Last Thursday, 22 middle schoolers and three teachers (Ms. Mariner, Mr. Bissell, and I) made our way to Birchwood Camp, located just outside of Eagle River.
When we arrived, we explored and got settled in our cabins. Forts were built, bunks were designated, and heaters were turned up high. We met the camp staff and they explained the lay of the land. Team-building initiatives began in full force. We played games that emphasized communication skills and challenged our students to work together in complex ways. The students quickly picked up on the difficulty of expressing their ideas over 22 other voices. Each student had opportunities to be in leadership roles and we saw expected and unexpected leaders emerge.
The rest of Thursday afternoon was spent by the water. Almost everyone got into canoes and paddled around the beautiful enclosed lake. We were so proud of the students—some of them conquering their fears of boats/water. They all came back smiling and ready for dinner.
During our free time after meals, we set up a “clothesline” of envelopes for each student. The idea was throughout the retreat, if they observed their peers doing something kind, they would take the time to write an appreciative note and put it in his/her envelope.
Being new to Alaska, my most exhilarating moment of the weekend was when a cow and her calf walked directly into our campground. The kids were very responsible and we adjusted our plans and went on our merry way. The campfire was lit, too many s’mores were eaten, and they had some quiet time to write reflections in their journals. Just like that it was time for bed! An extra thank you to Mr. Sears (David’s dad) who was our additional male chaperone in the cabins.
After a full night’s rest (ha), the main idea of the morning was “trust”. We discussed the importance of going outside your comfort zone and what we can do to make sure we trust one another. More blindfolded exercises, trust falls, and a guided walk through the woods helped our students realize that when they work together and rely on each other, they can do things they didn’t know were possible.
One of the highlights of this trip was watching the 7th and 8th graders come up with and lead their own games and activities. From scavenger hunts to blindfolded games to freeze-frame transformers, they did a phenomenal job. We reflected after each game about how it was received and how the facilitators thought it went. Reflection was the key to this trip. Upon our arrival back at PNA, each student did a brief presentation about something they learned at Birchwood and how it affected them personally. We encouraged our students to take the lessons we learned at Birchwood and apply them to our classrooms. We are hoping that the communication and leadership skills they learned will translate to the rest of their lives. We are very proud of their efforts over the past two days and look forward to referencing Birchwood for the rest of the year!