Campus Voices
Lower School
Sixth Grade Goes to Camp Hulbert: Weeks before our departure, Hulbert was at the center of every class meeting. Students looked with anticipation to this new experience. The Hulbert Outdoor Center offers many opportunities to challenge oneself, both physically and mentally. Their program lists hiking, team building games and activities, but the one thing that loomed high for every sixth grader was the high ropes course. As departure day neared, excitement was clearly building. A new experience, unshared by any previous siblings, was about to unfold. BB&N’s, class of 2014 were about to become groundbreakers.
The busses pulled away from the curb to the usual crush of parents trying to get one last glimpse of their brave citizen going off to the unknown. With high spirits, we began our trek to Fairlee, Vermont. When “Ninety-Nine Bottles of Beer on the Wall” broke out before we even left Cambridge, it seemed like it might be a long trip, but everyone soon settled down to quiet conversation, card games, and short naps. Three hours later, we inched our way along a narrow road following signs for the Hulbert Outdoor Center. A lake appeared out of the mist along with a collection of buildings, but not before the castle structure was spotted on a nearby hill, replete with towers and bridge. Ah, yes, this was going definitely be an adventure.
The faces that would come to mean much to us in the days ahead heartily greeted us and led us into the barn. Mountains of gear soon covered the old floorboards and we immediately gathered to share names and information through games and activities.
Meals in the community hall beg mention, because the meals took on an entirely unexpected dimension. The kids loved the food! The meals were hearty and plentiful…and fun. Once in their core group, headed by a Hulbert staff member and a BB&N teacher, students rotated through a list of jobs, as well as activities. Jobs ranged from food prep to clean up, but most coveted was being a waitron. A waitron set and waited on tables. Sounds pretty mundane, right? But did I mention that they had to introduce the meals with a skit about the menu? The dramatic presentations were often hilarious and left us holding our sides.
Each core group of students was assigned different activities and challenges throughout the week. This was the “hard stuff.” On first glance, many of the challenges appeared easy. Lowering a hula hoop successfully to the ground, with only a few fingers… as a whole group, balancing a platform on a pivot…as a whole group, recovering a rubber chicken without being seen…as a whole group—NOT EASY.
The challenges of listening to one another, planning together, and valuing someone else’s idea rather than one’s own can be difficult for anyone, but for a sixth grader, still flapping the newly independent wings of budding adolescence, it can be grueling. Directions were shouted, plans were quickly put in place, only to fail, and finally, a quiet voice might be heard saying, “This is not working.” In some situations it was heeded, in others not. Some groups overcame the challenges and were successful; some groups failed to meet the challenges.
Failure is a tough word in anyone’s vocabulary, but in every experience there lies a possible success or lesson. The students learned what did and did not work in approaching a group task. Afterwards, constructive comments abounded: “Nobody was listening to each other.” “I never got my plan out there, someone always interrupted.” “He/she was so bossy.” “I realized I was being really bossy.” “At first we couldn’t do it, but then we worked as a team, and we did it!” It is in the knowing that we realize success, and all the students were successful.
THE ROPES COURSE! In the morning, everyone knew which groups were headed to the ropes’ course. They were electric with anticipation. After an hour of instruction, ranging from safety gear to strategies, students, along with a partner, infiltrated the ropes’ challenges, donned with helmets, harnesses and caribenas. Words of encouragement echoed through the pines as partners led each other through the challenges of high rope walks, trapeze swings, and the highlighted zip lines.
Our students showed their best as they stood by those confronted with a fear of heights for the first time, or realized, on that daring leap to the trapeze, that they were just not going to make it. Cries of excitement and joy mingled with encouragement as that one last rung was reached. Over dinner I heard, “I never thought I could do it, and I did!” “I set it as my challenge, because I know I am fearful of heights, and I made it.” “I set my goal, and I didn’t get there, but I tried, and I feel good about that.” The ropes’ course was truly a highlight for many of the students. I had the pleasure of receiving students at the end of the zip line, so I got to see facial expressions not to be missed. One student flew past me with her legs scissoring with excitement she was so caught in the thrill of the ride. Operation success!
Hikes included trips to lookouts perched over the lake and offering panoramic views of distant snow capped mountains. At one point I saw AND heard a bald eagle soar from the mountaintop to the valley below. Breathtaking. Groups huddled around fires; toasting marshmallows and sipping hot chocolate. The woods were still bright with colorful leaves amid pines. Stone filled rivers and brooks at times shared the trails making the traverse all the more fun.
You may have heard of the night walk, a definite game of trust. Students walk blindfolded, holding onto a rope, led by their counselor. The sixth graders were impressed by this event, told in their silence as they trudged up hills and into forest. When they finally reached their destination, they learned of the legend of the Pirate’s patch. It suffices to say they were enthralled by the phenomenon of sight when they removed their blindfolds. Another success, trusting one another.
When it came time to leave, hugs and parting words were exchanged, with the faces that now bore new meaning to all of us. Tucked into the busses, we made our way home, with stronger ties between students, and new insights into each other and into ourselves.
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