Youth Programs and Service
Youth Service recognizes the positive change implemented by youth and young adults through leadership development activities, involvement in community and international service projects, and exchange programs that enrich and foster world peace and cultural understanding.
The Rotary Club of Carlsbad is committed to involving youth and young adults in their vocational, community, and international service projects, and to providing programs and resources that support them. Whether it’s through Interact, Rotaract, Rotary Youth Exchange, or Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), Rotary’s Next Generations programs provide young people an opportunity to develop their character and embrace new experiences while exposing them to Rotary’s core values of service, high ethical standards, and peace.
We encourage our youth to become involved with their community by taking part in one or more of the programs described below:
Interact
Interact is Rotary's service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. The Rotary Club of Carlsbad sponsors Interact Clubs at Army & Navy Academy and Sage Creek High School.
Interact is Rotary's service club for young people ages 12 to 18. Interact clubs are sponsored by individual Rotary clubs, which provide support and guidance, but they are self-governing and self-supporting. The Rotary Club of Carlsbad sponsors Interact Clubs at Army & Navy Academy and Sage Creek High School.
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
Rotaract
Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. The Rotary Club of Del Mar sponsors Roteract Clubs at San Diego State University and the University of San Diego.
All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities’ physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service. Rotaractors may also:
Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by a local Rotary club. This makes them true "partners in service" and key members of the family of Rotary. The Rotary Club of Del Mar sponsors Roteract Clubs at San Diego State University and the University of San Diego.
All Rotaract efforts begin at the local, grassroots level, with members addressing their communities’ physical and social needs while promoting international understanding and peace through a framework of friendship and service. Rotaractors may also:
- Work together with Interact clubs or mentor Interactors
- Participate in Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
- Become Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholars or Group Study Exchange team members
- Seek membership in their local Rotary club after their Rotaract membership ends.
Rotary Youth Exchange
The Rotary Club of Carlsbad participates and supports three the different exchange programs briefly described below:
- Long-term exchange for ages 151/2 to 18, providing students with the opportunity to spend a full academic year with several host families and becoming completely immersed in the country's language and culture.
- Short-term exchange for ages 15-18, where students have the opportunity to stay for several weeks abroad with a host family with a teenager of similar age and then he/she will come to the student's home in the US and stay for several weeks.
- Summer Camp exchange; where over 60 international youth summer camps are offered to students 151/2 to 25 who want to be the only American in a group of students from other countries, spending 2 to 3 weeks abroad.
Learn more about youth exchange in our district.
For questions and to request more information, please email: carlsbadrotaryexchange@gmail.com.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)
RYLA is Rotary's leadership training program for young people. RYLA participants can be ages 14-30. RYLA emphasizes leadership, citizenship, and personal growth, and aims to:
- Demonstrate Rotary's respect and concern for youth
- Provide an effective training experience for selected youth and potential leaders
- Encourage leadership of youth by youth
- Recognize publicly young people who are rendering service to their communities