High school sophomores in Rotary District 6250 can take advantage of RYLA – the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program – each spring.

Two Waunakee High School students, Brayden West and Anna Lindley, recently participated in the weekend-long program and reported to the club about their experience at the June 13 meeting.

RYLA is held in Upham Woods in Wisconsin Dells and is open to sophomores who can later return as counselors. Brayden said each evening, the participants sit around a campfire and the leaders share experiences or poems, with different speakers sharing how they got involved in Rotary and how they attended RYLA. 

The participants also went on nature walks and hikes, and took part in trust building activities, such as a rope walk. 

They were split into groups that took on service projects, as well. Anna’s group moved mulch, and Braden’s demolished a chimney. 

On Saturday night, the students attended a dance, similar to a homecoming or prom event. The groups were tasked with putting on skits that Brayden said were “hilarious.”

Both Brayden and Anna said RYLA was an enriching experience. 

“I went into RYLA not wanting to be there,” Brayden said, adding after a couple of hours, he realized he could have fun and he made friends. 

“Overall, it was just an amazing time,” he said. 

Anna said she had no idea what it would be like, but she learned more about bonding with others.

“I had found a way to make friends faster,” she said. 

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Other News: 

-Kylie West introduced Lauren Freeman, the village’s new community development director. Lauren will be the speaker in a few weeks to introduce herself and talk about some of the things going on in Waunakee. 

Events

-June 24 - Steak Fry at Drumlin Ridge

-July 4 - WaunaBoom

-July 9 - Senior Picnic

-July 24-27 - WaunaFest

Birthdays: June 20, David May; June 22, Nancy Kuehn-Thomas

Anniversaries: June 21, Mark and Regina McFarland; June 21, Kevin and Jodi McDaniel; June 21, Tom and Beverly Kennedy

Greeters: June 19, Jen Tasker and David Rupp; June 26, Jean Elvekorg and Robert Arntz; July 3, Tracy Graber ??