This October students from HOSA and SkillsUSA went on a leadership retreat to Camp Lookout. This was their fourth year hosting the leadership retreat. The students who attended stayed for two days and participated in activities like a high ropes course, zipline, low ropes course, and other various team building exercises.
For freshman Raelynn Bryson, this was a wonderful experience. She said that she had a “really good time.” Bryson stated that she was “nervous for the high ropes course, but eventually got over [her] fear.” She explained that her favorite activity was the zipline. Bryson said that she had such a good time that she would be happy to do the exact same thing again next year.
Everett Healey is a sophomore who attended the leadership retreat. He said that he enjoyed it more than last year and feels that he and his peers are a lot closer. Healey said that doing the activities “challenged [his] ability to go out there and put [himself] out there.”
Meg Patel, a junior, did not attend the retreat last year, but he said that he doubts it could’ve been better than this year. Patel loved the zipline after getting over his fear of it. Patel said he felt like he “faced a fear that day.”
Mrs. Shannon Henley is the HOSA sponsor, and she thinks that this year’s retreat has one-upped last years because they got to spend the night. She said that when you spend the night, you have all that extra time together so students begin to “develop friendships,” and become closer to their peers. Mrs. Henley loved watching the students participate in the games and activities, enjoying themselves. She said the “weather was perfect, the food was good, and the kids were well behaved,” and she wouldn’t change a thing for next year.
The SkillsUSA leader was Mr. Brian Dodson. Mr. Dodson had the duty of cooking breakfast for everybody, and said that that was something he really enjoyed. He said that he “wouldn’t change anything for next year.” Unfortunately, there is always a bad part to a good trip. Lucky enough for Mr. Dodson, that bad part was having to come home.
Heritage’s HOSA and SkillsUSA members had a valuable experience and created lasting memories during their time at Camp Lookout. If you want to become closer to your peers and create bonds with people while learning about the world around you, consider becoming a part of clubs like these.
