Promoting Youth Leadership

PREPARING YOUTH TO LEAD IN OUR COMMUNITY AND AROUND THE WORLD

Youth Connections Grants

The Rotary Youth Connections Grant program provides up to $1,000 for projects that promote community enhancement, encourage healthy decisions for youth and families, and create opportunities for youth leadership. Examples of recent grants are below.

    • $1,000 for Water Quality Forensic Testing kit and supplies – Weyauwega/Fremont School District
    • $1,000 for Dental Hygiene Kits included in Project Backpack distributions
    • $1,000 to purchase a Portable Greenhouse for the Waupaca Chain Exploration Center Charter School

If you have a project idea that you think might be worthy of a grant (but you’re not sure), just complete our simple Project Idea Form, and you’ll be contacted by an advisor who will review your idea and provide assistance to complete a grant application if you like. If you think you’ve got a winning idea, go straight to the Youth Connections Grant Application.

 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.

 

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.

 

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.