Posted by David Dye on May 02, 2019
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience for high school students. The 2019 RYLA camp was held April 26-28 at the Redwood Glen Camp and Conference Center in the Santa Cruz Mountains near Scotts Valley. Originally started in 1985 by the Rotary Club of San Francisco as “Camp Enterprise”, this leadership camp is now supported by Rotary Clubs throughout District 5150: 32 Rotary Clubs contributed over $80,000 this year, with our Club donating $20,000 as the lead sponsor.
 
This year’s camp was the largest ever, with over 150 first-year campers from 30 high schools in the three counties in our District 5150 (Marin, San Francisco, and San Mateo), plus 22 alumni (former campers, typically high school seniors), 32 counselors, and an administrative support team of 10 Rotarians. The Rotary Club of San Francisco’s own Lynn Luckow once again served as Camp Director. Other members of our Club who staffed the camp include former Camp Director David Dye and incoming District 5150 Interact Chair Connor Krone. In addition, Christian Kuhn, Madison Pauly, Susan Dean, and John Dean were camp counselors. Our own Casey Blair is the RYLA Treasurer for this Rotary year; David Dye will serve as RYLA Treasurer next year. 
 
Several RYLA staff members have a connection to the Rotary Club of San Francisco, which sponsors the Interact Clubs at Lowell, St. Ignatius, and Washington and co-sponsors the Rotaract Club of San Francisco and the Rotaract Club of the University of San Francisco:
  • Shaylene Liao, a Lowell High School student and an Interact Club member who was a 2013 RYLA camper; this is her sixth year as a RYLA staffer.
  • Karen Kam, a Lowell High School grad and a Lowell Interact alum (serving as a club officer and member of District 5150’s Interact Council), she returned to RYLA for her 5th year.
  • Brenna Quon, a student at St. Ignatius who attended the 2018 RYLA camp and became so inspired that she helped start the newly formed Interact Club at SI.
  • Priscilla Meier, a student at George Washington High School and a member of its Interact Club, was a 2018 RYLA camper and serves as Treasurer of District 5150’s Interact Council.
  • Kellie Chan, a Junior at Lowell High School and PR officer for District 5150’s Interact Council.
  • Connie Cheung, another 2013 RYLA camper who is now a member and officer of the newly chartered Rotaract Club of San Francisco.
  • Jenny Sink, a founding member of the Rotaract Club of USF.
The 2019 RYLA camp gave the campers a chance to learn, grow and have fun…all while making new friends. Counselors also had a great time being exposed to such amazing young adults who are already rendering service to their communities. Thanks to Lynn and everyone from our Club who helped support this life-changing leadership opportunity.
 
This video, produced by RYLA campers, shows the highlights of the weekend.