Youth Service

Giving Young People a Helping Hand

Our Club has long tried to provide opportunities for the young people in our community to develop themselves.  In the past we have sent one or two 15/16 year old young adults on Rotary's RYLA courses.  RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Award and essentially used the outdoors environment to undertake a variety of projects that gave every participant the chance to work in teams and to show leadership in doing so.  Since the intervention of Covid however, we have moved the focus of our youth development activities from RYLA to a range of different initiatives.

Over the years, many teenage pupils at McLaren High School have looked to participate in overseas projects such Operation Raleigh.  These projects help young people to develop skills essential to adult life, but often have a high cost.  Rotary in Callander have been only too happy to help out where appropriate.

Our Club also has a longstanding relationship with McLaren High School and each year we encourage the High School to come up with a project that we can support financially.   In addition, we assist the school with mock interviews for pupils in their final school years, to help them to prepare for the next stage in their lives.

Each year we run our area's heat of Rotary's Primary School Quiz.  All of the schools in the McLaren catchment area take part and as well as providing a learning opportunity, it is also a chance for Primary 7 pupils to engage with those who they will meet up with in a few months time when they start S1 at the High School.

A number of years ago, Rotary in Callander introduced the Endeavour Trophy which is designed to recognise pupils who have overcome some form of adversity.  This award now proudly takes it place alongside the annual end-of-year awards given out by McLaren High School for academic and sporting achievements.