This February my Grade 11 cohort ventured out into the beautiful forests of Manning Park to spend time as a class and participate in a variety of outdoor activities. Not only did we have amazing weather for the trip, we also had the chance to practice some independent life skills. Let me take you through the experience and share why these trips are so special for us at SJS.
Like Summer Camp, but Cold
The focus of our trip was the winter outdoor activities that we participated in around the park. We went snowshoeing and cross-country skiing through the trees, as well as alpine skiing. I’m normally a snowboarder—definitely more of a novice in skiing—but I decided to challenge myself and practice my downhill skills. We also had some friendly competitions between our SJS Houses, like Family Feud night. I’m proud to say that Gunn House won.
A big part of this trip was the independence and responsibilities that the teachers entrusted us with, and that included making meals. Ms. Minnema created a meal plan for the trip and in teams we got to pick which dishes we were going to make. And since the teachers were going to be tasting our food too, we knew it had to be good.
Night one my team made lasagna, and the second night we had tacos. We were responsible for the whole process from start to finish including prep, cooking and clean-up. This was definitely a level up from the usual sandwiches and simple pastas I can make. Our group did a great job of skill sharing to get the job done.
The accommodations were super nice: heated cabins and with all the bedding and pillows provided. Each cabin had around five to eight students, and being able to be all together like that was, in my opinion, the best part of the trip.
I really appreciated the free time we had to just hang out. The weather was so nice we could even do some stargazing, and could see the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper and Orion’s Belt. I purposely didn’t bring my laptop because it was also a great chance to disconnect and focus on the trip. When we’re in school there’s a big focus on the school work, of course, so being able to camp together was a great chance to socialize as a class.
What a Lifetime of Outdoor Education Does
From Junior Kindergarten to now, the outdoor education experiences through SJS have provided me with a lot of exposure to nature and outdoor activities that I don’t think I would have had otherwise. Over the years I’ve found that these trips have really built up my athleticism and resilience.
They have helped me appreciate the outdoors more too. My family isn’t particularly outdoorsy, but that’s grown over time. For example, my twin sister and I like going for hikes in the summer now. I enjoy being outdoors a lot more and exploring nature. That’s in large part thanks to the experiences I’ve had through outdoor education.
I encourage other students to embrace these trips. Whether it’s your first time away from home for a few nights as a Junior School student, you’re doing an activity you maybe don’t like as much, or you’re trying something new that feels a little uncomfortable, remember that you’re doing it alongside friends. You’re going to get through it together, and you’ll get a lot out of those experiences. And at the end of the day it’s the memories we make on these trips that are the best part.
