LEADERSHIP building in the context of outdoor adventure has led to the award of Rotary Youth Leadership Awards to three pupils of Dunfermline high schools who were sponsored on a week's activity camp at Nethybridge by the Rotary Club of Dunfermline.

After hearing details of their "life-changing experience," President Tom Arnott presented leadership certificates to two Dunfermline High pupils - head girl Morven Weir (17), 6 Perdieus Mount; and Jordain Taggart (17), 38 Primrose Avenue, Rosyth - and to 16-year-old Mark Wilson, 64 Barclay Street, Cowdenbeath, a fifth-year pupil at St. Columba's High.

Jordain was also presented with the Endeavour Shield, awarded to the most improved candidate of the week. Jordain, whose participation and teamwork were described as outstanding, told Rotarians, "I would recommend RYLA to anyone."

It was a point echoed by Mark Wilson who confessed, "When I was first approached by the head of my year, just before my standard physics exam, I was quite shaky about the whole thing, because I thought it would just be another school trip. But by the time I left, I knew it was something really special.

"The aim of the course is to develop youth leadership, but the objectives of the camp were expressed in the six Cs: commitment, communication, character, competition, confidence and courage. On hearing this, I felt really privileged that the school had even one of these and I knew it was an opportunity not to be messed up!

"Our team broke more records than anyone, in terms of the most people falling out of canoes and the like. But I left RYLA a winner in the memories and experiences that will stay with me for a long time."

Morven admitted, "I wasn't actually sure how much an impact it would have on me. I found out the week it was happening was the same week as T in the Park. I had a ticket for that, which I had to sell, and I have to say with no regrets, for it was a fantastic week. I believe it is something everyone should have an opportunity to do."

DHS Autumn Newsletter.

Morven's Report

When I was first approached to take part in RYLA, two things crossed my mind; one- what was I going to do with my T in the Park camping ticket that was on the same week-end and two, I was nervous knowing it was going to be 70 girls all eating, sleeping, working, and leading together for a whole week. RYLA stands for "Rotary Youth Leadership Award" and is offered to those who have shown glimpses of leadership skills in order to enhance them. It is held up in Nethy Bridge at the Abernethy Outdoor Centre and is set against a backdrop of beautiful forests and mountains. You got up at 7am, had breakfast, listened to a morning speaker until 10, went out on your daily activity, came home, had tea, had an evening meal and then retired to bed- usually pretty knackered!

The morning talk was the part of the day where we were armed with the skills required to help us with our leadership skills- something I knew would be very useful particularly after being appointed Head Girl. There were five key things I took away from the speakers. The first was the idea of a self-fulfilling prophecy- the idea of having a mindset that says we can, rather than we can't. As a leader it is essential you 100% believe your team can do anything- if you don't you can be certain your team will doubt their abilities to complete the task also. The gorge-walking is where the idea of the self-fulfilling prophecy was most relevant to me. I stood on the bridge overlooking the fast flowing river and the tiny spaces we were expected to fit into and really thought, 'I can't do this.' Then you realise that this is a team game. And by not partaking in the activity not only do you let yourself down- you let your team down. And you miss out on something that could be great fun. I changed my mindset and decided I could jump from a high ledge and squeeze in and out of tiny holes in the middle of this river and to be honest, it wasn't my most enjoyable activity of the week, but it was the most satisfying!

Additionally, the ideas of change and respect were broached by our morning speakers. We were told that change in life is always happening and that, 'When the winds of change blow, people build walls or people build windmills- leaders build windmills.' In terms of change at RYLA, the leader for each activity was different so as to give everyone in the team a chance at leading. Some leaders you got on with better than others- but you still had to work together and make sure everyone was moving together. Sometimes that involved putting aside differences, but that often happens in team situations, and I think our team coped pretty well. Respect, we were told, was something you gave before you received. As a leader you're still part of the team- you still have to respect your team mates. We were told that you praise someone in public and criticise- constructively- in private. Criticising in front of the rest of the team brings everyone down and is not the sign of a good leader.

Finally- conflict. Something I was aware of, particularly now being Head Girl and having to help run committees, was conflict- not everyone can agree all the time. RYLA taught me that conflict within a team is not the sign of a weak leader, but in fact shows their strength when their team makes it through that conflict together. During a couple of the activities at RYLA, everyone wanted their opinions heard and frustration took hold, particularly during the assault course. However, after airing everyone's grievances we were able to move forward as a team, stronger than before.

It was once said that 'you've got wake up every morning with determination if you are to go to bed with satisfaction'- this was never as true as it was at RYLA. It's a challenging week in terms of physical challenges and also having to bond with 10 complete strangers who are to be in your team and who you have to work with for the whole week. The benefits are far greater than you expect- in terms of giving you confidence as a leader, and also realising just what you can achieve when pushed. I would strongly encourage everyone who is offered the chance to partake in RYLA, to grab the opportunity with both hands! You don't know how much of a change it will make.

Jordain's Report

My time at RLYA was fantastic. The experience of being able to go away to this course would change your life.

This whole experience started on Saturday, 12th July when I was picked up at Perth by the bus which would take us to Nethybridge where the Abernethy Outdoor Centre was located. When we arrived, we were separated into the different rooms and chalets where we would be sleeping. While we waited on the North bus to arrive, we were allowed to wander around the site. Once the bus had arrived and they were sorted we were all called to the auditorium were we would be briefed on the next 6 days.

On the first day, my group would be doing the gorge walk then the challenge.
We firstly started with the gorge walk which would be the first time that the group would be working together. I was not looking forward to this activity as I cannot swim but yet I still wanted to do this for my team. In the afternoon was the challenge where there was a series of challenges which would test us all. We had to attempt getting around a course and disarm small 'bombs'. Every time we touched ground, we would receive a penalty for doing so.

Next on the second day, two groups would be doing the canoeing and kayaking. I decided to attempt the canoeing which I enjoyed very much. We learned how to go down the rivers and into the slow moving water to have rests from the hard work before we attempted some rapids. We continued for the whole day and we were all slightly sunburnt from being on the water.

The Sports day and the Abernethy Challenge were on the 3rd day and this involved the whole day. The sports day consisted of amongst other things putting, rock throwing and chucking the boot. For many of the activities we were top of the leader board. There was a short marathon which was about a mile and a half. After we had recovered, the swimming gala took place in the centre's pool. Later that night, the Abernethy Challenge took place. This consisted of volleyball, which the RYLA boys won in a close game followed by Extreme Frisbee (which we claim is not a real sport) which we lost to the staff of the outdoor centre.

Raft Building and Mountain Biking took place on the 4th day. The raft building was a great activity. Once we got out onto the water we would have to attempt to get round a course as quickly as possible. As we went around the course our raft on one side started to sink, but were able to complete the course in under 30 minutes. After we had finished it was then onto the mountain biking. This was another great experience going through woods and the open countryside back to the centre.

The fifth day was the Orienteering and Rock Climbing. The orienteering was trying to find different points in the woods within the grounds of the centre. Within our team we separated into pairs and tried to find the points in the shortest time possible. In the afternoon we went onto the rock- climbing and abseiling. This again was another one of my fears. I first attempted the abseiling and after a while managed to get to the bottom. Then I attempted the rock-climbing which was unsuccessful, but I attempted it again after a few moments. After this I went back to the abseiling but this time attempted going down with my eyes closed, jumping and one- footed.

The sixth and final day was the dreaded hill walking. We had heard other people talking about how the hill walking was horrible but we did not think it was going to be that bad. The day we attempted this activity was the best of days. We set off walking around the Cairngorm Mountains and walked for the next four hours, over steep and rocky hills. Once we reached the bottom we were so happy that we had finally finished and now realised how bad it actually was. When we got back to the centre we all ran for the nearest seat to relax.

On the final night, all of the teams were to give a presentation on their experiences of the camp in front of all the Abernethy Staff, and in return showed us the video that they had been making all week. Then the presentation came the presentation of the awards. There was an award for the best group overall which included the challenges which needed the quickest times and the sports day. There was one other award- the Ian Geekie Shield which was the Endeavour Award. I received this award because even though I could not swim, I still attempted the gorge walk and despite my fear of heights I still participated in the rock-climbing.

I was very grateful to the Dunfermline Rotary Club for giving me the opportunity to go on this course and to improve my leadership skills , and also for the chance to meet new friends from as far away as Skye and Orkney.