Part of our 8th grade curriculum includes team-building and citizenship skills. To give the kids a chance to bond and form friendships outside of their usual circle, we take everyone to Boone's YMCA Leadership Camp for the day. We leave civilization at 8:30am and return around 10pm. They work hard and are tired the next day (which is super for us!)
My group went Thursday, so I got to go, too. It was neat because I got a chance to see my six kids really shine, but I also got to know the other 20 kids in our block! I feel like I'm a part of their "community!" Two of my favorite activities were the wall (left) where the kids got the rules, then they were in charge of getting everyone to the top - they manned ladders, helped with gear (with our okay), encouraged and got everyone up! The other was "Ants on a Log" (right), where everyone had to switch sides on the log without touching the ground or talking! It took real teamwork to get everyone moved! I was very proud of our kids!
The downgrade: we had to hike these 145 steps up the hill and then continue on the 45-degree inclined-path for a quarter of a mile. Then we all had to get back down! No good!
The view from the top! I'd love for Carter to have an educational opportunity like this some day! It was very cool!
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