After months of anticipation and preparation, the long awaited Camp RYLA 2009 approached fast and after a quick blink of an eye, a calisthenics stretch and the flash of a digital camera it was over even faster. Every year, campers are different but on the 19th year of Camp RYLA for District 5810 it brought the same old, nostalgic and emotional feelings. It was another life changing week for the meticulously selected rising seniors in Dallas, waking up that first morning to the unknown; the only thing they heard was that “It’s going to be a week you could never put into words.” The first day, campers broke through their personal barriers. For some breaking through a 1” board was the impossible, for others, it was the personal battle blatantly staring back at them that caused their eyes to be clouded with tears. After crossing that hurdle, one would think the week would get easier, but it did not. RYLA prides itself in getting to the core of the leaders of tomorrow, all week campers worked in groups of people so drastically different from themselves that group work in itself caused self reflection and outdoor activities worked them into physical exhaustion. That exhaustion has always been the catalyst for when the light bulb went off, “These people will help me up when I fall and if ever I feel like I can no longer keep going.”
Speakers came and went, each leaving a different type of footprint of the hearts of each camper: personal development, ethics, leadership, community and community service. These are the ingredients that make great leaders, these are the foundations of RYLA. Once again Jerry Traylor challenged both the campers and staff to look within themselves to discovering the credible abilities they possessed. Troy Stende pushed campers through their barriers urging that they could not conquer obstacles if they did not face them. Blake Lindsay entrusted campers with his life story. George Ritcheske, a RYLA favorite brought the topic of ethics, for it is an essential part of leadership. Peter DeLisle focused the entire camp on the elements of leadership, building upon the daily themes that came before. Mindy Audlin stressed community and community service; taking what has been learned back to the communities in which we came from is the point of learning for it impacts no one if not shared. By the end of the week, there is no such thing as a comfort zone.
The same themes, different lessons and different people. Camp was filled with fun and campers left in awe of the 6 days of RYLA they were privileged to experience. From a staff perspective it was even more fantastic. Seeing campers realize their true potential, the tears of high school football stars streaming from their faces as they hugged their new best friend in the band on the last day never gets old and opens your heart in the most special way. It was also a fantastic year to see some prodigal alums return, knowing that their presence was missed they came in and never missed a beat. After 19 years- campers, staff and alums alike can all agree, every year RYLA is and will always be HOME.
*Caresse Bucchan*
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