Borderland Rotary Club welcomed Chloe Downes, this year’s sponsored student to attend RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards), and she gave an illustrated talk about her adventures on the one-week, leadership course at Arthog Outdoor Education Centre on the North Wales coast.
“It was all go from the start as we went straight into tasks soon after we arrived. I liked the fact that it was such a diverse crowd, and we all had to work together and find out who was good at what”. Said Chloe, “We had various skills that we recognised, and some we didn’t, and it was interesting how we could often see them in others but not in ourselves”.
The principle of RYLA is that each team sets up a company to complete tasks to earn RYLA dollars. This involves budgeting, planning, problem solving and, of course, the challenge itself and these are both physical, mental and vary from climbing Cader Idris to doing a blindfold conga line.
“I am used to dealing with people as a Flight Sergeants in the Air Cadets, but I feel that this experience has broadened my skill set for both the cadets and for university – where I hope to go next autumn. I very grateful for this opportunity – I loved it”.
Chloe’s place at RYLA was sponsored by Jill and Neil Morris, who have taken a great interest in the scheme for some years now.
L-R Rob Hughes, Chloe Downes, Paul Crosby & Neil Morris.
