RYLA 5810 Alumni

In June, over 100 students from all over the Dallas area arrived at Camp Hoblitzelle for an unforgettable week of leadership training. After they had been pulled from their cars, made to spin around in circles and received their backpacks, the staff, counselors and ACs started the process that for 20 years has turned out better leaders. Thank you to everyone who came to camp and everyone who supported us from home. To the seasoned alumni who could not attend camp this year, you were greatly missed, and it was the example that you’ve set in the past that the staff followed throughout the week. To the four alumni who stepped up to fulfill the roles of Assistant Camp Director and Assistant Activities Directors – Blake Martin, Caresse Bucchan, Rebecca Egger and Travis Craig – you were incredible, thank you for your leadership. To Mark and Dana, thank you for another year of leadership and dedication to Camp RYLA.

After months of anticipation and planning, around 50 alumni gathered at Lake Texoma June 25-27 to celebrate two decades of developing young leaders and the every-growing RYLA family. Thank you to everyone who planned and participated in the weekend, you made it very special and memorable.

This year, 22 assistant counselors and activities assistants attended camp after having become standouts as campers in 2009 and participating in the advisory committee throughout their senior year of high school. Newbies, thank you for being apart of what was another successful year of camp, and welcome to the RYLA family.

Miche with her husband, son and new baby girl

RYLA alum Miche McNeeley and her husband, Tim, welcomed to the world Collins Marie McNeeley on July 16, 2010. Their new baby girl weighed in at 7lbs 13 oz and lengthened in at 20 ½ in. Miche said of their new addition, “I did all the work and she is looking a lot like Tim… this is the second time that has happened.” This is Miche and her husband’s second child. They also have a three-year-old son, Rohan, who wanted to name his little sister Raisins.

Allison and Chase Jones

Three RYLArians said “I do” this summer. Alumni Rebecca Lowder and Jeff Egger tied the knot on July 3, 2010 and alum Allison Bennett married Chase Jones on July 9, 2010. Rebecca and Jeff are living in the Sherman area while she is teaching high school English at Gunter High School and Jeff is coaching junior high, junior varsity and varsity football, basketball and track in Melissa.

Rebecca and Jeff Egger

Allison and Chase are living in Austin, where she will continue to teach high school French while Chase teaches middle school science in a nearby suburb.

RYLA alum Amy Moore, formerly Amy Sowards, took a few minutes out of her day as a freelance graphic designer to catch the Informant up on her career, life with her husband in Dallas and involvement with Camp RYLA.

RI: Tell me a little bit about what you do as a graphic designer.

AM: I have been doing graphic design for over 8 years, all kinds of jobs, but finally I’m a freelance graphic designer. I work from home, most of the time, and I design logos, brochures, mailers, ads, websites, business cards, magazines, newsletters, etc. I love working for myself, plus it has helped me to come back to RYLA.

RI: Wow. Who are your typical clients?

AM: My clients are mostly small law firms, small business owners and churches.  My big client is called Direct To Your Door. I’m their art director and I come and go when needed; we design custom door hangers, business cards and mailers.

RI: Do you apply things you learned at RYLA in the workplace?

AM: Of course, I have to go out and find work. It’s a 100 percent self-motivated job.  I’m also an Art Director for one of my clients and I have two other designers working for me, plus five sales reps. It can get very stressful during deadline time, so I need to be a strong leader so everything doesn’t fall apart.
RI: That sounds very exciting. What impact did RYLA have on your life when you were a camper?

AM: I realized that I was a great leader, but I needed to put myself out there more.  I needed to try new things and to go out for that interview or that position.  It gave me that extra confidence that I needed.

RI: How does RYLA continue to influence your life today?

AM: RYLA has been with me every step of the way.  It still gives me comfort and that extra boost that tells me, “You can do it.”

RI: Why do you keep coming back to RYLA?

AM: I love to see camp through the eyes of the campers, watch them change and grow in a very short time.  It’s the most rewarding experience.  I also love being around all the wonderful people that come back year after year.

RI: What year were you a camper at RYLA?

AM: 1997

RI: And where did you attend college?

AM: TCU, where I received my Bachelor of Fine Arts, with an emphasis on painting.

RI: Were you involved in anything specific during college?

AM: I was a Chi Omega, ambassador for the Art Department and a facilitator and camp director for the university’s orientation camp, Frog Camp.

RI: What are you favorite things to do during your free time?

AM: I love to paint and go fly fishing with my husband, Travis, who I married in 2007.

RI: Are you a Rotarian?

AM: Yes, I’m a charter member of The North Texas Pioneers.

In keeping with common characteristics of the RYLA alumni, Scary Story Night 2010 was meticulously schemed to be the best episode of tomfoolery (Dana’s word of the week) possible. Plans for this night were originally hatched in July 2009, along with a whole slew of pranks that will not be mentioned here. In an effort to top last year’s scary story night, which featured Scooter hiding in the tire tower for 45 minutes, mysterious noises coming from the woods, and Brooke being attacked by a ghost (Sly scratching her back during a particularly scary story) the organizers wanted to up the ante.

The largest group ever to assemble to witness scary story night trekked to the fort sometime after 10:00 pm.  Little did they know that a mustached police officer was waiting in the wings.  Several classic RYLA scary stories were shared, including Shapeshifter, The Doins, Haunted Dorm, and Attic Boy.  As the tension rose, Miguel let out a guttural scream and launched a hand-crafted to-scale human dummy towards the shocked participants.  Screams filled the air as bodies landed on top of one another, and the onlookers were attempting to make sense of the situation.  The prank planning trio of Brooke, Sly, and Miguel shared a hearty laugh as scary story night continued. As the night came to a close, the final story concluded with Jenny Lowder standing and screaming, “There’s something behind you!”  A chair was broken, tears were shed, knees were scraped, and 90-pound Roza was physically crushed; and another Scary Story night came to an end.

Camp RYLA 2010 – Saturday 5, 2010

As we all know, time at RYLA flies by quickly and as a part of the RYLA magic, staff was busily making preparations for the campers. The ACA’s (AC’s on Activities) made signs to welcome the excited campers. As the time approached for camp to begin, Scooter would make vans full of unsuspecting campers slowly pull into camp. After a few still moments of silence, AC’s and Alumni staff would pounce and pull the confused campers out of their cars. After scaring the campers a “little bit” from the immediate rush, they also had to perform various stunts like the chicken dance, hokey-pokey, and jumping jacks before being permitted into the check-in station. No doubt this was going to be another great year at camp RYLA!

-the ACA’s

As we all know, camp is a precious time in all of our lives.  Thousands of us have gone through the program, and hundreds have been able to stay involved through working as staff.  Unfortunately, we are not all able to return every year.  If you are unable to attend this year, please remember what a delicate flower (cheesy? maybe…) RYLA is, and the best way to respect and support the program is to avoid visits, drop-ins, etc.  Although our camp director understands that many of us will be in the area for a day or two and would love nothing more than to check on things, this is our 20th year and we must all band together to produce our best effort yet–and for those of us who aren’t working as staff, that means we need to stay at home.  That’s our role, so let’s rock it!  Thank you for your cooperation and understanding!!

On a brighter note, if you want to see everyone, PLEASE sign up to attend the All-RYLA Alumni Reunion!!  We all want a chance to see you and catch up!!  Can’t wait to see everyone at Tanglewood!

- Here are some helpful instructions to make sure you don’t miss the social event of a lifetime…

- The deadline to get the Camp RYLA 20th Anniversary hotel room discount of $120 is Friday, May 21, 2010. Don’t be caught sleeping on a bench or in the backseat of Dana’s car. Call Tanglewood Resort on Lake Texoma at 1-800-833-6569 to make your reservation.

- If you would like to split/share a room with another RYLA alum (and who wouldn’t), please contact Beth Anderson (formerly Beth Digby – sorry fellas, she’s off the market) at 214-908-0838. She’ll help you make arrangements.

- Make sure you (and your spouse, partner, guest, etc.) register for the reunion today. There is a registration fee of $50 for RYLA alums and $75 for couples. Technology has advanced to the point where you can register on the RYLA alumni website. We couldn’t do that twenty years ago…

Need the paypal link? Clickity click right here:

https://ryla5810.camp-master.com/rylaReunion.aspx