November 16th - 18th  2018

Applications now OPEN

Myuna Bay Sport & Recreation Centre

RYPEN is for young people who have shown courage and perseverance in everyday life.  The aim of the program is to work with the group helping them see beyond their current outlook and approach life with purpose and direction to maximize their full potential.

R.Y.P.E.N. (Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment) is a Rotary program for teens that’s main focus is introducing life skills and fundamental concepts that will start kids thinking about the transition that they will be making from kids to young adults, forming their own values and moral standards, and broadening the horizons culturally, socially and academically.

Run over a weekend, RYPEN is supervised by Rotary Club members. The program is delivered by an experienced group of volunteer facilitators, past attendees and Rotarians. The program is designed to create a caring and fun atmosphere where attendees agree to abide by the RYPEN core values; respect, tolerance, responsibility, commitment and contribution, honesty integrity, fairness and justice in order to get the most for themselves out of the weekend.

Program History

RYPEN in District 9670 has been running for the last 30 years. The program today has evolved from the very early days to something we know that gets results – teens talking and thinking about themselves and how they interact with family, friends, teachers, colleagues, communities and the world. 

RYPEN camps are generally held twice a year around April and October at the Myuna Bay Sport and Recreation Centre in Lake Macquarie.  Rotary clubs are engaged to take the responsibility for ensuring everyone is well fed over the weekend.

Local Rotary clubs to interact with the schools and members to nominate teens in their area to participate. The cost of the program is $230 per participant, which is covered by the Rotary club nominating or in the area where then teen has come from. This includes all costs for the weekend, transport to feeding, all we ask is for the participant is their time and willingness.

What the Participants have to say....

• _{“As a result of RYPEN I think I will become more involved in my community and motivated to take on more opportunities at school.”}
• _{“I have a new outlook on life. Thank you to everyone involved, I had the best time!”}
• _{“Awesome, great experience. I wish I could come back again.”}
• _{“The leaders were great and I loved the way everybody supported each other.. It was soooo good, thank you!!”}
• _{“Epic!!! Really good experience, life changing, loved it!”}
• _{“I think I've realised how important values are to me such as respect, trust and courage +++. I believe in myself.}
• _{“I will be more confident in myself and tell myself I CAN DO IT!!"} 

Zoey Kirwan
Chair
D9670 RYPEN Committee