| Click for application form | Click for map |
RYPEN has as its principal aim, to communicate to young people taking part in the program a series of ideas, problems and social experiences which will assist them in forming their own values and moral standards and allow them to broaden their horizons culturally, socially and academically. Nothing is forced upon the young people - they are free to discuss and interpret what they experience and above all, they are not patronized by the Rotarians or Leaders who are involved in running the seminar.
The RYPEN seminar will be conducted by a Rotarian experienced in youth work and leadership camps and will be assisted by a team of youth leaders (female/male) who are or have been involved in other Youth Training Programs (ie. Rotaract, RYLA, Youth Work). The Lake Nillahcootie Camp provides very good facilities for students and leaders and has dormitory style sleeping quarters for female / male attendees.
RYPEN in our District is designed to provide an enriching program for young people in the age groups covered by Year 10. It is centered on a weekend residential seminar where the young people are involved in an intense learning and social experience. The program is challenging to young people as it is focused on activities that will increase their selfesteem and leadership skills as well as allowing opportunities for them to think about understanding themselves and how they relate to others. Those attending should have a basic level of physical fitness as parts of the program require the participants to become involved in outdoor sessions that require them to work as a group, as well as being individually challenged.
To facilitate the learning at a RYPEN seminar, a balance is struck between work and play, between formal learning situations and social activities. Everything done at the seminar is closely planned to contribute, in a positive way, to the total experience.
A very important part of the concept is that those chosen to participate should be prepared to strive for and attempt all activities that will be offered to them at the seminar. To accept the offer to participate in the seminar is the commencement of the positive nature of the seminar. RYPEN seeks to help those who, with guidance and encouragement, can achieve their latent potential. Rotary is striving to build on the qualities that the young people selected for the seminar have already shown, i.e. perseverance, steadfastness, honesty and decency in order that they can benefit from this experience.
The job of selecting the seminar participants is up to each Secondary College invited to participate and a Rotary Club then sponsors those selected. The College’s Student Welfare Teacher / Year 10 Coordinator should be able to ensure that the student/s selected are within the guidelines and will benefit from the experience. The seminar is restricted to 40 students on a first come basis. Click here for the application form
The basic philosophy of RYPEN is that stimulus and individual enrichment, comes from the group ethos developed by the seminar team, which causes a sense of pride and unity to be developed in the participants, thus achieving the aims of the program.
Should you require any further information about the program, contact:
Seminar Director:
P.P. Malcolm S. Watt -
(03) 5821 0161 ah,
0439 158 274
or email: rypen@rotary9790.org.au
The 2009 RYPEN Seminar will be held on 20th to 22nd March, 2009 at Lake Nillahcootie Camp.
