This article is part of a series focused on this year’s motto of Unum: Engage, which highlights how students engage as one in different groups across campus. 

Junior retreat, held in Julian at the Whispering Winds Retreat Center, is a special opportunity for juniors to get closer to God and their classmates. The Quest retreat is the first off-campus retreat option for CCHS students, so it is especially valuable for those who attend.

The retreat is tailored for students to branch out of their comfort zone and bond with people in their class that they wouldn’t usually talk to. With activities like scavenger hunts, student speakers, and group bonfires (all without your phone), the retreat helps you live in the moment and appreciate the time you spend with your classmates.

Julia Byrnes, class of 2026, went on the most recent retreat and thinks that “the retreat did a really good job of bringing us closer together. They put us in small groups where we were able to branch out and meet new people, and with no phones, you conversed with people you might not have talked to otherwise.”

One thing that stood out to Julia was the impact that the student speakers had on her. The speakers were seniors from our CCHS community sharing their experiences with God, life, etc. and their stories hit many students, including myself, very close to home. “Listening to all the student speakers throughout the week helped me realize where God’s presence is in my life. When I related to their stories it helped me realize that I wasn’t alone,” Julia says.

Not only did the retreat bring juniors together, but it also brought them closer to their senior leaders. Upon arrival, the juniors are split into around 8 small groups with 4-5 senior leaders, and you stay with that group for the rest of your stay.

Olivia Parsons, one of my senior leaders as well as a student speaker, shares one of her experiences of being on retreat as “emotional and surreal, I loved it.” Olivia hopes that the juniors who went on retreat know that “none of them are ever alone in their struggles, everyone deals with their own issues but we are all united through our support for one another and our faith in God.”

The senior leaders are expected to facilitate their small group, make them feel loved and accepted, and make the whole experience fun for the juniors. I think that my experience with my leaders was nothing short of this. Olivia, Ava, Avery, and Chase made me, along with everyone else in my small group, feel so important and valued.

To be honest, I wasn’t even thinking about not having my phone the whole retreat because I was having so much fun with my group.

From Just Dance in the mornings to the talent show at night, the Quest retreat is such a unique and fun experience that all CCHS juniors should take advantage of. Not only are you getting closer to God at the beautiful outdoorsy venue, but you also befriend some classmates which you might have never even met before.