SUMMER RETREAT: Following a three-day retreat held at Princeton University, members of the Municipality of Princeton’s Teen Leadership Program are ready to begin the school year. Students from the four local high schools lead three programs geared to preventing substance abuse, anti-discrimination, and making the right choices.
By Anne Levin
Every spring when applications begin to roll in for the Municipality’s Teen Leadership Program, Riva Levy knows she will have to turn some of the young aspirants away. This isn’t easy for her.
“The program is very popular, and we get a lot of applicants. I have a hard time saying no, but I end up having to do that to some of them,” said Levy, who coordinates prevention programs for the Department of Human Services. “We just don’t have room to take everyone.”
The 70 students from Princeton High School, Princeton Day School, the Hun School, and Stuart Country Day School who did make the cut this year have recently completed a three-day retreat held at Princeton University. The gathering was designed to prepare them for participation in the Teen Advisory Group (TAG), Growing Up Accepted as an Individual in America (GAIA), and the Princeton Student Board (PSB). The programs were run for several decades by Corner House, which closed in 2023. Under the aegis of the Department of Human Services, they continue, at the former Corner House offices at Monument Hall.
TAG is made up of juniors who conduct workshops for elementary and middle
school students on drug/alcohol prevention. GAIA, also made up of juniors, leads workshops for local elementary and middle schoolers focused on acceptance, anti-discrimination, bullying, and kindness. Seniors make up the PSB, responsible for organizing school events emphasizing that having fun does not require substance abuse.
Those who become part of TAG and GAIA meet weekly, attend periodic workshops and meetings, and take part in the August retreat. The annual, three-day event used to be a sleep-over, but since the pandemic has been a day program.
“It was just amazing,” Levy said of the recent retreat (held August 4-6). “I always feel so grateful when it’s over to have been with these kids.”
Day one of the retreat was focused on team-building activities, Levy said. On the second day, members of Recovery Advocates gave a presentation detailing their experiences coping with addiction. A speaker also discussed his battles with mental health and how he manages to cope. Dr. Matt Bellace gave an interactive performance centered on wellness and mental health, and the students took part in a scavenger hunt around the University campus.
“On the third day, we learned about harm reduction and drug abuse, with a specific focus on opioid use and how to support those in need,” said Levy. “The students attended a presentation on gender identity, practiced yoga, explored the concept of mindfulness, and concluded the day with a fun talent show. Overall, it was a very successful retreat. The students feel more connected to the program; they left with a lot of food for thought and are excited to meet on September 15.”
As far as Levy knows, the Teen Leadership Program is unique. “I don’t know of any other towns that have it,” she said. “The beauty of it is that we meet every Tuesday night, allowing kids to just be, without their phones. For those two hours, in addition to organizing workshops and events, they can just be themselves. They open up, they interact, and check in. And they really like that. They become closer as a group, and really look forward to sharing their own highs and lows. I keep in touch with a lot of them after they graduate, and it is the sharing of those ‘highs and lows’ that they remember most fondly.”