Retreats with Purpose

In the past, Overlake juniors spent their retreat primarily on campus in service projects aimed to fight hunger and poverty. After feedback from the previous classes, the decision was made to go off campus and focus on the collective class. 

Advisory team leaders came up with a plan for juniors to work on their leadership capacity.  Empowering students by letting them decide what they want to do during their homeroom periods, many came out with wonderful ideas like snack choices during homeroom to more complex challenges of supporting their “homies” in the stressful preparation for SAT and ACT tests.

Advisory Leader Brian Husted helped craft the retreat. “Junior year has this ideal of being stressful. They’re working on college applications and AP classes. I’m asking them to together find ways to bring that stress level down.”

Juniors are all in for the change. “I’m real excited with what is coming from this retreat,” says Mateo C. “This is really setting us up to succeed this year. By being out here and not being hit with a bunch of homework, I feel like this experience eases us into the school year.”

Of course, there was also lots of time for fun; from games, music, s'mores, and just hanging out, the Class of 2025 is also making some great memories.

Teaching responsibility is the focus of the 10th grade retreat. "We talk about responsibility for yourself, as a healthy person, and responsibility for the people around you," explains Stephen Ringo, Advisory Team Leader for tenth grade. He says it's much like what real-life is about, even though at the moment of our interview, the students are enjoying an idyllic warm and sunny afternoon along the Tolt River.

For this group of Overlakers, Upper School is not new to them. They've had a year under their belt. It's also not their Junior or Senior year, when managing a tougher course load and increasing demands on their time can lead to increased stress. However, during their retreat, a member of the counseling team talked to the students about managing stress, homework, and a social life. This allows the students to practice with new skills and tools now before they enter their final two years at Overlake.

Ananth I. is beginning his second year at Overlake. "Retreats is just about having fun with all your friends and learning more about each other and making bonds." His ease around this year's outing is in contrast to last year, where as a newcomer to the school, as well as new to Upper School, retreats were a place to really begin to form lasting friendships.

However Ananth is still stretching himself in this year's retreat and trying a new experience. "This is my first time camping in a tent, so it's a new experience, but it's going to be fun." For many students in tenth grade, this is an opportunity to learn more about Overlake's robust Outdoor Education program. The Director of the program, Kent Renno, is also part of this retreat. He helps introduce the program to the students as well as let them know about the graduation requirements in Outdoor Ed. 

It begins with dying a t-shirt and ends with a surprise outing for the Class of 2023. Students in eighth grade started their retreat on campus in the Black Box, where they gathered around tables with their advisories and did tie dye before heading out for the afternoon to Carnation and the Tolt-McDonald Park. Then the group headed back to campus to sleep in their own beds for the night before heading out Friday for another day trip.

"We're doing one-day retreats to work on unity within the grade, along with our Middle School theme of 'leave no one behind,' explains Alicia Gold, Advisory Team Leader for the eighth grade. Since the eighth grade participates in Field Studies in the spring for four days (including overnights), the idea for retreats was daytime focused. 

Gold says while parents might have less anxiety with this retreat, knowing that their child will be coming home each night, that doesn't mean they don't have a role in the success.

"Parents are helpful in the success of retreats in that if they release their child to this experience, these kids will have a great time. Similar to what we tell parents in athletics. They need to release their child to the experience, which is important to the child's growth," says Gold.

Gold's barometer for success with this retreat? "A lot of tired, happy faces!"

One year to a child may seem like a lifetime, but for adults, it goes by in the blink of an eye.

Second year parent volunteer Ron Rosenberg says the development he sees in his son Grayson at this retreat is extraordinary. “They’re doing everything on their own this year,” says Rosenberg. “They’re using the tools and working together. It’s tremendous to see the change in one year.”  

Middle school retreats focus on fun activities that build bonds and teach responsibility. “What I do affects other people. You definitely want to use the bathroom before going to bed, and you have to be quiet in the tent to let everyone else fall asleep,” says Grayson.

Advisory Team Leader 'becca Flora says there's an important reason to be so hands-off. "It's okay to not get it right on the first try. We want to make sure that they're learning from this experience that we work better when we work together," says Flora. 

The group set up camp in Rasar State Park along the Skagit River.  With no shortage of adventures, the 6th graders come back tired but united.