October 20, 2025
YMCA Camp Winnebago and the Rotary Club of Rockford are teaming up for another year of developing young leaders. Rotary Academy is in its 24th year of serving eighth grade students in Rockford Public Schools. The goal is to help students improve self-confidence, social emotional skills, and make informed decisions to be successful in high school and beyond.
Counselors at each of the nine middle schools identify up to thirty students to participate. This year, the Academy will serve 220 students. Students are selected for their leadership potential, but often haven’t had the opportunity to hone or showcase their skills.
“We created this academy to target students before they get to high school,” said Paul VonDriska, Rotary Club of Rockford President. “We wanted to help develop their skills and show them that they have what it takes to lead.”
Rotary Academy has served more than 4,000 students since its inception in 2001.
“When I think about the volume of students who have gone through this program, I am so proud,” said Linda Johnson, Rotary Academy Chair. “We are thankful for the countless volunteer Rotarians who have given their time, RPS205 for the commitment of their eighth grade counselors in identifying and working with the students and for providing transportation, Camp Winnebago staff for leading the curriculum, and most importantly, to the students and their families for trusting the process.”
The first and last events, crate-stacking and the high ropes course, take place at YMCA Camp Winnebago. Both are major team-building events that involve students wearing helmets and harnesses. In crate-stacking, the students work as a team to help one student stack crates under their feet, in a tower as many crates high as they can get (the record is 22 crates). The high ropes course event takes place in April and serves as a capstone to their achievements throughout the year, rewarding their hard work and commitment to the program and offering one last opportunity to work together and accomplish something challenging and deeply rewarding.
Other monthly events include Miss Manners etiquette training, community service projects, critical thinking, and visits to Rock Valley College and Rockford University. The final event is a celebratory dinner at Embassy Suites where the students are accompanied by their family members. Each school takes turns on stage to present what they learned from Rotary Academy and what they did as a community service project. It is thrilling to see the self-confidence of the students at the final celebration which gives us confidence that they will work hard in high school as a stepping-stone to succeeding in life.
The Academy surveys students at the beginning and end of the program to track their progress.
“We’ve seen measurable, positive results, which is incredibly rewarding,” said Hannah Long, Executive Director, YMCA Camp Winnebago. “Participants show stronger leadership skills, improved teamwork, a clearer understanding of future pathways, and an increased desire to give back to their community.”
About the Rotary Club of Rockford
The Rotary Club of Rockford is a part of Rotary International, a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
