8th Grade Camp

For the past few days I was up in the mountains, at Camp with my 8th grade students.

It was 3 days and two nights of a rollercoaster ride for me. I experienced some amazing moments, So-So moments, and some not-so-very amazing moments.

I will summarize all these moments with a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down.

Thumbs-Up: Watching my 8th graders work together to complete tasks that were very mentally challenging, slightly physically challenging, and required massive amounts of team work to complete.

Thumbs-Up: Watching my students complete and also myself completing the High-V ropes course. This consisted of a helmet, a bungee belt, and being attached to bungee cords followed by a 30 foot climb up a (purposefully, so they told me) very shakey wooden pole. At the top of that pole are two wires that go out into the shape of a V - starting out very close to each other and extending to about 20 feet apart at the very end. This is a partner activity. When both partners have reached the top of the pole, each stands on a wire facing the other. You begin by letting go of the pole you climbed up on and each partner places their hands on their partners shoulders. Each person has to lean into their partner; your partner's weight being the only thing keeping you balanced on that wire. Together, you begin to slowly take side-steps. As you get farther out on the wire, you find that your partner and you can no longer hold onto each other's shoulders. You must now switch to hands. You and your partner continue leaning into each other, holding your bodies as straight as possible until one of you loses your balance or you decide as a team that you can go no farther. The thing is, that unless both partners are 7 and a half feet tall, it's impossible to get to the end of this challenge. The point of it is not to finish, it is to challenge yourself mentally and physically, to lean on your partner for support, and to see how far you can make it. The fun thing is that everyone goes farther than they expected. For example, I made it a little over half way across the wire, and I barely expected to make it up the pole.

Thumbs-Down: Spending two hours "turning" a compost pile and smelling like compost for a full 24 hours even after changing my shirt and washing my shoes with soap and water = GROSS

Thumbs-Up: Watching some students show their dedication to finishing the raking of that compost pile.

Thumbs-Down: Having my principal bail out on me (without letting me know) for an evening prayer service with the 8th graders and their parents, and having to complete something myself at the very last minute on a wing-and-a-prayer.

Thumbs-Up: Having my last minute prayer service go so well that most everyone in the room smiled, laughed, and cried by the night's end.

Thumbs-Down: Getting bug-bitten all over both of my arms and then having those bug bites go away after an hour and turn into red, scaly rashes. NO FUN.

Thumbs-Down: Going from plush new mattress at home to flat, uncomfortable bunk bed at camp.. and not sleeping so very well.

Thumbs-Up: One of the 8th grade girls telling me about the troubles she is having with her mother in the bathroom one night while brushing our teeth, and then telling me that usually she doesn't open up to adults, but because she shared that with me now I'm her "friend". :)

Thumbs-Up: Doing a trust fall with one of the 8th graders' small groups, and the fact that the students actually caught me. SCARY.

Thumbs-Up: Earning the trust and kindness of one of the 8th grade boys who had given me attitude all year long. During our last meal together he came over and said, "I'll sit by Mrs. (Sorry) today, she's been nice to me this week." From most students, this doesn't sound like much. From him, this was a gigantic leap of amazingness.

As a whole, I give Camp a bright and shining 2 THUMBS-UP.