How Rotary Clubs Get Involved
RYLA 2026 Step by Step
Step 1: Designate a RYLA Representative
Club Presidents designate a RYLA Representative to be the liaison between the Rotary Club, their RYLA students and the RYLA Registrar.
Step 2: Submit reservations & payment for student slots Deadline October 15
Decide how many students your club will sponsor. The $350 fee covers all expenses for the student including bus transportation (Broward and Miami-Dade) lodging, meals and all supplies. There are only 120 slots available on a first come/first serve paid basis.
*This for asks for quantity only. Clubs do not need to have identified their students at this point. The purpose of this step is to make a “reservation” for your RYLA student slots. If you have slots that you would like the RYLA Committee to fill, let us know as we will have a pool of qualified students.
Link to form: RYLA Club Commitment Form
Step 3: Recruit Students Deadline November 14
Contact your local school advisors, Rotarians and community leaders for nominations of sophomore students. The children, grandchildren and other relatives of Rotarians are eligible to apply. Strive for an equal quantity of males and females in your selection as this is helpful in creating teams and planning for lodging.
Recruit more students to apply to RYLA than you have slots so 1) you will have an opportunity to select the best candidates, and 2) you will have alternates to fill slots in case of changes or cancellations, which often occur.
Ideal candidates:
Exhibit leadership qualities-current leadership positions are not required
Would benefit from an intensive leadership training weekend
Have the aptitude to learn to communicate better, learn about ethics, problem solve, and work in groups
Participants may NOT have attended previous a RYLA conference and must be able to attend January 30-February 1, 2026. Students will be required to take off one day of school, Friday, January 30, 2026.
Share this link to the application. This is also available on our Facebook page RYLA District 6990 and on the District Website
2026 District 6990 RYLA Conferee Application
NOTE: If your club wants to sponsor students but do not wish to choose your own applicants,
the RYLA Committee will provide pre-qualified students.
Step 4: Select Students Deadline Dec 19
Your Club’s applications will be sent to the RYLA Representative via email.
Upon receipt of student applications, the RYLA Representative and committee will review the applications and schedule interviews with those students being considered. The interview is a good time to confirm that the applicant is available for the RYLA conference dates and that they have a commitment to participate.
The RYLA Rep will inform the students, their parents and the RYLA Registrar which applicants have been selected and which have been placed on the alternates list.
Step 5: Confirm final details Deadline Jan 15
Before the RYLA conference, the RYLA Rep is responsible for confirming each student’s participation and reviewing details for transportation to the conference site. Please provide your cell number to your RYLA students and let them know that they are responsible for letting you know if for ANY reason they will not be able to attend.
Charter bus transportation will be provided for all students in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. Monroe County students are responsible for providing their own transportation to Florida Sea Base in Islamorada and transportation for students from the Bahamas will be arranged by their sponsoring Rotary Clubs.
Guidelines for Ideal RYLA Candidates
There are two main required criteria for RYLA Student Selection
1. The students must be Sophomores (10th grade, graduating class
2. Participants may NOT have attended a previous RYLA conference
It is important to identify students for RYLA who will truly benefit from the experience and will be leaders on their return to school. Students that are selected to attend the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards should be well prepared for the experience and be aware of the sponsoring organization.
Although many Rotary Clubs sponsor students from their local Interact Clubs, a candidate does NOT have to be a member of Interact. For many students, RYLA is their first exposure to Rotary and we find that after RYLA, many non-Interact students go back to their schools to join or start a new Interact Club.
Ideal candidates should exhibit a potential for leadership but do not have to currently be serving in leadership positions.
RYLA includes a variety of hands on, intensive leadership activities. Ideal candidates should have prepared for dealing with problem solving and working in teams
IMPORTANT: Strive to select an equal number of male students as females students.