Holed up in the woods of northern Idaho, members of multiple WSU organizations worked together this weekend at the Fourth Annual Cougar Leadership Retreat.

“We got everyone away from Pullman and on the same page, working toward a common goal,” said ASWSU Vice President Jay Hendrickson, who planned the event. “The theme for the event was WAZZUnity, which portrays the school working together.” About 96 people attended the event, which took place Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The majority of the weekend was dedicated to different skill workshops and keynote addresses by members of the faculty.

“I have no doubt that this helped the programs and the leaders,” Hendrickson said. “It helps with organization, time management, stress management and working with the administration. It builds effective plans that are going to get things done. We can work with issues affecting particular groups and those facing WSU as a whole.” The workshops were helpful, but the most important part of the weekend was meeting the other student leaders, said Steph Caron, an Up All Night programmer with the Student Entertainment Board.

The camp itself took place in cabins next to a lake. The leaders camped out and, in between workshops, had the opportunity to hang out in the sun by the water. This relaxed environment was a way for the leaders to connect, Caron said.

“We could of just met everyone in the CUB ... but the fact that we are out here lets us connect on a much more personal level,” she said. “You get to know everyone so well, so you are not nervous to call someone if you need help.” All the student leaders are brought together as one large group, said District 3 ASWSU Senator Bryan Inglin. This allows the Cougar leaders to meet people they would not normally meet in other situations, helping them to plan bigger and more diverse events, he said.

“I am in the Senate so I normally just work with other senators,” Inglin said. “This connects me with other groups that are under the ASWSU umbrella, like the Black Student Union and Multicultural Student Services. Those are people I normally don’t get to talk to. As a Greek senator it is also nice to talk to RHA and figure out what they are doing.” Inglin said he thinks it is important for each new group of student leaders to be able to participate in the retreat.

For one student, it was not about what skills he learned at the retreat but the people who he met while he was there.

ASWSU Executive Intern Bryan Blackburn said that he was amazed by the number of people who were working hard for the university.

“It is nice to know that there is this community of people who are dedicated to the success of WSU and the happiness of its students,” he said. “They just care about the school.”