My Brother's and My Sister's Keeper Program Retreat for Rites of Passage
My Brother's and My Sister's Keeper Program Retreat for Rites of Passage
NPS Communications
The NPS My Brother's and My Sister Keeper programs went on their annual retreats in October for their Rites of Passage activity at Club Getaway in Kent, CT. Learn more about each group's experiences.
My Brother's Keeper
On Oct. 23, NPS scholars in the My Brother's Keeper Male Mentorship Program attended their annual Rites of Passage overnight trip at Club Getaway in Kent, CT. This year’s theme was “Brotherhood.”
During the Rites of Passage events, students engaged in physical and educational activities including ziplining, problem-solving, mindfulness, and community circles with the goals of social emotional support, team building and helping their brother push past his fears. This experience helped our young men build bonds of brotherhood, comradery, respect for self, and community.
On the last day in their closing circle, scholars journaled reflections about their experience making special note of how the activities they experienced translated to the meaning of brotherhood in school or in their personal lives. The closing circle entailed the young men to interlock arms showing that they are united in solidarity and support of one another. Several of the scholars also spoke about their newly understood meaning of brotherhood.
**Rites of passage** are ancient ceremonies that mark significant transitions in life—birth, adulthood, marriage, and death. In Africa, these rituals have deep roots, stretching back thousands of years. For many African cultures, rites of passage are not just moments of celebration but transformative processes that help individuals connect with their communities, ancestors, and spiritual purpose.
My Sister's Keeper
My Sister's Keeper took their annual retreat to Club Getaway last week to complete their Rites of Passage experience. Scholars and mentors pushed past their fears, encouraged each other and celebrated each other's accomplishments.
In each activity, the ladies participated in a learning objective as well as a fun exciting element. This experience helped to improve self-confidence, enhance communication skills, develop decision-making skills, promote trust, improve physical fitness, teach conflict-resolution, teach leadership development, increase individual responsibility, develop group cohesion, and build awareness of the group process.
During each challenge, scholars journaled reflections about their experience, making special note of how the activity translated to challenges in school or in their personal lives. The closing circle entailed an inner and outer circle where scholars shared their reflections with a peer. The theme of Reflections of Sisterhood ran through the entire experience.