On September 1, the PROS traveled by charter bus to their annual retreat at Camp Buckner in Burnet, Texas.

This yearly retreat included various team-building activities, such as a mini “Olympics” trivia, swimming, and a group “Heart to Heart” in which small groups bonded and told stories about themselves. Those attending the retreat included all PROS as well as the sponsors, Mr. Kristan and Ms. Freeland.

“Every year they call Ms. Freeland and I crazy for taking 80 kids on an overnight trip with just the two of us,” English teacher and PROS sponsor Mr. Kristan said. “Yet every year we continue to do it because we know it’s important and we know the members of Westwood PROS are responsible enough to handle it. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been selected to be in the program.”

The retreat began with the senior PROS telling the new PROS which school campus they would be mentoring children at all year. From there on out, those students with the same campuses stuck together and got to know each other throughout the retreat.

A highlight of the trip was the free-for-all shaving cream war.

“While the shaving cream war was fun, I got a lot of it in my ear and could barely hear out of it for the rest of the trip,” Destiny Becker ‘16 said.

For the returning PROS, this year was their second trip to Camp Buckner.

“I had a lot of fun at the retreat this year and I think it was even better than last years’,” Darrien Garcia ‘15 said. “My assigned school campus is Grisham, and I think all of the members of the campus are going to get along really well.”