August 20th RYLA- last of this years...

Well another year of RYLA over and again an excellent job done by Rtn Hugh Clatworthy. 100 young people over 4 weeks all having done things and learning things about themsleves and leadership and teamwork. Thanks to all who participated and all who worked for its success.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards 2010

For the last two weeks of July and three weeks in August, the Dolygaer Outdoor Education Centre played host to RYLA 2010. Dolygaer is situated between the Ponsticill and Pentwyn reservoirs in the Brecon Beacons National Park about five miles north of Merthyr Tydfil. The Centre is on the doorstep of some of the most beautiful and challenging countryside to be found anywhere in the UK. This Outdoor Education Centre was set up by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council in the early 1970’s and is well used by groups of young people throughout the year. We have based our RYLA courses at the Dolygaer Centre for over ten years.

Following the successes of many RYLA courses in recent years, it made good sense to return to Dolygaer again for 2010, with 97 sponsored students with an average age of 17 attending one of the four RYLA courses. Following the availability of detailed “guidance notes” many of the difficulties experienced in previous years problems were successfully overcome. A goodly number of the students said that they would like to have the benefit of a briefing by the local Rotarians and also the opportunity of speaking to one of the previous year’s RYLA student. All four courses started promptly at 3pm on the Sunday afternoon with introductions, safety instructions and basic ground rules etc.

Sunday afternoon was no easy introduction to the activities at Dolygaer, as straight away the candidates were kitted out, split into three teams and went on a gorge walk which got everyone mixing in together – the teamwork had started. Over the ensuing five days the youngsters tackled caving, rock climbing, abseiling, canoeing, hill walking, orienteering as well as an evening on Rotary topics. By the end of all the four weeks it was apparent that the teamwork was fully established and although worn out the youngsters had a great time. To round off each week there was a barbeque on the Friday evening for parents and visiting Rotarians from all parts of South and Mid Wales.

Around 300 visitors attended the Dolygaer Centre either on the Sunday afternoon arrival and / or the Friday night barbeque making all of this year’s RYLA courses very friendly occasions. The RIBI President Rtn Jim Moulson attended one of the Friday evening barbeques and a Sunday afternoon introduction sessions. Our District Governor Donna Wallbank was able to join us on all of the Sunday afternoons and again for the Friday evening barbeques.

The camaraderie which had built up was plain for all visitors to see, as was the great increase in confidence which had built up in these people over the week when compared with their first meeting on the Sunday afternoon when everyone was very reserved. All the students went home happy but tired having made many new friends and put a number of new challenges behind them.

Leadership is not something that can be instilled in one short week and it would be foolish to suggest that this RYLA course has produced the leaders of the future. What we have done, however, is to take a group of young people from a wide range of abilities and backgrounds from all over the District and get them to work as teams, undertake activities that they might not otherwise try out. From the teamwork they experienced and the confidences they gained, leadership skills should start to emerge.

A by product of the course is the experience of learning to live with other people their own age in an unfamiliar environment – something that many of them will be facing shortly as they leave home to go away to University. We all hope that the RYLA experience will stand then in good stead in later life.

From the Rotary point of view RYLA still represents excellent value for money and I would strongly urge all Clubs to have the maximum contact possible - before, during and after RYLA. Sadly, some students again reported that they had little or no contact with their sponsoring Club; many suggested that they would have liked to have more information at their initial briefing session. I can only suggest that all the 2010 RYLA students are invited to meet potential 2011 RYLA students to obtain “first hand” information about the course and find out more about Dolygaer and the various activities, which form an important part of the RYLA experience.

RYLA Certificates have been handed out to most Club representatives at the Friday evening barbecue. I am hoping that all successful RYLA candidates are invited to a Club function to receive their certificates. This is an excellent opportunity of publicising at least some of the Community activities of your Club by sending a report to your local newspaper.

Thank you all for your ongoing support.

I will be opening the list for the 2011 RYLA courses shortly, once I have finalised dates with the management at Dolygaer.