The iconic seventh-grade overnight camping trip is a bit of a rite of passage and one that our seventh graders look forward to every year. This year’s students experienced the famous annual trip at Camp Lakewood in Potosi, Missouri, last Thursday and Friday, November 7 and 8.
Camp Lakewood was set up for the students to experience five different sessions, each lasting about one and a half hours, of activities over the course of the two days. The activities were Team Building, a Survival Hike, Pines Peak (wall climbing), Target Sports (bow and arrows, axe throwing, and BB shooting), and a Challenge Course (a low ropes course). In between activities and meals, students had plenty of downtime where they could play putt-putt golf, sand volleyball, basketball, gaga ball, nine square, or go on a hike. There was lots of time to hang out together and just have fun. After dinner on Thursday night, the camp staff put on a skit for our seventh-grade Rams around a beautiful bonfire.
« Our goal for seventh-grade camp is always to allow the students to build stronger social connections outside of the classroom, » explains Rachael Maurer, Middle School PE Teacher who was also one of the leads in organizing the camp. « During the time away, we focus on lifelong skills such as teamwork, compromise, creative problem solving, and listening. It is our hope that students also build confidence and independence, as well as team bonding and leadership skills. We take advantage of being outdoors and away from their devices at home to allow them to fully embrace the challenges, engage in the activities, and connect with their classmates. »
What better way to connect than with adventures under the stars? Maurer stated that the night hike was a special highlight of the trip. « We take a group of students on a hike through the woods in the dark, » she describes. « At the top of the hill, we all turn off our lights, make sense of all the amazing sounds, and enjoy the beautiful stars that light up the sky. The icing on the cake is at the top of the hill, where we call for owls and wait for them to call back at us. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience! »
For a glimpse of the MICDS Camp Lakewood experience, watch the following camp video that was made for the Seventh-Grade Class Meeting.
Overall, Camp Lakewood was the perfect campsite to host many new special memories for the MICDS Class of 2030. Read on to see what students and teachers shared in their Camp Lakewood reflections!
Blake Whitney, Middle School History Teacher and lead camp planner: « My favorite part of seventh-grade camp is how it allows students to connect with each other outside of an academic setting. It provides them with a low-pressure environment where they can form bonds and try new activities without the stress of grades. »
Shreya Gobczynski ’30: « I would highly recommend people come to seventh-grade camp! It’s a great time where you get to hang out with friends, do fun activities, and the food is really good. I had a lot of fun there! »
Brody Hannah ’30: « My favorite things were the team challenges, especially the survival and shelter building. We built up our communication and teamwork skills and learned how to work with others. »
Payton Timme ’30: « We got to hang out and bond as a team, which helped us get to know more people and get to know people better than we did before if we didn’t have class with them. The bonding was really fun! The bonfire was my favorite part and everyone was laughing, smiling, and having fun. It brought us all together. We really learned life skills too and realized the value of communication. »
Cameron Youngman, Middle School Math Teacher – « This is always a good trip because it lets the class get to know each other at a different level. By the end, you can’t tell which students have been here a couple months or years. »
Spencer Kriegel ’30: « I enjoyed the team building, BB guns, and archery. I am new this year, and it’s one thing to spend every day with someone but totally another to spend the night. Our advisory is so much closer now! »
McKinley Thomas-Anderson ’30 – « It was very, very fun! I liked all the challenges, and it was great to connect with my classmates. I feel like everyone got closer on this trip. »
Bethany Kavanaugh, Middle School Librarian – « This is my first year at seventh-grade camp and I wasn’t sure what to expect because kids can be very different in school and out of school. I was happily surprised about how everyone came together and showed true MICDS spirit in that we can be resilient, get business done, and still have a great time. It was amazing to see students supporting each other, especially when they helped kids who were scared to try new things be successful and be proud of themselves. »
« We are incredibly fortunate to be able to give our students this opportunity, » said Mauer. « Every year, we come back feeling closer as a seventh-grade group, and we are ready to tackle the rest of the year as a truly connected community. It is such a wonderful feeling and warms my heart when I see everyone cheering each other on and encouraging one another as they try new and challenging things. New friendships are formed, confidence is built, and we have a better understanding of each other as a whole.
