R.U.F.F. boys see examples of trust at retreat
MADISON — Boys in R.U.F.F. (Ready yoUrself For the Future) realized the importance of trust at a recent retreat.
R.U.F.F. boys attended a leadership retreat at Camp Toknohim in Pisgah. (CONTRIBUTED)
R.U.F.F. boys attended the third annual leadership retreat at Camp Toknohim (to know him) in Pisgah on Sept. 27-29. “Our theme was ‘Lean On Me,” R.U.F.F. founder Anthony Graham said. “The retreat was incredible.”
Graham teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math at Discovery Middle School.
The retreat emphasized trust and communication. “I wanted the young men of R.U.F.F. to learn that they can rely on and trust each other for support,” Graham said. Sixty-three boys in grades 5-12 attended from Heritage elementary, Discovery and Liberty middle, and Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools.
The youth rappelled from 115 feet, hiked at night through canyons, completed a low ropes course and participated in small-group leadership sessions. Kenny Watts and Semper Fi funded the trip.
The retreat “was an inspiring, life-changing weekend that formed leaders. Your program is a blessing,” Nicole Guyton said. She has two sons in R.U.F.F. “Thanks to Anthony Graham and Wesley Malone for your true, hard work and dedication to R.U.F.F. and our boys. God bless you for your big hearts.”
“Attending their camp in Jackson County this past weekend, two youth groups came together as one,” parent John DiPietro said. “R.U.F.F. and another group out of Huntsville, ‘R. Fathers MAD’ (Real Fathers Making a Difference) share the same values.”
R. Fathers MAD is “more than a father-and-son club,” DiPietro said. “It touched me to see the core values. (Fathers) were teaching and motivating the kids by adding real-life scenarios as examples for practical real-life lessons.”
DiPietro believes “treating others with a caring attitude and with respect is needed now more than ever … and not doing life alone. We are indeed fortunate to have this unique and hidden treasure in our local area.”
For more information, email to agraham@madisoncity.k12.al.us or visit ruffleadership.webs.com or Facebook/Ready yourself For the Future.
