Gone Retreatin': Peer Health Educators build relationships in the Bayous of Louisiana

In late September, Tulane University's Peer Health Educators (TUPHES) went on their annual retreat. Every year, just as the summer season comes to an end and the first cool breezes are felt in New Orleans, the TUPHEs pack up and spend a weekend away from the city in quiet little area called the Rivers Retreat Center north of the town of Covington, Louisiana. 

The bus pulls up to a quaint camp-like setting; everyone is starving so we immediately go to dinner. After dinner, we get a brief rundown of what the weekend will entail, and we select cabins. There are only 3 male-identified students who are TUPHEs (including me) so we head on over to the small cabin. After everyone unloads we go to the meeting hall where we do introductions, and get a brief introduction to theWELL from our Director, Lindsey Greeson. After that the professional staff heads off to sleep, and TUPHEs spend the night playing games (Cards Against Humanity is a favorite).

Morning comes and breakfast starts at 9:00 am, late enough to give people options for sleeping-in or doing morning exercise (some TUPHEs did yoga and went for runs), but still early enough to get things accomplished. After breakfast the rest of the professional staff who work at the well arrive and we spend the day reviewing and practicing theWELL’s activities. Our promotional games, our more serious conversations, and our event signups are all discussed and accomplished.  This day serves as an excellent launching point for the rest of our year, as all of our new members get an excellent understanding of our programs, and how to make them fun and engaging.

As the day comes to an end everyone goes to dinner and the professional staff go to sleep. This is when the most important part of the retreat (and the least planned) happens. The first night the TUPHEs played games that allowed people talk to each other a little but were primarily fun, but the second night is the when the TUPHEs really get to know each other. It is during this time that the TUPHEs start to feel really connected to each other. In a space where everyone feels safe, real opportunity for connection happens. It is impossible to overstate the importance of this time or the importance of the organic feel of situation. When this happens everyone gets to know each other better and comes away with a feeling of having a special connection to the organization-- something that is vital to the success of the peer education group.

The next day there is a quick recap during breakfast and everyone heads back to campus on the bus-- ready for the year-- and with the feeling of having found an amazing group of people with whom to work with on the task of spreading healthy behavior to their peers.