Youth Services Projects

LEAD (Leadership, Ethics, Aspiration & Determination)

The LEAD Conference is a leadership and personal development program for 8th grade middle school students. Talented young people attend a two day camp developed and presented by the Rotarians of Rotary District 5340. All expenses are paid by the Rotary Clubs of District 5340.

LEAD encourages young people to discuss issues of ethical responsibility, improve leadership and communication skills, and develop a positive outlook on life, while having fun and making friends. LEAD provides the opportunity for young people to refine skills and explore pertinent topics with their peers and adult community leaders. For Rotarians, LEAD offers the chance to share their love of service, help develop a new generation of leaders, provide valuable expertise, and bridge the gap between generations.

RB Rotary Club sponsors students to attend LEAD each year.

 

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)

RYLA is a three day conference held in Idyllwild, California, that encourages student leadership by recognizing and rewarding deserving 11th grade students who are chosen to attend RYLA as an "award" for their past and present leadership and service activities.

Select young people attend the all-expenses-paid camp where they are inspired by a diverse group of exceptional speakers, make life-long friends through fellowship activities, and discuss the ethical and social issues of today with Rotarian group leaders. These activities are conducted in an atmosphere of trust and respect. The result is that these students return to their schools and communities motivated to take on additional leadership roles and to find additional ways to serve. One of those opportunities for service is to return to RYLA the next year as a senior “Alumni” and play a large role in the planning and execution of activities.

RYLA is open only to 11th grade students who are invited to attend after getting parental consent, completing a simple online application, writing an essay on leadership, and being interviewed by Rotarians. Due to camp limitations, all interviewed students may not be able to attend. Whether invited as a delegate or designated as an alternate, there is compassionate follow up with each applicant. For additional information, please visit the RYLA website at www.ryla5340.org. 

The RB Rotary Club is proud to sponsor a number of students from the Rancho Bernardo Community to attend RYLA each year.

 
Four-Way-Test Speech Contest

Encourages high school students to prepare and give speeches that apply the Four-Way Test to everyday activities and issues.

Speeches shall be 5 to 7 minutes.  Judges will evaluate students based on professional appearance, content of topic, timing of delivery, eye contact, clarity of speech, voice inflection and other parameters.  Winners of each local Rotary Club will compete at Sub-Regional events and the top candidates will compete at a District Level and beyond.  Beyond awarding educational scholarships the purpose of the Four-Way-Test is to help young leaders gain professional speaking experience. 

RB Rotary Club has sponsored students to participate and win prizes. In 2019 an RB student progressed through many levels of the competition.

 
MusiCamp
The MusiCamp™ program allows students to experience new cultures and make new friends, planting the seeds for greater international understanding. The Rotary District 5340 MusiCamp International Youth Exchange is unique in three respects:
 

  • It was the first music-based summer camp exchange program in Rotary;

  • It is the only youth exchange program conducted in partnership with a non-Rotary organization (San Diego Youth Symphony & Conservatory); and

  • It is the only camp where students must demonstrate a high skill level to participate.

Over the past nine years, MusiCamp has brought highly talented musicians from Canada, Czech Republic, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Germany, Mexico, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom to San Diego where they joined with San Diego Youth Symphony members for two weeks of intense rehearsals, performance at symphony and chamber music events and a week touring Southern California theme parks, local beaches and other points of interest.

 

Instrumental Music Competition

For High School Age Musicians.
Prize money will be awarded at each level of competition. Students compete for a grand prize of $2,500 awarded by Rotary District 5340.
 
RB Rotary Club sponsors students to participate and awards local prizes for participation.
 
 
 
 
High School Scholarships
The Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo awards scholarships annually to selected students in the community attending Rancho Bernardo High School and Del Norte High School.  To be eligible, a student must be a graduating senior during the current school year.
  
Four (4) $1500 Scholarships for each school are awarded to students going on to a 4-year college or university, community college, or a trade or technical school:
 
  • 3 are based on school and community service, academic merit, and financial need. They are chosen after the scholarship committee reviews more than 50 applications and completes the interview process
 
  • 1 is chosen based on nominations from school counselors and/or staff of a student who has a significant disability.  This award has been given each of the past 5 years to a graduating senior who has overcome substantial challenges, has made an impact on their school, and will be continuing their education the following year in some way.