February 8-10, 2008: Sixty-seven sophomore and junior students from eight Maui County high schools gathered together at Camp Maluhia to experience the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Camp program (RYLA).  This world-wide program was sponsored by the eight Maui County Rotary Clubs. 

The Maui Camp RYLA was directed by Larry and Joanne Laird, members of the Kihei-Sunrise Rotary Club.  Over 90 volunteers from the Maui County Rotary Clubs gathered together at Camp Maluhia to assist in every camp capacity from serving as Facilitators, Chaperones, Cooks and a myriad of other jobs to help make this camp a success for these student leaders.  The purpose of the camp was to give these students an opportunity to participate in quality leadership training experiences and activities.  These activities were led by dedicated Rotarians who helped guide the campers in understanding the principles of effective leadership.   Eleven students returned from the 2007 camp program, to serve as Assistant Facilitators, helping their adult Rotary facilitators present the leadership training curriculum.  Students experienced such workshops as The Nuggets of Leadership, Campus Cliques and Cultures, Stress and Time Management, and Ethical Decision Making using the 4-Way Test. The culmination of the 3-day program was a graduation ceremony where each camper was presented with a Diploma and Camp RYLA pin by Rotarian and Maui County Council member, Gladys Baisa.  Over 50 parents and family members attended the graduation ceremony and celebration lunch.

Campers completed an evaluation at the end of the program and 99% rated the experience as Excellent or Very Good.  Some of the campers’ comments were:

• I met a ton of new people, had buckets full of fun, and as a leader I’ve progressed and blossomed into a role model, which I can take back to my school and show everyone who I am and help them understand what is right.
• This camp broadened my vision as a leader and inspired me to push my limits.  I will do my best to implement all of the RYLA skills into my daily life.
• I loved meeting so many new friends, learning about values and got so much love from my Rotary Auntys, Uncles, Cousins and Mom’s.
• A wonderful, fun, exciting leadership experience that I had – I never want to leave!!!

The eight Rotary Clubs on Maui are a part of Rotary Internationals’ global network of more than 32,000 clubs in 207 countries.  Rotary International consists of 1.2 million professional men and women who, as civic leaders, volunteer to improve the quality of life in their home and world communities..  The Rotary Clubs of Maui are: Kahului, Kihei Sunrise, Kihei-Wailea, Lahaina, Lahaina Sunrise, Maui, Upcountry, and Wailuku.  Also assisting at the camp was the Rotoract Club of Maui Community College.  For more information about the Maui County Rotary Clubs contact Assistant Governors Ron Capanash at 281-2213 or Brad Wehler at 280-9888.