Promoting Youth Leadership

Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA)

Each Year, the Rotary Club of Waupaca selects up to three students to attend the District 6220 RYLA conference. RYLA brings out leadership skills in individuals through team building concepts and outdoor-based activities that include trust building exercises, problem solving initiatives, and low and high challenge course experiences. Students say that this life-changing experience builds inner strength and lasting friendships.

RYLA is Rotary International’s leadership training program for young people. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to:

• • Demonstrate Rotary’s respect and concern for youth
  • Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders
  • Encourage leadership of youth by youth

Interested students can learn more about District 6220’s RYLA experience here. If interested in attending, contact a Rotary Club of Waupaca member or use the contact us form to notify us of your interest in attending, and we’ll get back to you quickly.

Badger Boys State – Badger Girls State

The Club sponsors two students to attend Badger Boys State Badger Girls State.  Students are selected by a committee from the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary.

Programs are a week long and focus on teaching the workings of government through doing. Students function at city, county and state levels by electing officials in the manner prescribed by regular election procedures and conducting business on those levels.  Students learn about our system of government, American traditions, leadership skills, and what it means to be an effective citizen of the United States.

For information and to apply, click on the link to Badger Boys State or Badger Girls State.

World Affairs Seminar 

Students can apply through Rotary to be sponsored for this international seminar that focuses on current global topics and trends and is held at Carroll College.

The World Affairs Seminar is an international youth initiative of Rotary International District 6270.  Our vision is to bring better understanding of world problems to young people from around the globe, using current issues as a learning platform. In the course of this study, the WAS provides opportunities for participants to discuss issues with other young people from around the world. Emphasis is on promoting better understanding of the causes of international conflict.  The idea is if the causes are understood and solutions developed in a cooperative environment, problems are more likely to be solved peacefully.

Interested students can learn more at the World Affairs Seminar Website. If interested in attending, contact a Rotary Club of Waupaca member or use the contact us form to notify us of your interest in attending, and we’ll get back to you quickly.

Senate Scholars Program

Senate Scholars Program is an intensive week-long educational program offered by the Wisconsin State Senate. Each Senate Scholar receives a hands-on, up-close view of the Legislature’s role in our democracy. 

Senate Scholars gain experience in such diverse areas as policy development, constituent relations, and processing legislation by working with Senators, legislative staff, media, lobbyists, and University of Wisconsin faculty. The program includes classroom instruction, roundtable discussion and a lab. The program culminates in a mock committee hearing that includes testimony from experts and members of the public.

One student from each of the 33 Senate Districts may participate in the program. It is held in the months of January, February and March in Madison Wisconsin. Interested students can learn more by going to the Wisconsin State Senate’s Education and Outreach page and scrolling down to the Senate Scholar Program.