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Twice a year, once in the fall and the spring, CATALYST ambassadors convene for a
statewide retreat. The fall retreat trainings focus on leadership
and service-learning. In the spring, the focus shifts to
reflection and and diversity. Underlying both retreats,
however, is an ongoing emphasis on interpersonal and intrapersonal growth.
"I had so much fun and met the greatest people. I learned a lot too."
The Fall Retreat
The 2009 Fall Retreat was hosted by the Marin Headlands Institute
Conference & Retreat Center in Sausalito, CA, September 25-27 (same as last year). This retreat was the CATALYST ambassadors first gathering of the
year. There were service-learning, fundraising, public speaking, and advocacy workshops as well as recreational activities. These workshops and activities were tied together under the retreat theme of Service is Action that was inspired by President John F. Kennedy, "There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction." Overall, the retreat was fun, intensive and memorable.
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"This was the best retreat I've been to, the flow of ideas and thoughts was amazing."
The Spring Retreat
In conjunction with the California Service-Learning Leadership
Institute (February 9-11), the 2009 Spring Retreat, Service is Greatness, was held at the
Sheraton Anaheim Hotel in Anaheim, CA, February 7-9. The Retreat featured workshops on California's high school dropout crisis, building and sustaining partnerships, and event planning, which built on our dropout work from the Fall Retreat. Through our small Home Study Groups, CATALYST ambassadors shared and discussed a personal object and examined diversity in service and our lives. These Home Study Groups were facilitated by CATALYSTs as were our teambuilders and energizers. The Retreat was capped with a Senior Appreciation Ceremony, where our departing seniors were gifted with Dr. Seuss's Oh, The Places You'll Go!
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