The Middle School Retreat

Published: 2022
By Mandie Reed

In 2022, the Wheatland County MSU Extension agent partnered with community member and 4-H volunteer Jean Wallace and middle school teacher Tara Berg to create an experience for middle school students. The planning group recognized that students needed time to rest, reflect, and build resilience skills. Together they created 'The Retreat,' a three-day, two-night event. The students wanted to know more about mental health, brain science, and goal setting. They also wanted to have fun, be with their friends, and relax. The planning team met those goals with interactive, engaging activities. They built in plenty of time so kids didn't feel rushed, and made sure the content was hands-on and applied to what students wanted to learn. At the end of camp, youth shared the most valuable things they learned: "I learned a lot about what I can do to achieve my goals and about my strengths from REAL Colors personality training.' "I am going to be better at not procrastinating." "I will not use bad self-talk, like saying I am stupid." They also built in activities to build community and teach life skills. They created a middle school menu with ramen bowls, street tacos, and omelets in a mug. Students were excited they could make their breakfast in one minute. The youth helped cook each meal and clean up. One ground rule the students added to The Retreat list was that everyone would eat together, continuing to create community. At the end of the program, one youth commented that The Retreat was "kind of a break from my life; it was fun to learn and be with friends."