AWSL’s Be the Change Weekend
Cispus Learning Center | March 28 - 30, 2026
Engaging and empowering students to impact their schools and communities!
Be the Change Weekend is a dynamic retreat experience created by students for students. Students explore how they can make a positive difference in their own lives and the lives of others, while putting into practice valuable skills including facilitating, listening, speaking, and collaborating.
Centered on the idea Be/Know/Do: BE yourself, so you KNOW your skills and can DO what you are passionate about to make a difference, students will explore issues facing their generation and address what can be done to lead themselves and others to take them on.
Students participate in large- and small-group activities designed to challenge them physically, mentally, socially, and emotionally, including discussions, a low-ropes course, presentations, short seminars, and other activities that help them connect with others.
Students and their advisors have a chance to network, share ideas, and form partnerships with other leaders across the state. Staff members from summer leadership camps facilitate the retreat and serve as Senior Counselors(SCs) and Junior Counselors (JCs).
Retreat Details:
Open to high school students in grades 9-12.
Begins Saturday, March 28, 2:00 p.m.
Ends Monday, March 30, 11:30 a.m.
Retreat Costs:
AWSL member school: $200 per person (adult or student)
Non-AWSL member schools pay $225 per person (adult or student)
Registration:
·Register your school by March 13 using the AWSL portal.
Students must register by March 13 using the link forwarded to their adviser.
Team Retreat Information:
Registration includes all materials, meals, and supplies.
The first meal is DINNER on Saturday evening. Please be sure students eat lunch before arrival at Cispus.
Each school delegation must have an attending adviser. Advisers will be housed in a separate dorm and will not be responsible for dorm supervision.
Plan to arrive between 1:00 and 1:30 p.m. on Saturday for registration. The retreat begins at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday and concludes at 11:30 a.m. on Monday.
Please contact AWSL Associate Director, Travis Ruhter, with questions concerning the Be the Change Weekend Retreat.
Cancellations received after March 20 will result in full charges. We encourage schools to find substitutions for students who cancel after the deadline.
Registration Information:
Register using your AWSL Member Portal.
Need support accessing the portal? Contact AWSL Fiscal Coordinator, Christine Bryan
Want to make a payment over the phone? Give us a call! (360) 359-7060
Learn how to make payments online!