Sept. 8, 2008

University of California student-athletes ventured out on the American River for the 2008 Cal Student-Athlete Retreat on Aug. 24, giving them the opportunity to interact with Golden Bears from different teams and develop new friendships. The day's activities were sponsored by the Student-Athlete Advisory Council (Bear SAAC).

"We were able to use the skills we learn in our sport and implement them through fun experiences," said women's rower Arielle Fersht.

Starting out on a bus trip from campus early on the Sunday morning, the Bears began their day by participating in a number of "initiative games." The first game, Personal Branding, tested their creativity when they had to create a personal logo that best described their personality, interests or hobbies. Instead of using pencils, pens or paint, they had to create their logos out of Play-Doh and explain to the group what it was and why it represented them.

The second initiative was a speed-question game that gave each student-athlete a question that he or she had to ask a partner and vice versa. After three minutes, everyone on the bus rotated seats and each person asked a new partner the questions. This ice-breaker allowed all the Bears to get to know a little something about each other.

The Bears arrived at Henningsen Lotus Park a little after 10 a.m. and began their next two challenges. First, the student-athletes warmed up their teamwork and communication skills as they fought gravity with Sheet Volleyball, a game that separated the group into two teams and used bedding sheets to propel a ball over to the other team's side. Their movements were difficult as they had to communicate what direction they were going as the ball was moving through the air.

After the game was over, they quickly moved in the same teams to the Minefield Exercise. One member had to be the eyes of a pair while the other member had to be the person actually walking through the "minefield." A true test of leadership and determination, this challenge had many correlating factors to the student-athlete experience: obstacles to overcome, distractions, attitude and communication in a way that allows others to succeed.

"I improved upon my communication and team-building skills by working with other student-athletes and administrators on the river," swimmer Natalie LaRochelle said after the retreat.

After discussing lessons from the initiative challenges, the student-athletes were back on the bus headed to All-Outdoors Rafting, where they were surprisingly greeted by Director of Athletics Sandy Barbour. Barbour participated in the entire rafting trip and worked with all the student-athletes through their various challenges and tasks.

Once on the American River, a guide put the student-athletes through a number of different tests. Even in calm water, there was not time to relax as they went through a number of tests, such as racing between three rafts, pulling people back in the boat from the river, swimming around the raft and getting everyone back in the raft, shifting from side to side and even walking together around the perimeter of the raft.

After lunch, the student-athletes returned to the water for Class 3 rapids, where teamwork became critical and communication was imperative. Later, the student-athletes, under the guide's supervision, swam a smaller Class 2 section of rapids, which turned into the highlight for most of them. After a few more Class 3 rapids, the student-athletes carried the raft back up the hill to the truck.

To cap off the long day, the student-athletes cooked dinner and documented the process with photographs.

"The Leadership Retreat gave me a chance to live out some of my most inner fears and a chance to get to know the extraordinary student-athletes I am in SAAC with," said Dantia Hudson of the track & field team.

To view the excitement and fun, click on the Photo Galleries link under the "Fan Zone" drop-down list at CalBears.com. From there, select 2008 Leadership Retreat.