Back to the point of the post. One thing that we place great importance on at Project TRUST is our high school counselors. Our site coordinators spend a great deal of time choosing them through recommendations from teachers and, at most schools, an application process. At all of our high schools, there are many great students and many great applicants to Project TRUST. It is a difficult process to choose the right students, and we always have to make difficult decisions about students to take and not take.

This camp, East Clinton’s counselors showed why they are truly exceptional this week. Our counselors have to display many qualities-humor, compassion, caring, energy, and wisdom. This week, I saw all of them from the ECHS counselors who were at camp. They worked beautifully with the middle school campers, constantly encouraging and challenging them to better themselves. From what I understand, they showed great compassion during bridge building, which often sees students share feelings and thoughts that they have not often shared before. As I said, another part of their job is humor. On the second night of camp, the counselors gave the campers (and adults) a Project TRUST experience they will never forget with their post-dance skit. Having been to 25+ camps, I can honestly say I have never laughed so hard for so long at a Project TRUST retreat.

Well, another successful retreat is finished, and it was one for the ages. This could not have been done without the fantastic high school students who served as counselors and all of the hard work that they put in. We cannot thank everyone who has served as a counselor in high school for all you have done. Our retreats would not be the same without you.

BE NICE OUT THERE!

Project TRUST counselors from East Clinton sing together at their spring retreat.

It was a cold and muddy two and a half days at this year’s Wilmington Project TRUST, but that didn’t stop us from having fun. Forty-five kids along with their thirteen counselors, and five chaperones began their journey as strangers and left bonded with inside jokes, shared memories, and experiences that will serve as a reminder that we are all more alike than we are different.

Braving freezing temperatures, soaked clothes, and wet feet so we could prove to ourselves surviving a simulated plane crash by building a fire and shelter has less to do with succeeding at the task and more to do with how you go about surviving. How and when do you lead? What happens when a group works together?  How do you participate?

For me, Project TRUST has always been about the power of acceptance. A place where you can spend your birthday away from your family and never feel alone, be afraid of heights and hear the jubilant cheering from down below, when you reach the top of the tower, feel comfortable admitting your fears to people you just met, and singing in front of everyone (instead of just in the shower).

Although, we were never really able to start a fire, our hearts were warm. Our voices were heard, whether we were mooing like cows, singing nursery rhymes, problem-solving a low ropes challenge, cheering on our friends, or sharing the memories of a meaningful day.  Our smiles were returned.

We left camp with our ace cards in our pockets that remind us that we matter and to BE NICE OUT THERE.

Wilmington-February 28-March 2

Clinton Massie-March 13-15

East Clinton-March 20-22

Greenfield-March 26-28

Blanchester-April 3-5

Kings will be sometime in May, but we are still waiting on final dates. We can’t wait to get started on retreats to be able to work with all of the fantastic students and staff from these schools. They are truly a priceless asset to the program!

Would you like to help with some of the costs of a retreat? Please contact twilliams@beniceoutthere.com for more information on how to donate, and we will get you pointed in the right direction.

Thank you all for your support of the program over the years-we couldn’t do it without you!

Project TRUST Packing list

• -Look at the packing list! We have had almost SIXTY camps…we want you to benefit from our experience of packing (and mispacking) for camp!
• -Take a peek at the weather reports, but understand that the weather at PT is NEVER predictable! Be ready for almost anything.
• -Keep an open mind going into camp! Even if you are nervous or unsure, be ready for the time of your life!
• -Parents-don’t be nervous! Kids have an amazing time at Project TRUST, and we make sure everyone is treated with the utmost care and respect. The Camp Kern staff is fantastic. And please, talk to your kids about what they learned at camp. We want their learning experiences to be continued for the rest of their lives, and we want you to learn from them too.

Thanks to everyone who is making this experience is possible. Everyone at Project TRUST gets excited at this time of the year, because we all truly love what we do. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know!

SPRING
February 28-March 2: Wilmington
March 13-15: Clinton Massie
March 20-22: East Clinton
March 26-28: Greenfield
Blanchester and Kings dates will be added soon!

On March 24th, GoRam will be hosting Challenge Cincinnati, an urban adventure race in which 2 person teams will be taking to the streets of Cincinnati to complete various challenges “to baffle the mind and flex their muscles.” After completing the challenges throughout the city, teams will return to the starting point to complete the journey. This will be BIG and it will be FUN! So grab a partner and head down to Cincy in March to compete against friends and strangers alike in what may be the best race of the year. For more information, check out http://www.challengecincinnati.com.

The best thing about both of these events is that some of the proceeds will go to support Project TRUST. So you can have fun, gain a new experience, and support the most awesome community building program around. We would love to see you out there!

An artist's rendition of what it would have looked like if we had received a giant check

It’s been a while since we updated the website with anti-bullying news, so we wanted to keep all of our supporters posted on what’s happening at PTHQ. You may have heard from various sources that we got another large grant from the Weikart Family Foundation to start Project TRUST at 3 new districts and help fund East Clinton’s fall retreat (since they did not receive help with last year’s grant). The only school we have 100% confirmed is Blanchester, which is very exciting because it means all four schools in Clinton County, our home base, will now have the program! We are in talks with a couple other schools as we look to expand towards Cincinnati and Dayton. Two of our advisory board members (myself and Michael Adams, CM Coordinator) will be heading down to Kings Junior High School next week in the hopes that they will be receptive to starting the program next year and will join us at our summer training retreat in the summer. We are also taking a contingent of trainers to Mason High School for a leadership training for incoming seniors who will be working with freshmen on acclimating to high school. Hopefully, these new things will springboard us into even more districts that want to work to prevent bullying in their districts. If you would like to support any of our schools, please send us a check at:

Project TRUST

1870 Quaker Way

Pyle Center 1183

Wilmington, OH 45177

Make checks payable to Project TRUST. If you would like to support a specific school (Greenfield, Blanchester, East Clinton, Clinton-Massie, or Wilmington), please indicate that on the check, and we will earmark it!