Instead of sitting through a typical Wednesday in a classroom, Snowball members had the privilege of attending their fall retreat at Camp Duncan, which was centered around positivity, cooperation and building self-esteem.
On Nov. 13, the 31 participants of Snowball woke up earlier than usual to attend the early 7 am bus ride. Upon arrival, the group was acquainted with Central and Antioch’s Snowball members.
“At the end of the day, it didn’t matter which high school everyone came from. All that mattered was their willingness to work as a team and have fun while stepping outside of their comfort zones,” said sophomore Jacquelyn Garza.
The purpose of Operation Snowball is to encourage students to live a healthy and fulfilling life enriched with positivity and strength. Guest speakers Patti Fluger and M & P Productions talked to students about the importance of making smart decisions that will benefit you in the future.
“I realized that all of [Fluger’s struggles that she had shared with us] didn’t make her hate God or give up; it ended up making her stronger,” said sophomore Stephanie Johnson. “The little and big things in life should be thought as blessings instead of negatives because they make us stronger in the end.”
Throughout the day, participants could be seen in and out of cabins, interacting with nature and with one another as they completed different team building activities. One of the most intimate moments in camp were the “small cabin times,” where many groups talked about emotional triggers and reactions to different situations in life.
“You may not know the people in your group at the beginning of the day, but by the end of the day, your group is one big family,” said senior Jennifer Moore. “Creating that bond and seeing people open up to one another is definitely my favorite part.”
For seniors, this was their last retreat in the club, which saddened many of the students who had been involved since their freshman year. However, many remained optimistic for the club’s future.
“I know that this retreat will continue to change the lives of others and open the hearts of teenagers, even when I’m not there,” said senior Parker Lawson. “Although I am sad, I’m so happy to see the retreat continue to make people feel grateful for their lives.”