Retreat focuses on teamwork, survival

The annual eighth-grade winter retreat, a tradition started more than 10 years ago at Sisters Middle School, took place at Hoodoo Mountain Resort on Thursday, February 5.

Originally designed to focus mainly on leadership skills, the retreats have become a key element in the transition from middle school to high school, according to Brad Tisdel, who helps coordinate the event along with middle school staff.

"The eighth-grade retreat actually began as a three-day retreat in the fall up along the Metolius River, but it became clear that it would be more effective to sprinkle in a one-day retreat each of the three trimesters, so that's what we've done for the last few years," he said.

The fall retreat at Suttle Lake included goal setting, group challenge activities, along with some group art and music activities all designed to help the students grow stronger as a group while beginning to recognize individual strength and formulate individual goals.

The winter retreat built upon those themes, but focused even more deeply on individual goals and added a measure of looking to the future in high school.

Twenty-four high school students helped facilitate activities and were able to visit informally throughout the day with eighth graders about what high school is like.

Three of the stations included physical challenges, which were both symbolic and practical.

Every eighth grader took a tour of the Nordic Ski course with Marti Dale, many for the first time. Teachers Dave Glick and Paul Patton taught winter survival skills, including how to build a shelter and fire. The group challenge station, lead by Tim Garland, included activities that required small, random groups to communicate, cooperate, and problem-solve.

"Kids are pushed to figure out what role they play in a given circumstance," said Tisdel. "They may ask themselves, 'When do I lead,' 'Who do I follow,' 'Am I hearing what others have to say.'"

Indoors, students learned sewing skills and created headbands unique to their personality thanks to teachers Kit Stafford and Carolyn Platt. Tisdel teamed up with language arts teacher Tom Miller and made some music. In addition, the students got to write and talk about the role of the individual in context of the larger society from the book, "Touching Spirit Bear."

"In a nutshell, what we do is promote self-empowerment and self-awareness through experiential education," said Tisdel. "It's healthy to get out and be active, but beyond that students seem to think deeper and become more open to trying new things in a fresh way when you get outside the regular school classroom and schedule."

The final retreat, scheduled for late May along the Metolius River, is a sort of hand-off of the eighth graders to the high school, according to Tisdel.

"We bring along a cross section of ninth graders and two high school staff members who spend time interacting with the eighth graders about some specific high-school-related topics as well as expectations, and we end the day at the high school building," he said.