Youth Services

Organizations for our local youth include:

  • Skate Canada, Brighton District Figure Skating Club
  • Youth Bowling of Canada
  • Big Brothers-Big Sisters
  • Batawa Ski Patrol
  • Northumberland Minor Lacrosse Ass’n
  • Friends of Presqu’ile Summer Camp
  • Various activities at our local elementary and senior public schools

Rotary Youth Exchange

Ages 15-18

The Youth Exchange Program has always been a high priority item for our club and it sponsors a minimum of one inbound and one outbound student annually. Students reap many rewards from an exchange experience, including: 
  • Serving as an ambassador for their country and community
  • Benefiting from immersion in another culture while adapting to a new way of life
  • Making lifelong friends, not only within the host country but also with other students from around the world
  • Learning about the practices and accomplishments of people in other countries
  • Returning home with a greater sense of the world and a deeper understanding of themselves and their culture
  • Assuming leadership roles shaped by lessons from the experience
  • Building memories that will be with them forever

As a Rotary Youth Exchange student, they spend up to a year living with host families and attending school in a different country.  Whether they participate in Rotary’s long-term or short-term Youth Exchange programs, they’ll learn a new way of living, a great deal about themselves, and maybe even a new language. They’ll also be an ambassador, teaching people they meet about their country, culture, and ideas. These students can help bring the world closer – and make some good friends in the process. For over 75 years, students and host families have broadened their horizons through Rotary Youth Exchange. More than 80 countries and over 8,000 students each year participate in the program, which is administered at the regional level by Rotary districts and at the local level by Rotary clubs.

Click here to learn more.

RYLA

Ages 16-20
 

Each summer thousands of young people are selected to attend Rotary sponsored leadership camps or seminars in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, France, Argentina, Korea and numerous other countries. In an informal atmosphere, groups of outstanding young men and/or women spend a week in a challenging program of leadership training, discussions, inspirational addresses and social activities designed to enhance personal development, leadership skills and good citizenship.  

The RYLA program began in Australia in 1959, when young people throughout the state of Queensland were selected to meet with Princess Alexandra, the young cousin of Queen Elizabeth II. The Rotarians of Brisbane, who hosted the participants, were impressed with the quality of the young leaders. It was decided to bring youth leaders together each year for a week of social, cultural and educational activities. 

The RYLA program gradually grew throughout all the Rotary districts of Australia and New Zealand. In 1971, the RI Board of Directors adopted RYLA as an official program of Rotary International.

INTERACT CLUB OF BRIGHTON-COLBORNE

Ages 12-18
 
In late 2012, the two local Rotary Clubs of Brighton and Colborne, joined forces to start a Rotaract Club at our local ENSS.  The initial success has been favourable. 
 
Interact is Rotary International’s service club for young people ages 12 to 18. They are sponsored by our two Rotary clubs, as we provide support and guidance. The Club itself is self-governing and self-supporting.  Club membership varies greatly. Clubs can be single gender or mixed, large or small. They can draw from the student body of a single school or from two or more schools in the same community. 
Each year, Interact clubs complete at least two community service projects, one of which furthers international understanding and goodwill. Through these efforts, Interactors develop a network of friendships with local and overseas clubs and learn the importance of 
  • Developing leadership skills and personal integrity 
  • Demonstrating helpfulness and respect for others 
  • Understanding the value of individual responsibility and hard work 
  • Advancing international understanding and goodwill 
As one of the most significant and fastest-growing programs of Rotary service, with more than 10,700 clubs in 109 countries and geographical areas, Interact has become a worldwide phenomenon. Almost 200,000 young people are involved in Interact.