Each February the District 7090 Rotary Youth Exchange Program organizes a trip with our students to Algonquin Park. If you are not familiar with this trip, you are probably asking yourself, “Why in the world would we take a bunch of teenagers to Northern Canada in the middle of winter where there is no running water or central heat?”The answer is simple: our goal is to provide the students in the program the most memorable experience of their exchange year. The Rotary Outdoor Leadership Experience has been going on for almost 40 years and is a unique feature of our district. It is held in February so that our recently selected outbound students can interact with our inbound students in challenging circumstances that force students out of their comfort zone. The trip is an opportunity for our outbound students to experience being away from home in an unfamiliar place with new people before they head out on their exchange year. The trip allows our inbound students to reflect on the challenges of their exchange and inspire them to finish the year strong. It is a marvel to see kids from all over the world and from all walks of life come together and bond like they have been friends for decades. For some of the students, it is a turning point in their exchange year and for others it is the spark that gives their exchange year a deeper meaning.
- Jill Norton
Each year on the anniversary of the trip we hear from past students who are happy to share their fond memories and encourage the students to enjoy each moment. We regularly hear from past students about how they used the lessons from the Algonquin trip not just during their exchange year, but throughout their lives as well. Common themes from the trip, such as “It’s up to you, it’s not about you,” are easy reminders of how to navigate life’s challenges.
Here is a reflection from an outbound student from Canada, Sarah O’Neill, back in 1989:
“I think most people’s limits are a lot farther on than they believe. They live life holding themselves back for fear of failing. Once you realize this – that you have more reserves than you ever imagined – you are free to explore and experiment, to take risks – emotional, physical and mental that you never would have dreamed of taking before. You are free to laugh at yourself when you fail and relish the simplest of pleasures."
We are eternally grateful for the support the clubs and the district have given the program over the years and hope that we can continue this program for many years to come. Please ask your RYE students to share some of thoughts about their experience