Abby Chamberlin is from Gorham, Maine. She went to RYLA in June of 2023, was sponsored by the Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club, and graduated from Gorham High School in 2025.
My friends looked at me like I was crazy when I told them I was interested in RYLA after my algebra teacher introduced it to our class. Mrs. Nelson, my enthusiastic math teacher and Interact Club supervisor, testified that both of her children had gone to RYLA and loved it. I wasn’t sure what drew me to RYLA, only that the kids in the pictures looked like they were having the times of their lives. Although I recognized the risks of having no phone, sleeping in a tent, and not knowing anyone, I still remember saying to my friends, “Whether I love it or hate it, I’ll get something out of it.” Now, 4 years of service later, what I “got out of” RYLA impacts my life every day.
My name is Abby Chamberlin, and I’m forever thankful to have been sponsored by the Westbrook-Gorham Rotary Club. Any past RYLA camper will tell you the same things: they developed lifelong friendships in the span of four days, they learned about themselves as leaders, and they enjoyed the environment and community of camp. I am no different!
There is truly no way to describe the feeling of electricity and belonging that RYLA creates. Among the staff, we have taken to calling it the “RYLA Magic.” At camp, I feel the RYLA Magic sparkle around campfires with my friends, having s’mores competitions and singing songs. I’ve observed the RYLA Magic instilling a sense of trust between me and people I met only a few days prior, allowing us to overcome obstacles and open up about our strengths and vulnerabilities. Underlying every challenge, conversation, high-five, and new friend, the RYLA Magic saturates Camp Hinds in joy, inclusion, and purpose.
What makes RYLA so special, though, and what makes it so impactful to me, are the ways that the RYLA Magic surfaces beyond camp. I recently began college, where I’ve been forced to get to know myself outside of the context of my hometown. Each obstacle I’ve faced thus far has been reminiscent of a challenge (in RYLA terms, an element) of camp, and each success I’ve had in conquering these elements carries a glimmer of the RYLA Magic.
One element of RYLA entails climbing over a wall; the only way to succeed in defeating the wall involves trusting other members of your group to help you, physically and emotionally. I remember conquering this wall as a camper and learning the importance of trusting others, a lesson that I implement daily in college. Asking for help and trusting those around me no longer fills me with doubt or fear–I simply remember the RYLA Magic and I feel empowered to lean on the people surrounding me. I’ve learned that strangers are only as intimidating as you perceive them to be, and that each person you don’t know is a friend waiting to be made.
Another element of RYLA involves some members of the group being unable to speak, while others are required to take the lead. When I couldn’t speak, I was forced to heed and trust others, strengthening my ability to listen and follow. When I could speak, I had to have confidence in my ideas and my ability to lead others. Both of these skills, which often operate in tandem, have allowed me to become a better teammate and friend. I’ve learned when to take the backseat and when to use my voice, and that it’s okay to balance the two.
A third element of RYLA requires you to advocate for someone who you don’t personally know, and who is unlike you in many ways. This element challenged me to imagine new perspectives; it opened my eyes to the infinite and unique experiences that we all have as humans. In college, surrounded by thousands of people coming from different backgrounds, I feel far more capable of empathizing with people who are different than me. Not only has this expanded my insight as an individual, but it has enabled many new friendships.
Although I don’t always recognize the RYLA Magic in these moments, when I reflect on them, it’s easy to see that it stays with me all the time. The lessons I’ve learned from RYLA impact my life every day, filling me with confidence, optimism, and trust in myself, and I have found these aspects of RYLA especially helpful throughout my transition to college. I’m extremely fortunate to be a part of this community and to be able to give this experience to future campers, as the real magic of RYLA comes from the ways it expands to others.
To current or future applicants, I can’t recommend RYLA enough! Although not everyone’s experiences or takeaways look the same, I promise that whether you love it or not, you will definitely get something out of RYLA.