October Retreat Recap!
On the morning of October 16th, we kicked off our 2025-26 program with our first Leadership Retreat to Camp Voyageur!
Leading up to the 16th, our staff, Youth Mentors, and volunteers were working tirelessly to prepare for the retreat by gathering our supplies, rehearsing our lesson plans, and nailing out logistical kinks. All this work paid off in the form of an unforgettable two and a half days at Camp Voyageur, where we were able to reunite with returning participants, as well as welcome new participants to our program!
Day One: Rise of the Dandelions
Our overarching theme for this retreat centered around dandelions, with each day of the retreat having its own dandelion-related theme: day one was Rise of the Dandelions. All our activities for this day centered around exploring and articulating our own multi-dimensional identities—who are we? Where do we come from? Where did our parents come from? What do we believe in? Why? Which of our current qualities and skills can be applied to leadership? What qualities and skills would we like to learn more about?
Day Two: The Roots of Resistance
Day two was our longest, and simultaneously the most exciting and exhausting day of the retreat. The theme of the day was Roots of Resistance: we learned from dandelions’ reputation as pesky weeds that are almost impossible to get rid of by talking about how we and our ancestors have resisted oppression, hardship, and even attempts at extermination. We charted the various ways in which our families came to settle in the US, and discussed how they have navigated maintaining their traditional culture and practices alongside adopting American ways of life. We also learned about the various roles involved in creating social change, and discussed which roles we feel most drawn to. Many of our activities during this day required radical candor and vulnerability from participants, Youth Mentors, staff, and volunteers; this was undoubtedly scary for some, but it ultimately yielded incredibly enriching and inspiring conversations.
Day Three: The Winds of Change
A large component of our final day’s schedule was navigating Voyageur’s low ropes course: this series of obstacle courses required participants to exercise effective communication, creative problem-solving in the face of spontaneous roadblocks, and radical trust in their teammates’ abilities and knowledge. The day’s theme was Winds of Change; to conclude the day, we oriented ourselves to face the future: where will the seeds of our knowledge blow? What will we do with them once they are planted? How can we take our experiences from this retreat—and the knowledge they have given us—and apply them to occasions which demand leadership and perseverance?
Where will the seeds of our knowledge blow? What will we do with them once they are planted? Participants will have the rest of the program year to continue to explore and answer these questions, learn more about themselves, their peers, and their communities. We hope you continue to follow along with us as we continue with our year!
