The Rotary Youth Leadership Award scheme, or RYLA, is designed to develop the leadership skills of young people with the potential and according to the RIBI Service Project Sheet, a course programme should include: Fundementals of Leadership Ethics of positive leadership Importance of communication skills in effective leadership Problem solving and conflict management What Rotary is and what it does for the local community Building self-confidence and self-esteem Elements of community and global citizenship Students are selected and sponsored by Rotary Clubs, which are responsible for the fees and any expenses involved in the course. The programme should be designed and run by Rotarians and professionals who have experience of working with young people in a challenging environment, and should include physically challenging activities. Within District 1110, since the Summer of 2000, we have embraced the aims and aspirations of RYLA by organising annual leadership weekend courses at Avon Tyrrell, in the New Forest. The courses run from Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon and the programme includes outdoor activities of an adventurous nature, such as canoeing, practical problem-solving, low ropes and other confidence and team building exercises. There are also indoor exercises designed to improve communication skills and to encourage the students to think about how they interact with other people. The first Summer 2009 course was held on 17th to 19th July and the second on 24th to 26th July. Each with 27 students in the 16 - 17 year age bracket. As in previous years these courses were very successful and enormously enjoyed by those attending, including the Rotarian organisers and Rotaract facilitators. A RYLA Revisited course took place over the weekend 23rd to 25th October 2009. Click here to view the photo albums from the 2009 courses as well as the photo albums from 2008 and also the videos from the second 2009 course.   Further courses will be held in 2010. Details will be sent to Rotary Clubs early in the new year. Clubs interested in taking part in next year's RYLA weekend can Click Here to contact District 1110 RYLA Coordinator John Ray  for further details.