By Heather Stapleton

Our recent retreat for students from George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science was especially sweet. With 36 students attending there was an intimate atmosphere, allowing instructors to truly connect with each participant. Conversations were deeper, reflections more personal, and there was a grounded openness in the group that shaped the whole day.

Held at beautiful Pendle Hill, the retreat was touched by the gentle arrival of spring. Some of the trees had just begun to bloom, and while the air still carried the coolness of early March, the sun was warm and inviting. It was the kind of day that reminds you to breathe a little deeper and trust that growth is always happening—even when it’s quiet.

As part of the experience, students worked in small groups to create nature collages using found natural materials. The activity invited them to explore textures, colors, and forms in a new way—not just to create something beautiful, but to slow down, be present, and connect more deeply with the natural world.

The results were thoughtful and creative—just like the students themselves. And the soft joy that emerged throughout the day felt like its own kind of spring bloom.

We have one final 9th grade retreat in May, and will have taken the entire Freshman class, most of the 180 students, to experience mindful immersion and its profound interconnection with their aspirations to be innovators, problem solvers, and happy successful adults.