Retreat Rules

As we arrived at our first location, we sat down and created some rules. I'm not much of a rule guy, but particularly in a high reliability situation like living out on the streets, I like to have a few solid guidelines. Gets everybody on the same page.

In the spirit of participant leadership, we each contributed at least one rule. The rules we created were:

1.) Be respectful
2.) Participate as much as you can
3.) No drugs or serious horseplay
4.) Buddy system, at least 2 people, 3 late at night
5.) No sex
6.) Limit cell phone use*
7.) Stay positive/no unwarranted whining
8.) Stay aware/try to escape danger before fighting

*A note on cellphones
Something one may not expect, but homeless youth often have cellphones. With no addresses and unreliable internet access, the cellphone is often the only form of communication. Most commonly they buy phones with prepaid minutes instead of service plans. The limited cell phone rules was suggested as a way of bettering the retreat experience, not because homeless never have phones.