STUCO students posing for a picture during their retreat to the mountains. Photo credit: Lyla Lancaster.
While students were out of school this summer, STUCO members were creating memories of their own. Palisade’s very own STUCO, the student council of the school which organizes the large events including dances, spirit days, drive-ins and more, had a camping retreat up in the Ceaderedge mountains. This retreat was a way to bond with returning members and new ones for this upcoming school year. “STUCO feels like a second family so of course the retreat was lots of fun,” says STUCO member Ian Shiao, a sophomore at Palisade. “I feel even more interconnected with all the members and can’t wait to see what we can do this year,” he says. Staying in cabins for two nights was a treat for the STUCO members as the weekend was full of creating new friendships, roasting marshmallows, playing games and much more. The SBA members (Student Body Association), also taught lessons throughout the weekend including Laurna Lancaster (President) teaching hard work through the use of a collaborative game, Izzy Meyer (Vice President) teaching Connection, Will Neese (Treasurer) teaching Cooperation with the human knot game, Ava Pearson (Secretary) teaching optimism with a escape room, and Morgan Montgomery (Historian) teaching vulnerability with bonding card games. Bonding activities also included playing other card games such as “We Aren’t Really Strangers,” painting rocks, paddleboarding on the lake, and cooking meals for each other. Freshman made breakfast, Sophomores made lunch, Juniors made dinner, and Seniors made dessert. Over the course of this retreat, STUCO brainstormed many ideas to take part in this upcoming school year which they can’t wait to share. It was a fun weekend full of memories that will last forever.