Rotarians

Programs. Please contact us if you would like a RYLA Northwest Committee member to deliver a program at a Rotary Club meeting. Registration opens each year in January. We will hold online information sessions for Rotarians during the period February – April.

Attending RYLA. Rotarians who are in interested in joining our volunteer staff (staying for the duration of the conference) or visiting for an afternoon should reach out to our team.

The Student Selection & Registration Process:

Each new Rotary year: Designate a RYLA Chair

Clubs must designate a RYLA Chair within DACdb to begin receiving information about registration. Your Secretary can download instructions here: Appoint RYLA Chair.ppt

January – May 1: Club Commitments

Clubs set their budget and let us know how many students they plan to send (“club commitment”). 

• There is no limitation on the number of students a Club may send, but reservations will be accepted on a first-come-first serve basis. 
• We rely on club commitments when providing YMCA Camp Colman the number of students expected to attend, and pay for that number of students regardless of attendance. 
• We highly encourage the selection of alternates. Every year, we have students who notify us the week prior to camp that they cannot attend. From 2021 to 2025, 100% of alternates have attended.
• Invoices will be issued to clubs in May via DACdb based on the club commitments as of May 1. Clubs are not permitted to submit club commitments if the prior year’s invoice has not paid. 

January – May 20: Select Students

Selection Criteria:

• Students must be in grades 10 & 11 (age 16 & 17). Students cannot be 18 years or older on the first day of the program.
• We encourage you to review your student selection process, in order to identify those students who would most benefit from attending the RYLA program.

Marketing: To support Clubs in their recruitment efforts, we’ve created a flyer, family guide, and tentative conference schedule. These can be provided to schools and families (1) via link or (2) printed and provided in physical form.

• RYLA Northwest Brochure
• RYLA Northwest 2025 Flyer
• Family and Student Guide

Registration:

• Please provide the registrar with the names of selected students and alternates.
• Students must complete online registration forms in order to attend. 
• There will be no refunds so please stay in touch with your candidates and get back-up students in case you need them.

 May – June: Connect with Your Student

• Club communication with students is key to ensuring your sponsorship is used!!
• Make sure your students still plans to attend, and has everything they need. We have had students decide not to attend in the days before the conference after seeing the need for items they do not own (like sleeping bags) on the packing list. Although we have extras for students who need them, we cannot address this need if we don’t know about it and students do not tell us.
• Make sure the student has transportation to and from the conference. The registrar will collect information about transportation and carpooling to help facilitate this process. We have had students decide not to attend or take ride-shares from locations as far as northern King County rather than ask to join one of the existing carpools. 
• We collect information regarding medical and religious accommodations during the registration process. That being said, if you are aware of a student need, please let the registrar know.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the registrar.

Post-RYLA Activities

Have you invited the student you sponsored to share their experience at a Club meeting? Have you invited them to join you in a service project? Stay in touch with your RYLA alumni and invite them to grow in Rotary.