Youth Programs
Inspiring Young Minds. Developing Future Leaders.
At Collegeville Area Rotary & Foundation, we believe that empowering young people today helps build stronger communities and brighter futures for tomorrow.
Through Rotary's youth programs, students have opportunities to explore their interests, develop leadership skills, build confidence, and form lasting friendships. Whether discovering the excitement of science and technology, finding their voice through public speaking, leading community service projects, or experiencing new cultures around the world, these programs inspire students to grow, lead, and make a difference.
Every opportunity is a chance to discover potential, build connections, and shape the future.
Interact
Take Action. Make a Difference.
Interact is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young people ages 12–18, bringing students together to develop leadership skills, build friendships, and make a positive difference in their schools and communities.
Through school-based Interact clubs, students take an active role in planning and organizing service projects, identifying community needs, and working together to create meaningful change. From supporting local charities and organizing school initiatives to participating in projects with a global impact, Interact encourages students to turn their ideas into action.
With guidance and support from Rotary, members gain valuable experience in teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership while connecting with other students who share a commitment to helping others.
Interact is more than a volunteer opportunity. It's a place where students develop confidence, discover their potential, build lasting friendships, and learn that leadership begins with service.
Explore. Experiment. Discover.
STEM Youth Explorer Academy (STEM YEA) is an exciting four-day, three-night immersive experience designed for students entering eighth grade who are curious about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Through hands-on experiments, interactive activities, and creative challenges, students bring ideas to life, tackle real-world problems, and discover how STEM shapes the world around them. Working alongside fellow students, participants strengthen their critical thinking, teamwork, and problem-solving skills in a fun and supportive environment.
Beyond the experiments and activities, STEM YEA encourages curiosity, builds confidence, and creates opportunities for new friendships—all while inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
RYLA at Camp Neidig
Discover the Leader Within You.
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) at Camp Neidig is an immersive four-day experience designed for high school juniors to develop leadership skills, strengthen teamwork, and explore the importance of ethics and responsible decision-making.
Through interactive activities, team challenges, and meaningful discussions, students discover their individual strengths, build confidence, and learn how to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and approach challenges with integrity.
Beyond the leadership activities, Camp Neidig provides an opportunity to step outside their comfort zones, form lasting friendships, and gain valuable skills that will serve them in college, their future careers, and their communities.
Four-Way Test Speech Contest
Your Voice. Your Ideas. Your Opportunity.
The Four-Way Test Speech Contest invites high school students in grades 9–12 to share their perspectives, explore issues that matter to them, and develop confidence in public speaking through a meaningful competition.
Using Rotary's Four-Way Test as their foundation, participants prepare and deliver original speeches that demonstrate how the principles of truth, fairness, goodwill, better friendships, and benefiting others can guide decisions and actions in everyday life.
Through this experience, students strengthen their communication and critical thinking skills, gain confidence speaking before an audience, and learn to express their ideas with clarity and purpose.
More than a speech competition, the Four-Way Test Speech Contest encourages young people to think ethically, speak confidently, and recognize the power of their voices to inspire positive change.
Rotary Youth Exchange
Explore the World. Discover Yourself.
Rotary Youth Exchange offers students ages 15–19 an extraordinary opportunity to experience life in another country, discover new cultures, and build friendships that reach across the globe.
Through this international exchange program, students immerse themselves in a different way of life, experience local traditions, develop language skills, and gain a deeper appreciation for the world around them. Living and learning in a new environment encourages independence, adaptability, and the confidence to embrace new experiences.
Supported by Rotary clubs and host families around the world, participants become part of a global community that promotes cultural understanding, international friendship, and goodwill.
More than an opportunity to travel, Rotary Youth Exchange is a life-changing experience that broadens perspectives, creates lasting connections, and helps young people grow into confident, globally minded individuals.
Supporting Student Participation
Collegeville Area Rotary & Foundation is proud to help make these experiences accessible to local students. A limited number of scholarships covering the full program cost are available for STEM Youth Explorer Academy (STEM YEA) and RYLA at Camp Neidig. Scholarship opportunities are also offered through the Four-Way Test Speech Contest.
Have Questions? We'd Love to Hear From You!
Interested in learning more about Rotary's youth programs? We welcome inquiries from students, parents, and educators about program opportunities, eligibility requirements, and how to participate.
For additional information, contact Collegeville Area Rotary & Foundation at collegevillearearotary@outlook.com.