Opportunities for Youth

There are many opportunities for high school students that can be accessed through our local Rotary Clubs, and most of them are of little or no cost to the participants. From time to time, we send out information about particular programs. The following is a brief description about what to expect from each.

Interact

Interact is a high-school-based service club for youth ages 12-18. Interact club members have fun while carrying out service projects and learning about the world. Interact clubs organize at least two service projects a year: one that benefits their community and one that encourages international understanding. While Interact clubs receive guidance from individual Rotary clubs, they govern and support themselves. Currently, there are clubs at: LaSalle SS, and the 4-H Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kingston; Frontenac Secondary School, sponsored by The Rotary Club of Kingston-Frontenac; and at Kingston Secondary School, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston. The Rotary Clubs in Kingston are hoping to get Interact Clubs started at other local area high schools and welcome collaboration in this work.

RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards)

2025  program May 23-25 at RKY camp. The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston sponsors three students.

RYLA delegates in our District 7040 are age 15 - 17. This is a unique three-day opportunity to gain insight and knowledge on the following Life Skills: Leadership Basics, Business Ethics, Communication, Problem Solving, Decision Making, Conflict Management, Personal Strengths & Weaknesses, and Community &  Global Citizenship. This is a District-wide camp for students from Eastern Ontario, Québec, Nunavut, and Northern New York State.

For more information: RYLA

Adventures Programs

Rotary Clubs across Canada host a variety of Adventure programs for youth. These short term programs based on the local culture or economy offer a great opportunity for young people to explore their field of interest and also to experience Rotarian's hospitality. Our club sponsors students to several of these events, and applications are made through our organization.

Adventures in Citizenship

2025 program May 25-28. The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston sponsors one student.

Each year in May, outstanding senior high school students (16 to 18 years of age) chosen from across Canada spend four days in Ottawa in a program designed to develop Canadian senior high students potential as leaders in their communities and in Canadian society. Host club is the Rotary Club of Ottawa, and we receive detailed information during the fall.

For more information: Adventures in Citizenship

Adventures in High Technology

Hosted by the Rotary Club of Nepean-Kanata, this program is offered annually to senior high school students who have an interest in exploring the potential of a career in the exciting world of High Technology. The program assists participants in making more informed career decisions.  This usually takes place over five days in the fall. It is offered in person in Ottawa. In 2024, we sponsored three students.

For more information: Adventures in High Technology

Adventures in the Environment

The Rotary Club of Cornwall Sunrise hosts Adventures in the Environment for up to eight students.  It takes place in mid-September of each year and involves four days of field biology and environmental science with specialists from the St. Lawrence Institute of Environmental Sciences.  The participants, must be at least 16 years of age and have a minimum of two years of high school science.

For more information: Adventures in the Environment

Adventures in Understanding

For more information: Adventures in Understanding

Adventures in History: Doing Time in Kingston--Youth Justice Then and Now

The Rotary Club of Cataraqui-Kingston launched Adventures in History in 2012. It was a three-and-one-half-day Rotary-sponsored program designed for high school students who have a keen interest in history and want enriched opportunities to learn about and explore the rich heritage of life in Kingston and its surrounding regions in Canada and the United States. Participating students were exposed to post-secondary programs and discovered vocational opportunities in historical work with tourism, museums, advertising, public relations, humans resources, education, and Internet work.

In the program's last four years of operation, the theme was the history of youth justice and its lessons for today.

The program was offered in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kingston, in September. Each participant was sponsored by a Rotary Club and came from clubs across the entire District 7040.

Youth Exchange Programs

Rotary Youth Exchange programs can be either short term (several weeks) or long term (school year). In addition, there is a wide range of special camps in a variety of countries.  Exchanges and camps are for students ages 15–19 who have demonstrated leadership in their school and community; are flexible and willing to try new things; are open to cultural differences; and who can serve as ambassadors for their own country

Costs vary from country to country. Local Rotary clubs generously host students and provide room and board with a host family and a small monthly stipend. Participants are generally responsible for round-trip airfare, insurance, travel documents (such as passports and visas), and spending money for additional travel and tour fees.

The selection process and orientation are lengthy in order to prepare students for this adventure – applications are due late November for the following school year.

For more information and application forms see:  https://www.district7040ye.com/.

National Youth to Youth Truth and Reconciliation Experience

"HIP’s (Honouring Indigenous Peoples) National Youth to Youth experience is a transformative program designed to immerse youth between the ages of 15 and 17 in Indigenous culture while fostering connections with a diverse group of young individuals from across Canada. This immersive experience provides a unique opportunity for participants to engage in meaningful cultural exchanges, learn about Indigenous traditions, and deepen their understanding of Indigenous history and heritage. Through various activities, workshops, and interactive sessions, youth are encouraged to embrace diversity, build relationships, and develop a greater appreciation for Indigenous perspectives and contributions. The National Youth to Youth experience serves as a catalyst for personal growth, intercultural learning, and fostering lasting connections among the youth participants."