May is dedicated to Youth Services in Rotary. Benefits go both ways. Youth in our community benefit from Rotary’s leadership development and exchange programs. And Rotary is benefited by the energy and fresh perspectives of youth in our community.
Interact Clubs at local Lake Forest and Lake Forest Academy High Schools (LFHS and LFA) are led by students. Students identify and participate in service projects throughout the year. This past year, we’ve also held joint service events promoting literacy and food security. Participants included students from the Interact Clubs of LFHS, LFA, Highland Park High School (HPHS), and our Rotary Clubs of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff and Highland Park-Highwood.
Every year, our Rotary Club of Lake Forest-Lake Bluff sponsors local students to attend a leadership development program. This year, 11 local students attended Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), an extended weekend full of experiential leadership activities at a Wisconsin camp. Students build friendships and strategies for solving problems and accomplishing future goals.
Rotary Youth Exchange (RYE) encourages greater understanding and friendships between people of different countries and cultures. This summer, our Rotary Club of Lake Forest–Lake Bluff is planning for 3 local students to spend time abroad and for 3 students from abroad to spend time in Lake Forest-Lake Bluff. Each student will go to a different country matching their language interests: France, Spain, and Taiwan. This summer Short Term Exchange Program (STEP) involves each local student’s family hosting a student from abroad for 3 weeks. The student from abroad’s family will host our local student for 3 weeks. The two matched students will travel together. Promoting cross-cultural understanding is one way Rotary promotes peace in the world.
By investing in young people, Rotary fosters the spirit of volunteerism and empowers future leaders. And future leaders will address areas of focus like promoting peace, disease prevention, clean water, literacy and education, and economic growth while protecting the environment.
If you know a high school student in the Lake Forest or Lake Bluff area interested in service, encourage them to reach out to the Interact Club at their school. If you know a student interested in the summer 2027 short term youth exchange, a 2027-2028 full school year youth exchange, or in hosting a student from abroad, please email us at info@lflbrotary.org.