WORTHINGTON -- "To go against the dominant thinking of your friends, of most of the people you see every day, is perhaps the most difficult act of heroism you can perform," said historian Theodore H. White.
Seventh-graders from Worthington Middle School, Round Lake, Brewster, Ellsworth, Adrian and Fulda learned about exactly that kind of bravery Tuesday and Wednesday at the Courage Retreat, which took place in Westminster Presbyterian Church in Worthington.
"They can make their school a better place by doing the right thing and not following the crowd," said Eric Malmberg of Youth Frontiers.
Malmberg was one of three Youth Frontiers coordinators encouraging students to stand up for themselves and their classmates during the retreat. To assist the coordinators, high school volunteers from all six districts helped keep the event organized, lead discussion groups and function as mentors.
Youth Frontiers, a company based in the Twin Cities, presents about 585 Courage Retreats every year, using music, dance and fun games to reach students.
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The Nobles County Integration Collaborative sponsored the program, which cost about $5,000 and was attended by about 325 students -- half on Tuesday and half on Wednesday.
"Courage can be acts that you see people do every day," said Sharon Johnson, NCIC coordinator. "For some students, if they're the victims of bullying, going to school is a challenge."
The Courage Retreat is a sequel of sorts to the fifth-grade Kindness Retreat, also presented by Youth Frontiers. The Kindness Retreat was so effective that NCIC decided to invite Youth Frontiers staff back for the Courage Retreat.
"They have a remarkable way of engaging the youth," Johnson said, explaining how Tuesday's students came as separate groups, sharply divided by which schools they attended, and left in a single group.
The day was structured, but not tightly scheduled, so activities could be tailored to fit the group. Popular games were extended, and games students were indifferent to, shortened.
High school leaders met with the seventh-graders in small groups three times throughout the day to reflect on the lessons they learned and talk about ways to apply them.
At the end of the school day, students gathered for the final activity: Pebbles in a Pond. A Youth Frontiers presenter told students every act of courage was like tossing a pebble into a pond, causing ripples that could reach many people.
Students were given cards and pencils and wrote out one act of courage they were ready to commit to for the rest of the year. Students who felt comfortable enough then picked up pebbles and dropped them into a bowl on the floor as they stated their acts of courage.
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"That is a very powerful part of the day," Johnson said.
