RYLA Scouts - Bexhill Explorers

The Rotary Club of Senlac sponsored two Bexhill Explorers to take part in a 3 day Rotary Youth Leadership Award course held at the Bowles Outdoor Centre, Tunbridge Wells, last autumn. Seventeen year old Luke Shoesmith and sixteen year old Oliver Brookes, both from the Enterprise section of the Explorers, together with Senlac District Commissioner Elaine Gausden were guests of the club at its meeting on 21^st March.

Luke and Oliver gave a presentation of their experiences and what they had learned as a result. The course started with the icebreaker before moving into team games and activities based on learning to trust others, communication and leadership. They were also required to research one of the Rotary supported charities, they chose “End Polio Now”, and prepare and make a presentation on that particular charity. Both said how nervous they were at the start but within a very short time they knew all the participants and their confidence grew. Oliver said that that one activity was to climb walls of increasing height and, “We were helping others over, pushing, pulling giving shoulders. We soon learnt to trust and know each other”. Luke, who is already a Scout Young Leader, was surprised how quickly they built up confidence, “We were amazed at how quickly we could make friends and find a confidence in ourselves we didn’t know we had.” Oliver was so glad he had taken part, “Before this I couldn’t have applied for the Scout Jamboree next year but after I knew I could do it. I applied and I’m going to North America next summer. Thank you Rotary.”

District Commissioner Elaine Gausden praised the Young Leadership scheme, “Our scouts have benefited so much from these courses over the years and the course reinforces our own young leaders training. It is invaluable.”

Club President, Linda Fearn thanked Luke and Oliver for their presentation and congratulated them on the confident way they had gone about it.