This year Kirkcudbright Rotary Club sponsored four students from Kirkcudbright Academy to attend the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Award course. The Abernethy Trust’s Outdoor and Adventure Centre was once again the setting for two very successful RYLA camps in July. Sonny McAdam joined 24 other young men at the first of these week long camps whilst Laura Gorman, Caitlin Innes and Talitha Williams joined 31 other young women on the second of these camps.
On returning home all four of the students accepted an invitation to attend the Kirkcudbright Rotary meeting on Tuesday 23rd August where they enjoyed a meal with the Rotarians and then spoke about how much they had enjoyed and learned from their RYLA experience. They told of the many activities that they had undertaken and they all felt that they had benefited enormously from meeting the challenges they had faced throughout the week. They spoke with great enthusiasm about canoeing, kayaking, gorge walking, high and low ropes courses, abseiling and climbing and told those present how much they had enjoyed taking part in the programme of team tasks throughout the week.
As in recent years, the RYLA candidates will now carry out a fundraising event for charity. The candidates will all take part in planning and participating in a sponsored walk in the Pentland Hills on Sunday 2nd October. The event this year will be held in aid of ‘End Polio Now’ and the Abernethy Ardeonaig Trust.
Gillian Thorburn, Principal Teacher, Pupil Support at Kirkcudbright Academy commented that all 4 pupils benefited enormously from the opportunity to participate in RYLA. The pupils highlighted increased confidence and working as part of a team as being particularly valuable. Pupils and staff at the Academy are looking forward to hearing about their experiences at a special assembly later this week.’
