Please take the time to review this section carefully.  While you have been a participant at the center through the program in the past, there is a new level of responsibility that comes with being a returning student, one in which you will be counted on to lead by example in a way that aligns with the Mission and Core Values of the Riekes Center.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Riekes Center is a non-profit educational organization that uses Athletic Fitness, the Creative Arts, Nature Awareness and Community Service to help students of all ages define and accomplish their individual goals in an environment of non-judgment and mutual respect.

As a student, we will be honest with you if we have the competency in your subject matter to be the best place to help you define and accomplish your goals.  Our goal is to help you accomplish your goals with no labels and no limits.

We can work in the subject matter that you choose, with the implementation methodology that is most comfortable for you: class, individual instruction, curricular mentoring model, small group, etc, with the human connection that is most comfortable for you.

And you need to be honest with us about what subject, person (human connection), and implementation methodology is most comfortable for you. And tell us if there are any problems, if there is a joint that is bothering you, or if you do not understand something.

We do not take referrals, so a potential participant needs to personally learn and agree with the participant responsibilities. No one should participate who doesn’t choose to be here.  

“Leave this place better than you found it” is a motto of the Riekes Center.  

You are responsible to see that YOU leave the place better and that you leave the PLACE better. You are responsible for both the you and the environment.

Re-rack your weights, clean up after yourself. Leave the environment and culture better. You cannot swear; suspension is for a day, then a week, then a month, then a quarter, and then termination.

You will be asked to do “Whatever in the spirit of helping others.” Are you willing to go outside of your comfort zone to both grow as a person and in your ability to help others?

The mentoring formula at the Riekes Center is not based on a hierarchy of teaching and learning, but rather the spirit of teaching and learning.  The energy and spirit that you put in the educational-development process is a foundational attribute you will bring to the Riekes Center. It supersedes your technical ability and knowledge.

You will learn a great deal technically in community service, but the most important attribute that you will bring to the table is non-judgment, joy, true compassion, resilience and grit.

The Riekes Center has helped a lot of players over 7’ tall who play professional basketball. Below, 7’ pro basketball player Robert Rothbart mentors during his high school days at the Riekes Center in our community service program.

A size 9 (US)/40 (EUR) shoe measures 10IN/25CM on average. John has 23IN/58CM shoes.  Take a moment and imagine your shoe next to John's shoe.

John is 7’2” (218CM) and his dad, who didn’t have a job, became his manager, agent, and father, knowing that he would make millions of dollars playing basketball in the NBA. But when John went to high school he didn’t turn out to be a good basketball player. He didn’t start on the basketball team. He disappointed the coaches, players, fans and administrators who all thought he would lead his team to championships and bring glory to the school. He disappointed his father and his family. And everywhere he went someone would point at him, snicker, and say, “WOW you are tall! I’ll bet you play basketball.” So everywhere John went he felt like a failure. He was not safe at his home, or his school or anywhere in public.

So I ask you:

“WHERE IN OUR WORLD WOULD JOHN BE SAFE?”

If you say “The Riekes Center," that may be true, but only if YOU make him safe. If you get introduced to John at the Riekes Center, don’t say ‘WOW you are tall, I bet you play basketball.’ Just say, ‘Nice to meet you. What are you interested in?'

There are no last names in introductions at Riekes: it is very much a level playing field. When introduced to someone, look them in the eyes, shake hands, and for that moment give them your heart and welcome them to the Center and ask them, “what are you interested in?”

And CARE.

As a student at the Riekes Center, we will never interrupt your workout or music lesson, but in transit from one place to the other we will introduce you to others so you can implement the vision. (We have designed the center with the kinetics of diversity so you can run into people from entirely different backgrounds- i.e. you have to go through the Olympic Training Center-ish gym to get to the recording studio, music lesson, or nature area, etc.) We implement our mission through our culture, and introductions are the way WE & YOU create the spirit of a place where each participant is as important as anyone in the history of the world.

That is what we mean by Sensitivity to Others.

If you are accepted into this program, you will participate in community on a regular basis. During the school year, you will ideally be at the Riekes Center on a weekly basis (2-4 hours per week) and 2-3 times per week during the months of June and July, doing "whatever in the spirit of helping others."

This section of the application contains questions relevant to your overall participation.  The Riekes Center helps individuals explore interests and accomplish goals in the areas of Athletic Fitness, Creative Arts, and Nature Awareness.

The following questions are specifically regarding your musical background and your experience with being in a band, living with others, and traveling abroad.

Please reflect on your previous experience in the program and the lessons you have learned from that experience.

Let's be honest: there is nothing like your first time doing the program. Everything is new and the experience is more transformational as a result.  Additionally, you have no point of reference -you're along for the ride. As a returning student, things are different. You are comfortable with the setlist, familiar with the daily routines, the city of Sitges, the venues, everything.

Your role, too, changes in many ways.  Previously, you looked to the more experienced students for the answers on how things worked, both in the band and outside of it. Now, YOU will be the one that others look to for that same guidance and comfort.

An important change to know about the 2019 program is that there will be NO assistant instructors. Instead, it will be the returning students that collectively lead the day to day program activities and support the new students (and each other) in ensuring things are going according to plan. Of course you will have the support of the instructors, but there is still a lot of responsibility in being a returning student.

Consider all of these factors as you answer the following few questions.

During the trip, you will be asked to be a positive contributing member to a band, a group of travelers, and a household. Everyone is expected to share in the responsibilities of day to day living, including: shopping, cleaning, preparing meals, cleaning up after meals, planning activities together, and sharing a room.  There will be an agreed-upon wake-up time every day, group meetings, and other scheduled events that you will participate in regularly.

As a band member, some nights you will be featured more often than others. Some nights you will be the lead singer, featured guitarist, play your favorite songs, etc. Other nights, you will play more of a supporting role, play fewer songs, etc. Sometimes you will help plan the set.  You will be involved in carrying gear to the gig, setting up, breaking down, cleaning up, etc. All of it is important and your attitude will be expected to be "I got your back" and "whatever is needed to support the team."

Whether at the Riekes Center in Community Service, chatting the WhatsApp group, during a Rehearsal, during a gig, walking around Sitges, making breakfast, sitting in the morning circle, or hanging out in the house, the way in which YOU act will be the primary way in which the group acts. There is no more important trait in leadership than setting an example.

Consider the following scenarios and how you would address them.

Thanks for taking the time to complete the application. We will be in touch within a week to schedule your interview.