SANDPOINT — The mission of Mini-RYLA is to help young emerging leaders discover their gifts, to embrace the diversity of their young colleagues, and to become skilled at creating inclusive environments.

RYLA, which is an acronym for Rotary Youth Leadership Award, is a week-long event for post-high school youth, so the Mini-Ryla event is for the younger generation of emerging leaders in grades 9-12. It is also a shorter event, taking place over the course of a weekend.

This year’s Mini-RYLA event, hosted by the Rotary Club of Sandpoint, will feature 32 participants from Sandpoint, Lake Pend Oreille, Clark Fork and Forrest Bird Charter high schools.

“The weekend event welcomes expert speakers in the areas of leadership, communication, teamwork, health and well-being, and self-awareness,” Debbie Ford, Rotary Mini-RYLA committee chair, said in an email to the Daily Bee. “The participants learn by doing, as activities become the teachers. Participants also have plenty of room to run around, socialize with new friends, reflect on what they are learning, and have fun — we are even going to learn how to line dance with a professional dance coach.”

Sandpoint High School senior Will Hawkins and Forrest Bird Charter High School senior Yakira “Kiki” Jones, who are alumni of last year’s Mini-RYLA event, will serve as two of the four junior staff members for this year’s event. Each of the teens will be assigned to a group of eight participants along with a senior staff member who is a RYLA alumnus. Hawkins and Jones are also members of the Interact Clubs for their respective schools. Interact is a Rotary sponsored high school club that is focused on the Rotary motto, “Service Above Self.”

During last week’s Rotary meeting, the pair talked about their experience at last year’s event, noting some of their favorite things about Mini-RYLA. Hawkins said one of his favorite things was learning about ShelterBox, which provides emergency shelter to families around the world who have been displaced by disaster or conflict.

Jones said the event was “so much fun,” she couldn’t choose a favorite part, but agreed that the ShelterBox presentation was great, because the first project for Interact Club was to donate to ShelterBox. She also said in the beginning of last year’s Mini-RYLA, when everyone split off into four groups and did their introductions by way of a skit, was something she really enjoyed as well.

Hawkins and Jones said one thing they both took from last year’s event was friendship. Jones, who said she was nervous being the only one from her school to attend last year, said she made several new friends, with one in particular who she still sees regularly.

“You make new friends and they last, so that was really cool,” Jones said.

Ford said the Rotary Mini-RYLA committee received more than 40 applications this year, and many of the students mentioned they wanted to participate in the event as a way to make new friends.

“I think it’s harder now than it used to be for true friendships to develop, because we don’t have the same avenues to get to know each other that are so clearly paved as we had when we grew up,” Ford said. “One of the purposes of Mini-RYLA is to create those friendships, those social connections that become a foundation for emotional well-being and psychological well-being, and a springboard for learning.”

The Mini-RYLA committee began doing interviews with the approximately 40 students last week, and will soon choose the 32 participants for this year’s event, which will be held Nov. 1-3 at Western Pleasure Guest Ranch. Last year’s event was held at SHS, but after receiving feedback from the participants, Ford said the committee decided to find a neutral venue, a place where all the students could feel that they are equal and starting into something new together.

“Mini-RYLA is just the beginning,” Ford said. “RYLA comes next, Rotaract comes after that, and becoming a Rotarian comes after that.”

The Mini-RYLA committee has received a number of sponsorships from Rotarians and others throughout the community. The goal, however, is to have all 32 students sponsored by a “Champion” sponsor, which is a $200 sponsorship that covers all expenses for one young leader for the entire weekend, Ford said. Of course, any donation is “welcomed with open arms,” she added. Contributions are tax deductible and checks can be made out and sent to Sandpoint Rotary Charitable Trust, P.O. Box 1666, Sandpoint ID, 83864.

“Champion” sponsors are encouraged to also submit a leadership quote or poem that has special meaning to them, Ford said. They will be read by students during the leadership weekend, and compiled into a leadership booklet. All sponsors will be recognized on the Mini-RYLA Facebook page, at the event, and after the event through the media.

For information, email Ford at minyrylasandpoint@gmail.com.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.