Resilience Through Understanding™ 2025-2026 Demonstrates the Power of Social Connection
LONDONDERRY, VT March 27, 2026 – The Collaborative extends heartfelt thanks to the many youth participants, trusted adults, volunteer reps, incentive partners, and others who made the latest season of its Resilience Through Understanding™ (RTU) program possible.
RTU is a substance misuse prevention and asset-building program for local middle and high schoolers. It promotes healthy lifestyles, emotional well-being, and strong community connections as alternatives to substance misuse. The program runs from September through February, and is open to middle and high school students in 10 area schools and the homeschool community. Through engaging activities and intentional lessons, participants gain essential life skills like critical thinking, communication, and empathy, while also gaining access to a network of trusted adults and peers. In return for their effort, youth participants receive a season pass from Stratton Mountain Resort, Viking Nordic Center, Magic Mountain, Riley Rink at Hunter Park, or the Dorset Players.
The Collaborative selects a theme for RTU each year based on needs identified through the previous year’s programming. This season, RTU participants have been exploring The Power of Connection through lessons and activities that aim to address and ease feelings of hopelessness and isolation. To help address the season’s core theme, each participant received Connection Cards at the start of the season. This standard deck of playing cards includes unique questions and challenges designed to promote connection.
The program kicked off in September, with a Healthy Alternatives Fair showcasing local organizations committed to youth wellbeing and the services they offer. Youth participants and their trusted adults came together for this fun and inspiring event. Participants spent October, November, and December exploring topics ranging from substance misuse and mental health to relationships and technology with their volunteer rep educators, often on late afternoons and evenings at their schools. For Intergenerational Dialogue Night in January, trusted adults returned to the discussion for a series of Potluck and Game Nights hosted by The Collaborative. Lastly, participants returned to their school cohorts in February to reflect on everything they’d learned over the course of the season and express gratitude to one another for taking on the program together.
A 7th grade participant attending the Dorset School effectively summarized the core theme of this season: “I feel like it is always important to care for your community because you never know when you will be the person [who] needs extra support and will rely on your community to help you through hard times.”
The Collaborative (thecollaborative.us), is a 501c3 non-profit organization with the mission of empowering healthy youth, families, and communities. Operating in Windham, Windsor, and Bennington counties, its RTU program has promoted healthy alternatives and community connection for thousands of participants since 2004. Last year, almost 400 students participated in the program.