COVID

Consistent with Rotary as an organization that encourages and uses vaccines, we suggest all participants involved in RYLA camps get vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus. D5495 will not require vaccination or maintain proof of any volunteers’ or participants’ vaccination status.
Consistent with the CDC and the Arizona Department of Education, we encourage testing for the COVID-19 virus in order to prevent the spread. There will not be a requirement to test for the virus prior to attending RYLA camp.
Consistent with the CDC and AZED, we reserve the right to quarantine anyone who does test positive or contracts COVID-19 at the RYLA camp. If someone is known to have the virus prior to the camp starting they will not be allowed to participate— both volunteers and participants.
This policy is subject to change depending on the health requirements, guidelines, and suggestions of the CDC or AZED.

June 12-15, 2024

How do I apply as a JR RYLA 5495 Junior Counselor (JC)?

PLEASE NOTE: RYLA 5495 Wamatochick will take place Summer of 2024 (June 12-15)

If you have attended RYLA 5495 Pinerock, Ponderosa, or Jr RYLA as a student Delegate,OR you are actively involved in your High School Interact Club, you may apply for the District 5495 Wamatochick JR RYLA Program as a JC. To apply, please do the following:

You MUST apply online. Go to the Junior Counselor application link on the Wamatochick 5495 website. You must complete bothTHE JUNIOR COUNSELOR APPLICATION and THE HEALTH FORM. Make sure to attach a current JPG picture where indicated, labeled with YOUR name. Please submit a picture only of yourself…. Not a picture of you with your friends, neighbors, etc.
WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND YOU COPY/SAVE YOUR ESSAY ANSWER TO A WORD DOC.
You should receive an email copy of both your completed ONLINE portion of the application and health form. PLEASE save this for possible future reference.
If you will be 18 or older at the time of RYLA, you will receive an email from the District 5495 Youth Protection Officer, Stan Mah, on how to complete information for a mandatory background check. You do NOT need to proceed with the background check information until you receive the notification email.
If you have been selected for an interview, You will be contacted in May by a member of the JC interview committee to schedule your interview time. PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ROUTINELY AND REPLY IN A TIMELY MANNER. If you do not respond to email requests, we will assume you are no longer interested in being considered for a JC position.
Following your interview, applicants selected to attend JR RYLA 5495 Wamatochick as a Junior Counselor, and those selected as alternates, will be notified in writing of their status, via email.
If selected to attend JR RYLA, your commitment for the entire four day event is mandatory. You will be responsible for your own transportation.
IMPORTANT: Your application is NOT complete until BOTH the online portions no later than midnight, May 1,, 2023.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ -- Part of the JC application process will be submission of a 2-3 minute video. Please upload your video to youtube as UNLISTED. An unlisted video can only be seen by people who have the link and will ONLY be viewed by members of RYLA Junior Counselor selection committee. As long as you only share the link with us, no one else will be able to view this video. Copy and past this link into the application where or if indicated.