Delaware Gazette - March 10, 2007

PALS retreat shapes future leaders

A two-day retreat that begins today will be molding Delaware County fifth-graders into future leaders.

Recovery and Prevention Resources is hosting more than 75 fifth-grade students from across Delaware County for a Positive Adolescent Leadership Skills (PALS) retreat. There also will be more than 20 local middle school and high school students serving as youth staff members during the event.

“These retreats aid students in developing the leadership skills needed to make healthy decisions in all areas of their lives,” said Julie Krupp, prevention/education coordinator for Recovery and Prevention Resources. “The goal of all of our retreats is for participants to develop and implement positive peer leadership skills.”

The theme of this year’s retreat is “Are You a H.E.R.O.?” with the letters in “hero” standing for helpful, energetic, responsible and optimistic.

The retreat runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the RPR facility on Stover Drive in Delaware. During the weekend, students participate in a variety of workshops and team-building activities designed to bolster their leadership skills.

Topics this year include positive relationships with their peers, increasing self esteem and learning the skills necessary to resist alcohol and other drugs.

“They will also participate in ‘Family Groups’where they will be in a small group with an adult and youth staff leader to do various activities,” Krupp said.

Krupp said students participating in the PALS retreat are invited back to take part in additional retreats during their sixth-grade and seventh-grade years. Students attending all of the retreats are invited back to serve as youth staff members.

To learn more about the retreat, log on to www.rprdm.org.

reprinted with permission from The Delaware Gazette