Although Kansas educators enjoyed fun activities like hiking, painting lessons, golf, team building activities and music during the Educators Recharge Retreat earlier this week, the focus was on mental health and well-being. 

The first of two Educators Recharge Retreats began at noon Monday, June 5, and ended at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 7, at Ringneck Ranch in Tipton. The ranch sits on 5,000 acres of licensed Community Supported Agriculture habitat, making it an ideal location for a “recharging” retreat. The second one started at noon Wednesday, June 7, and ends at 11 a.m. Friday, June 9. 

“The view is incredible,” said Jeff Travis, superintendent at Beloit Unified School District 273. “It’s a Kansas paradise.” 

Travis, Chris Moddelmog, executive director of the Smoky Hill Education Service Center, and Rex Boley, superintendent of Rock Hills USD 107, were discussing how to help Kansas educators after the COVID-19 pandemic hit schools when they decided a retreat focusing on mental health would be beneficial. 

“We do professional development, curriculum development, school safety – but the focus is on strategies and tools to help with mental health,” Travis said. 

Each retreat is limited to 30 educators and is completely free thanks to grants, vendors and sponsors, Travis said. College credit is available for a fee, he added. 

A retreat exclusively for superintendents was held Feb. 27-28 at Ringneck Ranch. It featured professional development, tips from a mental health professional, music, games, sporting clays, hunting, vendor presentations, overnight lodging at Ringneck Ranch and meals. 

“It’s been super good,” Travis said about this year’s retreats. “For me, it’s a way of giving back. It’s very rewarding.”