For some it was the teambuilding exercises. For others, it was the session on "Working with the Public." For a few, it was the quiet morning walks together in the woods.

Whatever their favorite part of the 2008 Roots & Shoots U.S. Youth Leadership Retreat on February 15-18, the 35 Youth Leaders seem to agree that it was worth the trip.

"This has been my favorite Roots & Shoots retreat ever," Bryan Lairmore said. A high school junior from Ventura, California, Bryan is a veteran member of the California Youth Leadership Council.

Retreat participants came from as far away as Watertown, South Dakota and San Diego, California, with members present from all five Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Councils¿California (CAYLC), Four Corners (FCYLC), Great Lakes (GLYLC), New England (NEYLC), National (NYLC) and College (CLC). Tucked away in the rustic cabins and lodges of Camp Highroad in Middleburg, Virginia, the teens and twenty-somethings found time to focus on what really matters to them: making a difference in the world.

The weekend's work began with an introduction to Dr. Jane, the woman who started it all. Then, Youth Leadership Fellow David Chase and College Fellow Shawn Sweeney reviewed the finer points of what it means to be a Roots & Shoots Youth Leader.

The group of young people listened to presentations from Roots & Shoots staff members, participated in an enlightening leadership compass activity and even received a special visit from the Jane Goodall Institute's Vice President of Public Policy, Alex Thornton.

The atmosphere at the retreat felt warm and friendly, as young people from high school freshmen to college seniors and all levels of Roots & Shoots staff came together for a common cause.

"The newer members got to see what they're going to be a part of, and the veteran youth leaders left with a feeling that there are people at Roots & Shoots to support them," said Shawn, who serves on the CLC.

When the presentations ended and the laptops were closed, out came the tea, cocoa and board games.

"We had free time together every night, when we could get to know each other more informally," said David, who serves on the NYLC. "A lot of us made friendships that will last throughout the year and help us work better as a team."

Their work throughout the year will include achieving annual goals, which they set at the retreat. In addition to the collective targets set by each Youth Leadership Council, every individual council member came away from the retreat with their own goals to work on. These goals included action items, such as nurturing new groups in their region, engaging current members in youth campaigns and submitting Project Reports for their own group's work.

With training completed and goals set, the Youth Leaders spent Sunday evening toasting marshmallows, making s¿mores and letting go with a little "Dance, Dance, Revolution."

Whether it was a serious session on peer mentoring or an energizing workshop on outreach or a hilarious game of "Apples to Apples," this year's Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Retreat gave young people a role to play.

To hear more of the retreat scoop and see more photos of the event, visit the Roots & Shoots Fellow Blog.

Are you a young leader with a desire to make a difference? Find out how you can get involved with the Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Councils.