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Team Assistants are the “parents” of Camp RYLA.
For the entire three days, team assistants work with their families to mentor them in all activities.
“Camp RYLA is an experience that cannot be described. The transformation that I witnessed in individual campers was profound, and was equaled, only by the transformation that occurred in me. This camp is a wonderful opportunity for all involved!”
“The weekend at RYLA I not only learned millions of things about these ten teenagers and my TA partner, I learned a ton of things about myself. When I agreed to be a TA I thought I was going to teach the kids a thing or two, what I found was the complete opposite.”
“As a new Rotarian, three years ago, I attended my first RYLA Camp. Thinking I would have a nice weekend, a 'small vacation', I signed up as a T.A. After three days of no sleep, exhilarating activities, soul searching discussions, and life changing relationships, I was cemented into the world of teenagers through RYLA. Every year it amazes me to see the transitions the kids go through performing a talent show, making up an air guitar routine in an hour, working as team members solving problems, and over coming fears. It is so important in my life; I have become a committee member. I also encouraged my daughter to attend and through RYLA she found her Rotary base and is now a Rotarian.”
“Being a TA at RYLA has been one of the most important and life changing experiences I have had. It is the reason that I became a Rotarian and why I continue today. It is hard to put into words the impact these kids will have on you in just 2 1/2 days but I shall try. It starts when they get off the buses and look either, terrified, sullen or excited. With any luck you will get a terrified or sullen one in your family because they go through the biggest changes during camp. You then proceed to the hall where you discover who is in your family and start getting to know one another. With luck by the end of the first night you will have laughed your way into getting to know each other much better. It is important here to note that you need to be open to making a fool out of yourself and to be open hearted and minded with your family or you will miss out on so very much. On Saturday we head off to Boojum for some high and low rope exercises that will bond you forever to the rest of your family. This is the perfect opportunity to step out of your comfort zone and to show these kids what a Rotarian is made of as you climb a 30 foot tree and jump off the platform. I am fortunate enough that my mother is also a Rotarian and she teaches me everyday but she is terrified of heights but she climbs those trees every year and in doing so to shows the kids that it is ok to be afraid but with help you can get through it. On Sunday we have an amazing speaker who ties everything that you have experienced together and then the kids get the opportunity to talk about the experience. Here is where you see the true change. Remember those kids who got off the buses and were terrified, sullen, excited? Well those same kids will be standing at the microphone like they were born to be there talking about the friendships they have made. I recommend you bring Kleenex for this part. You will be so proud of them that you will be walking around with your chest puffed out saying yep that's my kid. It is just incredible. So you think you are ready? Well here's a little bit more just to make sure. As part of the RYLA training team I am asked "what makes a good TA" constantly and the only tried and true answer I can give is this; be a cheerleader, have an open mind and heart but most importantly LISTEN when they talk. This is a weekend experience that is completely about the kids not the adults, the kids. Let me say that again this weekend is about the kids!!! If you are tired, dirty, hungry, whatever, too bad, it is about them. For a lot of these kids this will be the only time in their lives that something is totally about them; while having loving, compassionate, supportive parents (you) who will be there for them no matter what. Can you imagine how amazing that is? Well if you come be a TA you will not have to imagine it any longer, you will be able to tell others about it and you also may have a life changing experience.”
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