BANGOR – The Acadia Hospital coordinated two weeks of Challenge Days this fall for more than 500 high school students from eight different schools throughout Maine. The days were part of Acadia Hospital’s Community Conversations Youth Wellness and Violence Prevention Program.

Challenge Day features a one-day workshop for high school or middle school students, teachers, parents, administrators, counselors and members of the community that addresses the issues of violence, teasing, stereotypes, social oppression, drugs and alcohol within the context of school life.

The students and volunteer adult facilitators experienced a series of games, activities, group discussions, icebreakers and trust-building exercises that helped them learn how to break down the walls of separation and create new levels of respect and communication with peers, teachers and themselves.

Stearns High School in Millinocket was one of the area schools that hosted a Challenge Day for some of its students.

According to Stearns High School counselor Sue Buzzell, “It was great. We loved Challenge Day leaders Sela and Chris, and the class participated 100 percent for a very powerful day.”

At the Acadia Hospital Challenge Day, one student observed, “Today was one of the best days of my life. I didn’t know what to expect, but now I am glad I came.”

Schools that held Challenge Days were Hermon, Searsport, Bucksport and Stearns of Millinocket. Mt. View High School in Thorndike, Camden Hills Regional High School, John Bapst Memorial High School in Bangor and Belfast High School sent students to The Acadia Hospital Challenge Day held at the Bangor Y’s Camp Jordan.

Plans are already under way for coordinating another series of Challenge Days in the fall of 2007. Interested schools can contact Alan Comeau at 973-6166 or acomeau@emh.org.