We Can't Wait!!

Prep Work

The staff has already been busy this morning getting ready for an amazing Camp RYLA 2018. 

All materials are being pulled together for each camper to have a successful week. We are so excited to start off this awesome week and can't wait to welcome the campers today.


A few last minutes reminders:
1. Pack your bag and then double check your bag. 
-Make sure you have everything  you need to insure that you have a great time.
2. If you have any snacks, make sure they are sealed.
-Just to be on the safe side.
3. Lastly, thank your Rotary Clubs as they drop you off.
-These amazing people have volunteered their time to take you to camp. This nice gesture should be appreciated. 

Welcome to the jungle!

-RYLA Alumni

COUNTDOWN! 1 days till Camp RYLA!

Last few words

Hi campers - we are SO excited for you to get here! Seriously, why aren’t you here already? We do like to say at Camp that being on time is late...

Anyways, while y’all get on over here thought we could provide you some “friendly” last minute tips to get you ready for this week! 

1. Don’t try to figure out what exactly is going to happen this week - you won’t be able to. BUT we can promise it will be ahhhmazing

2. Clear your schedule for the next two weeks because you will need a week to recover from the things we put you through (don’t worry parents - we will return them healthy if you don’t count sleep deprivation as a health issue...)

3. Also, clear the memory on your phone because we promise within 24 hours of leaving camp you’ll be in 8373938 new group conversations 

4. Pack using your handy dandy packing list!! Look, i’ve done this 6 times & i still somehow forget things. Don’t be me! 

5. Run through a couple of your girl scout/boy scout survival tricks since you still have NO idea what we’re going to make you do. 

JK you won’t need to fend for yourselves...or will you??

6. Let your current friends know that in a week they will likely be replaced with your new camp BFFs. You want to prepare them to make it easier! 

7. Hibernate for as long as you can... or is it too late for that??

8. If you haven’t worked out in a while it wouldn’t hurt to exercise a bit. Once again, you have no idea what we could put in your way. 

9. SNACKS - buy them, pack them, start eating them! You’ll need the energy!

10. Ok all jokes aside, the most important advice is to clear your mind of everything else, pump yourself up and be ready for the unexpected amazingness that is Camp RYLA! 

Take a moment for yourself.

We CANNOT wait to welcome you to camp.
-RYLA Alumni

COUNTDOWN! 3 days till Camp RYLA!

Memories

As this week comes to an end, RYLA alums will share advice and a memory.

Robert, camper in '06, shares for today.

I was a camper in 2006, and I decided to go to Camp RYLA because I thought it would look good on college applications. I had no idea what to expect. That week at camp can best be described as explosive, and afterward, it made me work even harder to achieve my goals. 

My amazing first experience is what keeps me coming back, year after year, for 10 years. I've been in your shoes. There's going to come a time this week where you feel like you can't give any more and you want to quit, but instead of stopping, hit the wall at 100 miles an hour. You will get out of camp 10 times what you put into it.

We CANNOT wait to welcome you to camp.

-RYLA Alumni

COUNTDOWN! 2 days till Camp RYLA!

Memories

Another memory from Hena Rafiq, 2011,

I cannot believe that it has been 7 years since I was gearing up to head to RYLA as a camper. I hadn’t been to a camp since I was in the 5th grade and I was both eager and anxious about it all. Little did I know that RYLA was going to carry me around for the 7 years (with more to come, of course).

Everyday since I’ve garnered the RYLA spirit that is about to become instinctive to you all shortly. That spirit led me to International RYLA in 2014, to graduate with a human rights degree in 2016 and then to start a youth leadership camp in Kosovo in 2017. 

Camp is what you make of it. Come with no expectations but set ambitious goals for yourself this week & hopefully you’ll see yourself achieve things you could have never even thought of before. We are SO excited to have you and cannot wait to help you through this journey. We know no one has told you what this journey is all about in detail yet but come on, you can survive the mysteriousness for 48 more hours right? Until then, get into the right mindset and get ready for what we all think is the best week of the year!!

See you soon!

We CANNOT wait to welcome you to camp.
-RYLA Alumni

COUNTDOWN! 4 days till Camp RYLA!

8 things you don't understand now, but will very soon:

Camp is a time to learn, stretch your limits, and have some debatably weird experiences, and leave with inside jokes and lingo that will confuse everyone at home. For example:

1.  Ain’t nobody got time for hanky panky...literally. 
2. At RYLA, there’s always somewhere to be, and someday maybe Susie and Sammy will get their acts together and show up on time.
3. Puffy v. scented stickers...which one is more enviable?
4. If you’re prone to losing things, you probably should go ahead and a) stretch and b) brush up on your spelling.
5. Two truths and a lie: Bedtime is strictly enforced. You really might gain a little weight while at camp. It could get hot outside.
6. Silly hats and silly socks aren’t so silly when the cup is on the line.
7. Where does your Bonnie lie? And how tired are your legs?
8. Strong female leads in mid-century television serve the best ice cream.

Can’t wait to meet y’all. Let’s reach for the future!

Becca Egger, Camper ‘04

-RYLA Alumni

COUNTDOWN! 5 days till Camp RYLA!

What you SHOULD to bring to camp:

1. Hygiene products

-You are sharing a cabin with about 10 other campers, an assistant counselor and a counselor. Don't forget the little things that will make everyone more comfortable.
-Toothpaste, Deodorant, Febreze, etc.

2. Clean underthings and overthings.

-This is an active camp. Your overthings can get gross (think: sun and heat) and you want to make sure that you have enough underthings to keep yourself comfortable. Underthings are the only types of clothing that you could never overpack on.
-Keep in mind that we'll be outside a lot. Make sure that you have enough shorts and socks for the week (shoot for two pairs of socks a day).

3. Disposable Camera (no cell phones allowed)

-I know, what is this ancient thing. Trust me, finding random photos of pure joy and exhaustion will be an awesome surprise when you get them developed after camp.
-Cell phones aren't allowed and this is a cheap way to still get those photos.
-Walmart sells them in packs of three and can develop them for you after camp.


4. A Good Hat, Sunglasses, & Water bottle

-Sun sun and more sun. A good hat will come in handy when any bit of shade will help from the heat.
 -Try to bring two pairs of sunglasses. The one pair that you love and another pair, that if broken, wouldn't bother you. From personal experience, I broke my only pair halfway through the week when I dropped my back pack on them.
-A reusable water bottle is essential! Staying hydrated makes camp a much better experience. Once again it will be hot, hot, hot!

5. Lastly...  A great attitude.

-RYLA is a place to shine and be who you truly are - a great leader. Trust the program and dive headfirst into what RYLA is. Leave with no regrets.

We CANNOT wait to welcome you to camp.
-RYLA Alumni

COUNTDOWN! 6 days till Camp RYLA!

What you NEED to bring to camp:

1. Reusable water bottle

-Hot hot hot. You need to stay hydrated at camp.

2. Sunscreen

-You want to come home from camp with a funny tan, not a burn. Gotta stay safe y'all.

3. Waterproof watch

-With such a busy schedule, a watch will help you keep track of time and can also function as an alarm for you in the mornings.

4. Bug spray

-For activities during dusk or at night, bug spray will come in handy (trust me)

5. Hat

-Cover that head, because once again it will be hot! You can also purchase a RYLA hat for $15.00 during the week.

6. Lots of Snacks

-It is always nice to have something to munch on during the day.

-RYLA will definitely not let you go hungry but it's a comfort if you know some of your favorite snacks are back in your cabin.

If you bring these five things you will be in good shape during your week at camp RYLA!

We CANNOT wait to welcome you to camp.
-RYLA Alumni

COUNTDOWN! 7 days till Camp RYLA

Start off advice

For the start of this countdown, we reached out to RYLA alumni, Bethany (camper in 2011) and she offers these tips on how to prepare for camp. This is the beginning of pre-RYLA for the week so get ready.

Hello Camp RYLA Class of 2018! Camp is getting SO close, and I hope you’re as excited as I am.  In honor of this summer being my 5-year anniversary of attending Camp RYLA, I decided to talk to y’all about 5 experiences/pieces of advice involving RYLA:

• “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” –Wayne Gretzky/Michael Scott/Dana Mackison… but in all seriousness, challenge yourself each day at camp to do something new or different.

•  Reach out to everyone in your cabin; every person has a story to tell and investing time and effort in every RYLA friendship will enrich your life.  

• Make sure to get a couple good nights of sleep the week leading up to camp! I am a huge supporter of naps, and will not be offended if you stop reading this to go take one right now.

• Learn from the ACs- they were in your shoes just last year and will become a lifelong friend.

• Treasure every moment! Get ready for one of the greatest weeks of your life.

We CANNOT wait to welcome you to camp.-RYLA Alumni

DAY 0 2018

Getting READY for YOU!

Two weekends ago, the Assistant Counselors and their Counselor matched up, got together for training on their joint roles this summer. Each group discussed different types of communication styles, different, fun, ice breakers and got to know each other better. Day 0 is used as the first step for these staffers to become the best team for you at Camp RYLA.

By this time before camp, campers should have spoken to at least their AC and/or Counselor. If not, the AC/Counselor will be contacting you within the next week or so. Let them know if you have any questions!

We CANNOT wait to welcome you to camp.
Reach for the Future!
-RYLA Alumni

Welcome to the Camp RYLA 5810 Blog! 

Camp is almost here and we can't wait! We are looking forward to meeting each and everyone of the new campers for our 28th year of camp. 

Keep an eye out next week for updates here on our blog as we count down to camp! 

In the meantime please checkout the list of what to bring to camp! 

Thank you,
Camp RYLA Staff