Story 18 - Ripple Effect of Retreats: Part 1
Chicago, Texas, Kansas City and nearly every park and campsite within a 100 mile radius of Lincoln was the location of a retreat. Some retreats were designed for projects, some for counselors only and some for project chairs and staff. Friendships grew, memories were made, buckets were filled at every retreat.
The first retreat was held in 1952 outside of Kansas City, according to the February 4, 1960 Projections newsletter. However, in the 1958 newsletter it noted the 7th annual.
501 Building
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Chicago
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Camp Calvin Crest
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Breech Training Center
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Grand Island
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Past NHRI Retreat Locations
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Johnson Lake
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St. Louis
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Camp Kitaki
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Pioneers Park
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Past NHRI Retreat Locations
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Oak Lake
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Hazel Abel Park
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Minden Pioneer Village
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Overnights at Counselor's Homes (Thank You, Parents!)
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501 Building 〰️ Chicago 〰️ Camp Calvin Crest 〰️ Breech Training Center 〰️ Grand Island 〰️ Past NHRI Retreat Locations 〰️ Johnson Lake 〰️ St. Louis 〰️ Camp Kitaki 〰️ Pioneers Park 〰️ Past NHRI Retreat Locations 〰️ Oak Lake 〰️ Hazel Abel Park 〰️ Minden Pioneer Village 〰️ Overnights at Counselor's Homes (Thank You, Parents!) 〰️
A look at NHRI Retreats in 2024 …
Today’s project retreats are dynamic, engaging, and still a cornerstone of NHRI mentoring! Every mentor and mentee participates, with each project leadership team carefully curating a unique theme and activity for their retreat.
From Active Listening to Creativity, Conflict Resolution to Teamwork, these retreats tackle a range of topics designed to sharpen interpersonal skills and strengthen connections. Once a theme is selected, the leadership team plans an activity that brings the concept to life in an unforgettable way.
This year’s retreats featured spaghetti-and-marshmallow tower challenges (Teenage Project), pickle ball matches (East Project), pumpkin painting (JP North), bowling (JP South, JP Central, LDP SE), and even mini golf (LDP LH)! Whether brainstorming strategies or laughing over a painted pumpkin, these retreats foster a supportive environment where mentorship thrives and lessons resonate long after the event. The goal of these retreats is to build relationships, develop leadership skills, and create memories that last a lifetime.
“Project retreats are important because they provide a setting for mentors and mentees to build a community with one another. It is a space for us to work on and learn about specific concepts that help us grow as leaders and partners! My favorite part of project retreats is getting to watch other mentor/mentee pairs interact, and to put a face to the name of each mentee!”
