“The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum teaches essential life skills and promotes good citizenship. And our entire community benefits from it!”

boyd-county-ky-muttigrees-retreat-2Students from Boyd County Middle School and Catlettsburg Elementary in Boyd County, KY participated in the school district’s first ever Mutt-i-grees retreat. The goal? To encourage community engagement by offering students a unique opportunity to learn about their county’s municipal departments, historic landmarks, and civic organizations. The retreat began at the Boyd County courthouse with an educational tour of the county seat and historical walk. Students were able to meet with an executive judge and courthouse staff to learn about their duties and education needed to work their particular job.  From there, they proceeded to the animal shelter where they held and walked dogs and learned ways in which they might be able to help homeless animals in their community. After a fun lunch at a local family fun restaurant, the day concluded with a visit to the Paramount Arts Center, a historic theater in Ashland, KY. The funding for the day’s travel was graciously provided by the district’s superintendent, a testament to his dedication to the Mutt-i-grees Curriculum!

To make this experience more meaningful, each student received a journal and pen to take notes and write down their thoughts as they traveled from place to place throughout the day. The students shared their journal entries with the group at the day’s end and each was delighted with the experience. As a follow-up to the retreat, they organized a service learning project to benefit Ashland Animal Rescue Fund. Norma Meek, one of the chaperones for the day, declared the retreat an overwhelming success. “It offered these students a unique and memorable experience,” she explains. “The Mutt-i-grees Curriculum teaches essential life skills and promotes good citizenship. And our entire community benefits from it!”