival and Check in. • Facilitators need to pick up your jacket and receive your City assignments. • As the students arrive they will be instructed to meet you, the Facilitator, in a pre-designated area. There will be signs for each city. You should be in the designated area at the name of your city with the sign held high so the students can find you. • Begin your city meeting in the designated area even though all students have not arrived. Objective of this meeting is to allow your City members to determine the resources and dynamics of their group. • Lunch. 24 *Subject to Change but will be confirmed in Guides

25. Friday’s schedule • Dorm Check-In • Dorm check-in will take place according to a schedule either before lunch or after. That said, it is one of the most chaotic moments of the weekend. We have to get 300+ people and 300 pieces of luggage into rooms at one time. • Have patience! • Don’t let it ruin your day! • DESIGNATE A PLACE FOR YOUR CITY/CONTINENT TO MEET. • This is the one time when kids scatter all over the campus. 25

26. Friday’s schedule • First Plenary Session • This program is about the RYLA Challenge your city will be working on during the weekend. • Leadership Labs – Culture Walk and Trust Fall • Dinner • Group Picture • Second Plenary Session • RYLA Challenge • Curfew • Room Check by Facilitators -- NO BOYS IN GIRLS DORMS OR GIRLS IN BOYS DORMS. 26

27. Saturday’s schedule • Breakfast • Third Plenary Session • Two Leadership Labs and/or City Meeting • Lunch • Fourth Plenary Session • Two Leadership Labs and/or City Meeting • Dinner • Fifth Plenary Session • Fellowship Activity • Curfew • Room check by Facilitators -- NO BOYS IN GIRLS DORMS OR GIRLS IN BOYS DORMS. 27

28. Sunday’s schedule • Breakfast • Inter-faith Service (Optional) • Move-Out of Dorms • City Meeting • Sixth Plenary Session • RYLA Challenge • Weekend in Review • Lunch • Departure

29. Responsibilities • Lead your City from location to location. • STAY WITH YOUR CONTINENT. • Listen to your Continent Leader. • Stay on task – Facilitator Guide. • Facilitate discussion after labs. • Each City will plan a Plenary Session – Senior Counselors. • Each City will be assigned a meal - arrive early for set up and stay to clean up. • Each meal has a different seating arrangement – instructions will be provided at entrance. • Student safety and security. • Bus Check In for arrival and departure. • Know where they are at all times. • Dorm room check. • Security assignment on Saturday night – make sure you understand all rules, such as passing between activities. Ask lots of questions. • Bring a cell phone – but only use it for Rotary business • The students’ parents entrust us to take care of their children for the weekend! 29

30. What to expect • You will ride up to camp on the bus with the students. • Your bus for RYLA 2015 leaves Friday, April 15, 2015 from various locations throughout the District starting at 7:00 a.m. at a location to be determined. • Your bus will return to the same location no later than 6 p.m. on Sunday, April 17, 2015. 30

31. What to expect • This is not a vacation with 5-Star accommodations! This is a CAMP at an altitude of nearly 6,000 feet. Thousand Pines is a beautiful facility with great food – you will eat well & often. • You will be sleeping in the dorms with other Facilitators. • You will be sharing a bathroom with other Rotarians. • You will be responsible for the welfare of the students while they are up on the hill. • The days are long and full of activity. Try and go in late on Monday or take Monday off. • AND this will be one of the most rewarding Rotary & Life experiences you will have! 31

32. What to bring • Sleeping bag and pillow • Toiletries & soap • Bath towel & wash cloth • Warm jacket • Flashlight & extra batteries – cell phone • Alarm clock – cell phone • Gloves & scarf • Warm hat • Lip balm • Sunglasses • Jeans, sweats or slacks • Snow & rain gear • Water resistant boots or shoes • Cheap camera – cell phone • Warm sleepwear • Long-sleeved shirt • Pen or pencil • Changes of underwear • Sweaters and/or sweatshirts • Flip flops or shower shoes • A large trash bag in which you can place your luggage, sleeping bag, pillow etc...in case of rain or snow • Extra white trash bags to the bus in case the kids need them • And lastly a sense of humor 32

33. What not to bring • Weapons of any kind • Alcohol or illegal drugs • Valuables • Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, matches or lighter • Electronics • You do not need any MONEY!

34. RYLA Chair This years RYLA Chair is: Robert Bridel of the Summerlin Rotary Club Club Email: Rbridel@aol.com Your Facilitator Coordinator Tommy Zampiello of the Upland Rotary Club Email: Taziello@msn.com https://www.facebook.com/RYLADistrict5300

35. Thank you Thank you for your time today and for considering being a part of RYLA 2016. Because of the dedication of Rotarians throughout District 5300, hundreds of our youth will get to experience incredible leadership training in true Rotary fashion! 35