To help build a more respectful school culture, Youth Frontiers, the leading character education organization in the Upper Midwest, will partner with Spooner High School in Spooner, WI on November 29, 2016 to host a comprehensive Respect Retreat for the 9th grade class. Youth Frontiers delivers programs that build positive school communities and strengthen student character.
Founded in 1987, Youth Frontiers’ dynamic retreats inspire students to live out the values of kindness, courage, respect and leadership in their personal and school lives. Youth Frontiers aims to change the way kids treat each other in every hallway, lunch line and classroom of every school in America. Last school year, the nationally renowned nonprofit held 825 retreats for more than 125,000 students and educators. Since its inception, Youth Frontiers has reached more than 1.6 million through their character development programs.
Youth Frontiers staff clearly understand the challenges faced by schools and students every day.
“We teach values – unapologetically – because we want today’s young people to make tomorrow’s world better,” says Joe Cavanaugh, founder and CEO of Youth Frontiers.
As awareness and concern around the issue of bullying continue to grow, schools are looking for help. Schools understand that something needs to be done to change the way kids treat one another.
According to the website for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the best way to prevent bullying is to stop it before it starts. Moreover, the best prevention strategies engage the entire school community in building a culture of respect.
"At Youth Frontiers, we believe that every person matters, so we exist to create experiences that build community and inspire human connection,” said Cavanaugh.
“In community, we treat one another better. We take ownership to make our school better. We hold each other accountable for our actions. In community, we rely on mutual respect, kindness and moral courage.”
Youth Frontiers offers engaging, high-energy retreats for schools using games, music, small-group discussions and inspiring stories that engage students’ hearts and break down walls between young people. Throughout the retreat day, students begin to exhibit traits of true character – mending relationships, stating acts of courage and respecting themselves and others. Comprehensive follow-up materials also provide a way for educators and students to extend the impact of the retreat.
Educators agree that Youth Frontiers serves as a catalyst for change in their schools.
“Youth Frontiers is a key component in our character education program. We notice a clear, positive difference in the culture of our school after our kids have participated in a YF retreat,” said educator Timothy Leone-Getten from Open World Learning Community in St. Paul, Minn.
Youth Frontiers offers five grade-specific retreats – each offering a developmentally-appropriate theme. In fourth and fifth grade, students learn about the importance of kindness and are given tools to build empathy. In middle school, students learn how to find the moral courage to stand up for others. In high school, Youth Frontiers helps students understand the importance of respecting others and inspires students to take ownership to make their school better.
About Youth Frontiers
Founded in 1987, Youth Frontiers (youthfrontiers.org) partners with schools to build positive communities where students thrive socially, emotionally and academically. Based in the Twin Cities, the nonpartisan organization is funded through a partnership between schools and private foundations, corporations and individuals. Dedicated to building the character of young people, Youth Frontiers also provides online resources for parents to help foster their children’s positive peer interactions.
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For information about Youth Frontiers and its retreats, contact Patty Beadle, Director of School Relations and Marketing, at 952.697.2671 or pbeadle@youthfrontiers.org. Media may contact Sarah Gillund, Communications and Marketing Manager, at 952.697.2674 or sgilllund@youthfrontiers.org.
Last Update: Nov 17, 2016 6:53 am CST
