YOUTH

Our Nonprofit Literacy Program in Frisco, Colorado
 
A group of youth exchange students from the Rotary Club of Summit County stand atop Rotary Peak. Rotary Peak is located on Loveland Pass.
ROTARY YOUTH LEADERSHIP AWARDS
 
RYLA is a training program for young people where leadership skills and principles are learned, developed, and enhanced in an atmosphere of trust and respect. Each RYLA event is tailored to participants’ ages and interests, reflects community issues, and is presented in a manner consistent with local customs.

The RYLA Conference will be held at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado. Though spaces are limited, any high school sophomore or junior may apply to attend. Applicants MUST be able to stay for all 5 days of the conference. Fees are paid by the sponsoring Rotary club, so the experience is free to students and provides a wonderful opportunity for young people during their summer vacations. It has been said that some teens show up for the week full of fear but leave with self-confidence and exuberance for life. Please click here for more information, or here to start your application.
YOUNG RYLA
 
Two Young RYLA Camps for 132 participants (264 total) will be held at the Pondorosa Retreat & Conference Center in Larkspur, Colorado. It will be specially tailored to 7th graders, and any current seventh grader is encouraged to apply. For more information, click here.
SCHOLARSHIPS
 
Each year Summit County Rotary provides $24,000 in scholarships to our local kids. With the cooperation and assistance of Summit High School and The Summit Foundation we divide these scholarships among 15 students. Please click here for Scholarship applications.​​​​​​​
INTERACT
 
Take action, build international understanding, and make new friends around the world. Interact clubs bring together young people ages 12 – 18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of Service Above Self. Find out how serious leadership can be seriously fun.
YOUTH EXCHANGE PROGRAM
 
Each year the Summit County Rotary Club sponsors two international exchange students through our youth exchange program. We have hosted high school students from Spain, Brazil, Austria, Japan, Turkey, Switzerland, Romania, and many other countries. The students attend high school in Summit County, living with three host families through a full school year. Hosting a Youth Exchange student is a uniquely rewarding and exciting opportunity as host families learn of other customs, traditions, and cultures while simultaneously learning new things about their own. An informational Host Family Handbook and host family applications are available on the Rocky Mountain Rotary Youth Exchange (RMRYE) website (http://rmrye.org).

For Summit County high school students interested in spending a year abroad through the Youth Exchange program: Summit Rotary Club conducts interview applications in September for the following school year. More information and applications for outbound students can be found at http://rmrye.org/outbound-students/. Past Summit Rotary Outbound students have traveled to the Czech Republic, Denmark, Argentina, New Zealand, and Taiwan among others.
YOUTH EXCHANGE SKI WEEKEND
 
Every January the Summit Rotary Club and Copper Mountain sponsor a ski weekend for the International Exchange students visiting District 5450 Summit Rotary arranges for the students to stay with host families who often report enjoying the experience as much as the students do. The event has been among the students’ favorite activities for the past 15 years. In addition to the chance to ski during the mountain’s non-peak season, they enjoy each other’s company and the chance to share stories of their experiences of life in a new country.
THE FOUR WAY TEST
he Four Way Test is used by Rotarians world-wide as a moral guideline to aid decision-making in both personal and business relationships. Every year, we teach the Four Way test to 7th grade students at our Middle School and show them how it can guide them through difficult ethical conundrums.

1) Is it the truth?
2) Is it fair to all concerned?
3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?