Pedro Vieira – Granby, Colorado … Campion Academy’s international students had a winter retreat at the YMCA of the Rockies in Granby, Colorado, to experience snow sports and some of the activities that they are not used to in their home countries.
As soon as they arrived, the students went to the snow tubing area and enjoyed sliding down the hill. Eriane Saraiva, Campion Academy senior, shared, “It was an amazing and new experience for me. It was very hard going up and down holding my tube, but I think my favorite part was snow tubing with all the Brazilians. I felt really happy at that moment.”
For Sabbath, they started with a worship time with Jill Harlow, Campion Academy international club sponsor, sharing a message about how snow represents purity and the brightness of God in the Bible.
After worship, they went snowshoeing in the surrounding mountains, where they took a lot of pictures and got to enjoy the cold but sunny weather. Yngrid Silva, Campion Academy junior, commented, “I loved the view of the park when we went snowshoeing. I was very cold and tired of using the snowshoes, but it was good to experience the hike and take a lot of pictures with my friends.”
The students practiced ice skating and had the chance to go snow tubing again Saturday afternoon. In the evening, they enjoyed playing sports and roller skating in the YMCA gym.
To finish the weekend on Sunday, the students went skiing and snowboarding at Winter Park, Colorado, getting to experience the adrenaline of a new sport for most of them. Nicolas Rodrigues, Campion Academy freshman, added, “I really loved the trip and I really had fun. I think it was a little hard to snowboard, but, in the end, it was kind of easy. I wasn’t used to being that cold and I’ve never worn so many jackets in my life, but I really enjoyed the international retreat.”
Campion Academy currently has 20 international students from Brazil, as well as students from Democratic Republic of Congo, China, and recent immigrants from Tanzania and Mexico.
Luca Lu, Campion Academy sophomore from China, shared, “It was my first time going to a mountain resort. It was so fun to try some snow sports, and the icy world truly gave me an unforgettable memory.”
—Pedro Vieira, Campion Academy Student News Team. Photos supplied.
