Take a teen’s phone away for a few days and something unexpected happens: the conversations get deeper, the awkwardness turns into confidence, and leadership becomes real. We sit down with Jessica Smith, an Oklahoma City Rotarian, past district governor, and school lawyer, to unpack what Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) looks like on the ground and why it keeps students and volunteers coming back year after year.
We dig into the parts people don’t always hear about, like the hybrid online team intro before camp, the mindset shift that happens during the first-night bonfire, and how the “Leader in You” curriculum (rooted in Stephen Covey’s habits) helps teens understand themselves and communicate across differences. We also talk about the screen-heavy world students live in, how COVID changed social comfort levels, and why RYLA is evolving while staying intentionally phone-free.
And yes, we cover the legendary RYLA chili cook-off. It’s fun, but it’s also the perfect excuse to get Rotarians to camp to meet the campers and Trailblazers, share a meal, and model service above self. Jessica shares what clubs in Rotary District 5750 can do right now to identify students (especially rising sophomores), sponsor them to attend July 16 through 19, and volunteer in ways that make camp safer and stronger. We also touch on all-abilities access, youth protection training, and a quick plug for the upcoming Wings of Rotary anniversary celebrating the district’s youth exchange ties with Japan.
If you care about teen leadership development, Rotary youth programs, or meaningful volunteer opportunities in Oklahoma, hit play, subscribe, share this with a Rotarian friend, and leave us a review. Who’s one student in your community you’d nominate for RYLA?
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