5th Grade's Unforgettable Adventure

The excitement was palpable as the 5th graders embarked on their much-anticipated three-day, two-night overnight trip, accompanied by several enthusiastic parent volunteers who had signed up to be chaperones.

On the first day, the students attended an orientation featuring a special guest performance by "Taylor Thrift." They familiarized themselves with their cabins and enjoyed some free time before a delightful dinner of pizza, salad, and sliced peaches. The evening kicked off with a campfire where naturalists led songs and dances. Later, the students split into two groups: one group participated in a mock town hall meeting about building a hydroelectric dam, while the other group embarked on a night hike to sharpen their nature observation skills.

The next morning, students eagerly prepared for the day and enjoyed a build-your-own breakfast with options like frosted flakes, sausage patties, scrambled eggs, English muffins, hash browns, and strawberries. Their adventure continued with a visit to Natural Bridges State Park in Santa Cruz, where they combed the beach, learned about watersheds, caught sand crabs, and played in the water.

During recreation time, the students had a variety of activities to choose from, including basketball, gaga ball, kickball, rock climbing, and more. They mingled with students from other schools, with the gaga ball pit turning into a lively competition involving over 60 participants. Teachers supervised while the chaperones took a well-deserved break. Following recreation, students spent an hour with their teachers working in their field journals and exploring the Sempervirens gardens.

The nightly campfire featured music and singalongs about nocturnal animals and echolocation, along with a special rendition of John Denver’s "Country Roads" and a Sempervirens dismissal song that guided students to their night activities.

As the trip came to a close, the students returned to campus, spilling out of the bus, eager to share all the fun they had. Their faces beamed with excitement as they recounted stories of their adventures, from catching sand crabs on the beach to the competitive gaga ball games. It was clear that this trip had created memories that would last a lifetime!