Shenandoah 2009 - Just the Girls

Over Memorial Day weekend, seven students and three teachers from Northeast Middle School set out on a weekend of adventure together, an opportunity to see a part of the world none of the students had ever experienced. Each student had set a goal a month before school finished. Some aimed for specific grades, others for specific scores on final tests. All worked toward progress on year-long goals. Each one reached her goal, and as a reward, we went camping.

While camping, hiking and swimming, the students were able to celebrate their incredible accomplishments, and we teachers were able to observe them inadvertently using what they had learned during the year. The three girls in my car decided to read aloud during the three-hour drive, displaying increased confidence in their fluency as well as their desire to read for their own enjoyment. Others debated why parts of our campfire burned blue or yellow, and proved their increased knowledge of the scientific world. Splashing through frigid springs and tramping almost nine miles, all seven of the girls demonstrated their abilities to adapt to new environments and set and accomplish goals. It was a pleasure to watch the students and teachers laugh and learn together in the Virginia mountains.

Everyone is smiling, because this is before I made them hike 8.8 miles.

We played a lot along the way.

I love this lady, and so do the kids.

Here's what one student had to say about the trip:

The Day I Hated Mrs. Carlson

It all happened when I went on a camping trip with Mrs. Carlson, Ms. Shannon, and Mrs. Beaumont. They made us walk 9 miles up a big mountain, which they had lied about and said it was 8 miles. Then they said it was 8.8 miles. When my father came and asked Mrs. Carlson how long we walked, all the kids finally found out that they were lying whole time.

While we were walking up the hill, I kept telling Mrs. Carlson that I was going to torture her when we come back to school on Tuesday. I told all the teachers, “Don’t say anything to me for the rest of the trip.” I also was about to curse a whole lot of people out, but I didn’t. I kept my promise to myself.