Catie Fairfield – Loveland, Colorado … The Campion Academy senior students continued the tradition of bonding as a class while surviving in the woods at Glacier View Ranch in Ward, Colorado, August 30 – September 3.
They hiked into the wilderness with their gear and set up their shelters using only natural materials, ropes, and tarps. The students were blessed not to contend with bad weather as it was mostly warm and sunny for the trip.
The students went without their phones, allowing them to find entertainment through conversations and games. “It was really nice seeing the students interact with each other and talk because kids normally don’t sit there and talk as much as they used to,” remarked Amy Kluchesky, senior class sponsor.
During the days, the students had to use communication, leadership, and patience to complete group activities, including a trust fall off a rock. Senior student Natanya Razafindrabes shared that this was her favorite memory of the trip because “during the trust fall, we were all connected and really bonding since we literally had to trust our classmates to catch us.”
On Friday evening, many students shared their testimonies around the campfire. “I was able to see God during these testimonies no matter who told them, even if they were struggling with understanding God. I saw how God would take care of and communicate with each person,” reminisced senior class president Seth Harmon.
Many students felt that they grew closer with one another over the trip. Dwayne Rey, senior student, commented, “We’ve gotten more comfortable with each other and we’re able to be vulnerable, which makes our relationships stronger. We got to know more about each other’s opinions and how we handle things. We were able to see things from each other’s perspective, which makes it possible for us to grow.”
The attending Campion staff also noted how well the class connected. Sue Helm, senior class sponsor, reflected, “The girls and guys bonded by spending time and playing games together. I think they definitely bonded during the trust fall. That was a huge, huge one. These kinds of activities connected them as a class because they had to work together. They had to understand each other’s feelings, what each one was going through, and what he or she needed at the time.”
The students held a communion service and class elections on Saturday night. They returned to campus on Sunday stronger as a class.
—Catie Fairfield, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos by Dean Helm.
