Teen Retreat 2024 – Jekyll Island
Over MLK Weekend, 37 HoG teens and 21 volunteers/staff participated in a fun-filled retreat at Jekyll Island, GA. One of the most memorable experiences was the time spent connecting with each other on Saturday evening during the beach walk and campfire. Throughout the weekend the teens participated in a guided, night beach walk, campfire under the stars complete with smores, a sand castle building contest, basketball competitions, dinner at Lady and Son’s in Savannah, a trolley history tour through Savannah themed around the ghosts of the historic district, a visit to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to see firsthand how they rehabilitate sea turtles, and other educational experiences.
While the group had tons of fun, Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG) also provided them with transition education. The group participated in four different educational opportunities. The teens participated in a session around Insurance 101, led by our very own director of Social Work Emily Brown. There was also a session around financial literacy led by a presenter from Bank of America. During the afternoon, HoG brought in two vendors to provide education around mental and physical wellness through drumming and a total body workout.
Since the Teen Retreat takes place over MLK we work to include a service component to benefit the area we are visiting. This year, our teens collected food to create emergency food bags for the P.A.CK (People of Action Caring for Kids) of Savannah organization. HoG donated around 100 bags for distribution through the Savannah area school system for kids in need. With each bag the HoG teens added a special note/drawing.
Teens concluded the weekend by providing HoG staff feedback about their experiences. They loved getting to connect with their peers in the HoG community, trying new experiences, and gaining valuable education they can carry with them for the future.
If you have questions about HoG’s teen programs, please reach out to Kristi Fulford Director of Camp and Client Events at kffulford@hog.org or 770-518-8272.