RYLA Rotarian Visit Day - Tuesday, July 29th 2025
You are invited to come visit Grinnell College and see what happens at RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)! RYLA is a week long conference for High School students to focus on developing leadership skills and learning more about how to become an effective leader and how to become involved in their own communities to enhance services provide support.
On Tuesday, July 29th 2025 you have an opportunity to be involved in the RYLA Shark Tank Experience. It involves students creating a feasible service project that they can take home to their communities. Students will go through a series of scavenger hunt-like activities to learn more about the history of Rotary while brainstorming ideas for their service project. They will then present a seven minute slideshow to our head counselors and Rotarian guest-judges for a score, which will be given to them that evening. We would love to have Rotarians join us and shadow a Team and Team Lead in order to get hands-on experience with our program without having to commit to the entire week. This is a wonderful opportunity to get a better understanding of RYLA sponsorships and the profound impact the program leaves on our students and community. You are welcome to come anytime after 8am and you are welcome to stay most of day, depending on your schedule. We would ask that you leave prior to our designated dinner time.
Upon arrival you would go the Harris Center of the Grinnell Campus. Someone will greet you and you will be matched up with a team of students, a Team Lead and a Rotarian Volunteer..
If you plan to visit, please send an email to Mark McAndrews, Conference Chair at (markmcandrews@msn.com) with your name, name of your club, the number of Rotarians in your party, and your planned arrival time. Mark will send out more information as the date gets closer.
RYLA is a great experience for the students who attend and we want you to experience the magic of RYLA too!. We hope you will consider a visit on July 29th.