This Guest Article comes to us from our Board Member from Germany, Beate Kreisle. Beate is the Executive Director of Jugend-Kolleg am See. This agency serves up to eight adolescent girls and boys in a co-educative group home setting. It was founded 1998 as the first one in Germany working with the model of Positive Peer Culture, originally developed by Henry H. Vorrath and Larry K. Brendtro.
Freedom Made Visible
By: Beate Kreisle, RYI Board Member
Jugend-Kolleg am See
Moos, Germany
Two summers ago we brought a group of adolescents from Germany to the United States. We wanted them to expand their world view. We went to New York City, to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch in Texas and ended the trip at the Grand Canyon. The group did well. We learned a lot along the way. We were worn out when we reached Arizona and the Grand Canyon. We did get our students to the rim of the Canyon but nobody wanted to hike it with the teachers accept one young man.
It was a sunny day at the beginning of June when we began our trek. For people from the middle of Europe it was hot. We walked down Bright Angels Trail to Indian Gardens. After a nice rest with interesting conversation we started back up. Before we left the canyon we made a last stop. The light had changed and dusk had settled on the ravines. We sat down, tired and pleasantly exhausted. We saw two eagles circle slowly with the breeze. Our young man said: “The others, back at the hotel, don’t know what they missed. For me this is the image of freedom.”
While I wished all of my students would have had this particular opportunity to expand their worlds, I am reminded that our work is often to provide the opportunity and encouragement. Each is on their own journeys and they will each determine the right time and place to explore.
