ABOUT PRYDE

WHAT IS ROTARY INTERNATIONAL?

Rotary is an organization of business and professional leaders united worldwide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary is the world’s first service club, founded in Chicago, Illinois, in 1905. It now has over 1.2 million service-minded men and women belonging to nearly 27,000 Rotary clubs in virtually every nation in the world. Rotarians plan and carry out a remarkable variety of humanitarian, educational, and cultural exchange programs that touch people’s lives in their local communities and our world community.

 WHAT IS PRYDE?

The Personal Rotary Youth Development Experience is a two-day leadership conference. It is a camp for outstanding youth to further develop their leadership skills. Sponsored by the 61 Rotary Clubs in District 5330 (San Bernardino & Riverside counties), PRYDE combines training in a casual, relaxed atmosphere with social and fun time to provide a fast-paced and memorable leadership experience.

 WHEN AND WHERE IS PRYDE?

PRYDE is usually held the weekend before Thanksgiving at the beautiful Thousand Pines Camp in Crestline, California. The students will report to a designated bus pickup location on that Saturday morning and will return the following Sunday afternoon. Exact details will be emailed to all chosen participants. All PRYDE participants must arrive and depart on the official buses. There are no exceptions.

 HOW MANY WILL ATTEND PRYDE?

Approximately 300 Seventh Grade students selected from all public and private high schools within District 5330 will attend, along with 60 Rotarians and additional camp staff.

 WHAT ARE THE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION?

Seventh grade students are selected by the local Rotary club on the basis of leadership potential, personal values, intelligence, and potential for future success. The participants must make a commitment to attend the whole weekend. They may not arrive late or leave early.

 HOW ARE STUDENTS SELECTED?

The selection process may vary. Usually school staff members are asked to nominate seventh grade students. The sponsoring Rotary club appoints a screening committee to make the final selections.

 WHAT TYPES OF ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED AT THE CONFERENCE?

The program features several outstanding leadership speakers.  These presentations are followed by discussions in small groups with trained adult discussion leaders. Recreation activities are scheduled throughout the weekend, including sports, games and a campfire. Excellent food and snacks are also provided.

 HOW IS THE CONFERENCE SUPERVISED?

The conference is supervised by an all-volunteer Rotarian staff, headed by a Chairman. The staff consists of 10 staff members, 34 discussion group leaders, 16 high school Interact students, and a camp nurse. Each discussion group leader is assigned to a group of 8 or 9 students for the entire weekend. Boys and girls are housed in separate dormitories with appropriate chaperones.  ALL ROTARIANS ARE SCREENED BY FINGERPRINTS THROUGH THE DEPT OF JUSTICE DATABASE.

 WHAT ARE THE COSTS TO THE PARTICIPANTS?

There is no direct cost to the participants. The sponsoring Rotary Clubs pay the fee for each camper that they send.