Outdoor retreat enriches students

Middle schoolers enjoyed their annual retreat.

The Sisters Middle School Eighth Grade Retreat has evolved into an educational experience that enriches the lives of both campers and counselors.

"The retreat was fantastic this year," said retreat coordinator Tricia Biesman.

The program has been running for five years.

This year's retreat was held at the Suttle Lake Methodist Camp. From September 19-21, 82 eighth graders, eight adults, and 14 high school counselors took to the woods to learn about themselves and the environment.

While Biesman coordinated the retreat and did much of the behind the scenes legwork, Brad Tisdel acted as the camp facilitator. Tisdel was also responsible for training and supporting the high school counselors.

"I liked campfire the best," said camper Rose Slavkovsky. "That's when the counselors did cool skits and we sang songs. At night we sang 'Amazing Grace' while sitting around the campfire."

Sisters High School senior Casey Glick participated this year as a camp counselor.

"This is my third time to come as a counselor," said Glick. "I was one of the campers at the very first Eighth Grade Retreat five years ago. Things have completely changed since then. I think the kids get a lot more out of it now, and the counselors learn as much as the kids."

The retreat offered kids the opportunity to go mountain biking, caving, canoeing, rock climbing, and hiking (to name a few of the activities). As a group, they climbed Black Butte and held their closing ceremonies at the summit.

"We all hiked up Black Butte and ate lunch together," said Biesman. "Just as Brad Tisdel was about to lead us in a closure activity, a bald eagle flew overhead. It was awesome!"

The campers were divided up into smaller "anchor groups" and were assigned to various activities throughout the program.

"We had all the students do three hour community service projects for the Forest Service," explained Biesman.

One group helped with an archeological dig in Camp Sherman. Others rebuilt a fence around the Headwaters of the Metolius. Another group hiked around Suttle Lake, collecting native plant seeds to be replanted by the I.E.E. (Interdisciplinary Environmental Expedition) class at the high school."

Rose Slavkovsky's group did the seed gathering.

"It was neat. We put the seeds in bags and labeled them. And when I get to high school next year, I'll get to take the seeds we picked and help replant them," said Slavkovsky.

"Our goal this year," explained Biesman, "is to build upon the concepts the kids learned at the Eighth Grade Retreat, and provide activities and experiences to link them with the I.E.E. class they'll have in high school."

Biesman would like to especially thank the parent volunteers who came up during the week to help out with the activities.