Dear RYLArians,
Enjoy updates throughout the week detailing the events of RYLA 2009. The entries highlight familiar camp events but emphasize the shenanigans unique to each year and serve to remind us of lessons learned at RYLA that continue to influence our leadership development and focus on service.
SATURDAY
RYLA Welcome
Campers anticipate the rowdy RYLA welcome featured in the camp video. However, some of the campers brought a surprise of their own—a pre-made cheer created just for us. The campers in the picture chanted, “RYLA: random, youth, leadership, awesome!” and provided their own musical accompaniment to their inspired lyrics. They get better every year!
Welcome to camp. NOW JUMP!
A cheer for RYLA already?
The First Speech
For the third year in a row, RYLA favorite Jerry Trayler left the campers on their feet with their jaws dropped as he kicked off the camp with his always-inspiring speech. Jerry has officially become a part of the RYLA family, even assisting A.C.’s in their infamous greeting of the new camper’s as they arrived on Saturday afternoon. Jerry sat in front of the rec. hall doors, tricking each of the fresh RYLArians by saying, “don’t you remember me?” Little did the campers know, they were talking to a man who had ran across America, skied, ran up Pike’s Peak, and competed in dozens of marathons, all on crutches. Though the campers may not have remembered Jerry, they will certainly never forget him.
SUNDAY
Work It Girl (or Boy)
Jennifer Butler led calisthenics for the second time this year, giving our new campers a first taste of what it feels like to truly exercise the mind and body at 6:30 am, a time when they would usually be about mid-way through their summer night’s sleep. Booming through the speakers on the basketball court were such hit songs as “So What, I’m Still A Rockstar” by Pink, and “Please Don’t Stop The Music,” by Rihanna. This morning RYLA Alumni staffer Jeff Egger and A.C. Adam Waddell also proved that soffee shorts (a.k.a. really short cheerleading shorts) are indeed back in fashion for men as well.
Teambuilding
Dana was almost on time for the Round Robin activities Sunday morning. Thus, we only went overtime on the fun team building games about 20 minutes, cutting a little bit into our lunch of chicken sandwiches and waffle fries (move over, Chickfila). The 8 activities were the same as always, from the Texas lizard Egg, to the Robin’s Nest, and the Radio-Active Nuclear Reactor, campers had to complete impossible challenges just minutes after meeting their boy or girl counterparts. Only two teams were able to get the toxic Texas lizard egg into the angry mother’s next, while just one team was able to successfully transport the dangerously toxic moon rock back.
Board Breaking
Always an emotional time at camp, the board-breaking session facilitated by Troy Stende brought many campers to tears and tremors, followed by cries of joy and warm embraces among team members after completing the challenge. For the first time, (to our knowledge, or at least in a while) every camper broke the board with his or her hand and only one (the very first camper who volunteered to go on stage) had to try a second time to accomplish the feat. A couple of campers commented on their experience and brought to light a lesson to be taken from this exercise: one can and sometimes should tackle personal problems with the help and support of other people. It is also important not to doubt oneself and try new things, aka step out of your comfort zone. These kids are starting to get it.
Blake Lindsey
The last speaker of the night commented on how being blind has shaped his life. He described the tight bond he formed with his family from an early age based in part on the tandem bike that he used to ride with his father (in an effort to build a closer relationship and also lose the “tire” forming around his stomach) and eventually, his experience following his dad’s instructions when they rode on separate bikes. It instilled in him the belief that the help of family and friends is critical and it is important not to be a victim.
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