Quincy Rotary reports that one of its core goals is to help develop leadership abilities and self-confidence in young people. To this end, Quincy Rotary sponsors two youth programs: Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening and Rotary Eighth Grade Leadership. Both are professionally delivered intensive leadership training seminars held annually at Grizzly Creek Ranch in Portola.
The cost of attendance for local participants is paid fully through Quincy Rotary. Over 70 Rotary clubs from Northern California and Nevada provide scholarships for students to attend these educational programs.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awakening
This year Quincy Junior-Senior High School seniors Anna Mercer, Macy Peay, and Simone Smith represented Quincy Rotary at RYLA. “RYLA is intense and challenging and has been designed to engender passion, resilience, determination, mental toughness, gratitude, and compassion,” said Quincy Rotary member Beth Reid. “These three representatives proved worthy recipients of this challenge.”
Mercer said the camp was “life changing.” Smith said, “RYLA helped me become who I want to be today.” And Peay added, “RYLA creates the who you want to be in your future.”
Rotary Eighth Grade Leadership
This fall, Quincy Junior-Senior High School eighth-graders Kendrick Gay, Chance McElroy, Jovie Lerch, Jemma Trueblood, Anja Blaufuss, and Audrey Felker represented Quincy Rotary at REGL. Both RYLA and REGL provide the opportunity to participate in a character-building program provided by the Grizzly Creek Ranch Ropes Course, which focuses on leadership, effective communication, trust, and cooperation.
Each student mentioned the ropes course as memorable. Audrey called it a “trust course.” “Utilizing adventure, personal commitments, and shared insights, participants gain an increased sense of confidence,” said Reid.
Other programs provided to local youth by Quincy Rotary include the high school speech and music contests held in February and March each year, and the Rotary Student Exchange Program. “Rotary knows that from today’s youth, come our future leaders,” said Reid. “Quincy Rotary’s investment in these young people seems well worth the expense.”
Information submitted by Quincy Rotary
