It's a lot of work and a considerable expense to send 8 campers to Rotary Youth Leadership Academy every summer. Long hours of interviewing, a long drive to get there and bring the campers back home .... If you ever wonder how worthwhile it is, read these excerpts from a thank-you note we received this week from RYLA camper Lydia Craw...

 

"I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you so much for allowing me to go to this life changing camp. I know this camp has changed my life in so many ways. With all the people that I knew at this camp they said 'I really came out of my shell." Being a normally shy person, this camp has given me the confidence to make a difference in my school and our community. I now have the skills and knowledge that I can be a great leader.

"In my interview I talked about how our student government is not super-effective. I talked about how I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes and take charge. [Now] I know I have the skills to take charge. As I look to this next year with optimism, I know I am going to make a change. This student government year will be a big deal and we will get things accomplished."

"I want to thank you all for the opportunity to meet all these amazing people and grow so much as a person. This camp was amazing. I would with out a doubt recommend sending more people from great falls to the camp. Thank you all so much.
Best wishes in the future. THANK YOU!"

The seed to lead has been planted in Lydia Craw. It will be fun to watch it grow in the coming years in our community.