Camp Jekyll Teen Retreat 2018
We traveled along coastal Georgia for the teen retreat this year, and it was a great experience for the 28 teens who attended. The teens were accompanied by two Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG) nurses, Karen and Mary Ann, one social worker, Jake, volunteers, and some other HoG staff members. Teens were able to take in the sights in St. Simons, check out the shops in Savannah, and do some fun activities at Camp Jekyll.
Upon arrival in St. Simons, we visited the St. Simons Lighthouse Museum. Those feeling adventurous went to the top of the lighthouse for some pictures. The lighthouse was also a perfect spot for our group picture, just as the sun was setting. After visiting the lighthouse, we walked along the beach until it was time for dinner at Iguana’s Seafood Restaurant.
To wind down from a long day of traveling, eating, and exploring, we came back to camp to enjoy S’mores and free time. The teens mingled and relaxed. Kim Williams, Director of Camp and Client Activities, took people down to the beach to view the stars. For some, it was a first-time experience because the light pollution was minimal and the sky was clear. The stars were certainly a beautiful sight.
Sunday was an eventful day. The teens went through two educational sessions at Camp Jekyll. The first session was Clifton Strengths, where the teens were split up into groups based on their strengths to do some educational (yet competitive) activities. These activities taught teens how to use their strengths to accomplish individual and collective goals.
After the Clifton Strengths session, the teens learned about herpetology, the study of amphibians (turtles, tortoises, snakes, lizards, crocodiles, frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, etc.). The name amphibian refers to dual modes of existence (land and water). Some conquered their phobias after learning more about these amazing creatures.
We next visited Savannah and took a trolley tour to learn about the area and how it became famous. Fun fact: The roads along River Street are made of ballast stone, not cobblestone. Ballast is the heavy material (stones) used to provide stability to ships. Sailing ships would leave and take on ballast stones to balance their loads. The stones were a valuable resource because the nearest solid rock to Savanah was many miles inland. After the trolley tour, we ate dinner at Spanky’s Pizza Galley and then toured Savannah. The teens loved walking along River Street to see the local businesses and buy a few knickknacks.
On Monday, we acknowledged both Martin Luther King Jr., Day and the National Day of Service by participating in a service project at America’s Second Harvest. United Way of Savannah led the service project, which involved packaging food for low-income families. The teens were able to see the difference of the food donations for the 158,000 people in need in the area. After the two hours of service, we traveled back to Atlanta. During this time, Deniece gathered the teens to talk about how their strengths played a role in accomplishing the project. They discussed how Martin Luther King Jr.’s strengths played a role during the Civil Rights Movement.
We hope that all the teens had a wonderful time. We are so thankful for our staff and volunteers who kept the trip safe and fun.
