Better Together Stories: A Retreat That Strengthened Courage and Connection

“I’m going to try it.” With those words, a St. Benedict’s middle school student set off on a steep hike during the sixth and seventh grade retreat to Camp Mikell. Earlier that day, the student had struggled just walking to the cabin and worried the mountain trail would be too much. But supported by classmates and teachers, they decided to climb. They paused only once to catch their breath, then reached the top. Chaplain David Wagner said he was proud to see the student overcome hesitation, fear, and worry.

Group Photo of Middle School Students on Hike

That spirit defined the September retreat, which brought students and faculty to the Episcopal camp and conference center in Toccoa, Georgia, nestled in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. For nearly 30 hours, the group shared laughter, prayer, and moments of belonging that deepened their connections with one another. Wagner noted that being together for such an extended time gave students countless opportunities to talk, laugh, and simply be themselves in ways that strengthened friendships.

Faith was naturally woven into the experience. Students hiked to “The Cross,” a tall wooden cross overlooking camp, where they paused to laugh, reflect on the hike they’d just completed, and pray together. That night, they gathered for Compline, the Episcopal service of nighttime prayer. Even mealtime carried moments of spiritual leadership. “At one meal, a student took it upon themselves to lead a blessing for the table,” Chaplain Wagner shared. “It was a reminder that faith doesn’t just live in chapel; it lives in the ways we care for one another and work together.”

After the hike, hot and tired, students cooled off in Little Toccoa Creek, a mountain stream that winds through the camp. At first, the icy water drew hesitation. Soon, however, splashing, laughter, and shouts of joy echoed across the creek bed. Wagner recalled the joy and curiosity that activity sparked and noted that many students later said the creek was their favorite part of the retreat.

Not all challenges were physical. Some students felt tired or homesick, and those moments revealed a different kind of courage.

“Sometimes courage is saying what we feel,” Chaplain Wagner explained.

He noticed students approaching teachers when they were struggling and friends stepping in to comfort one another, acts of kindness and support that left a powerful impression.

For Chaplain Wagner, the lessons of Camp Mikell reach far beyond the retreat itself. He hopes students carry away a deep sense of belonging and the confidence that they can do hard things, whether hiking a mountain, being away from home, or living without their phones.

“Most of all, I want them to know they are part of God’s wonderful creation – wherever they may be in it – and that they are deeply beloved by God and through our community.”

Moments like these show how St. Benedict’s students grow in courage, kindness, and faith when they belong, and how belonging inspires the confidence to try, to lead, and to connect in ways that last well beyond a single retreat.