TCS Middle Schoolers Go Camping

Middle Level students in 6th through 8th grades at The Children’s School recently returned from an overnight trip to Warren Dunes State Park in Michigan. Teachers made the campsite reservation, but students were involved in all other aspects of the planning and execution of this exciting start to the school year.

“It was essentially a mini-project that they did right away,” says 6th grade teacher Lisa Friedman. Students planned activities, created camp rules, and collaborated on a bake sale to raise funds for groceries for the trip.

“The purpose was to get them interacting across the grades,” adds 7th grade teacher Louie Kertgen. “Planning and collaborating helped them establish a Middle Level community and identity.”

During their camping trip, students took on physical and emotional challenges, from climbing up steep sand dunes to going on a night hike. They “rolled with the punches,” their teachers observed, handling rain and other minor setbacks with resilience and good humor.

“It especially helped with the new kids,” notes Ms. Lisa. “The fun, the shared culture, the inside jokes – these things build belonging and social safety.”

Camping also gave Middle Level students the opportunity to overcome fears of the unknown as they successfully navigated a new experience.

“At TCS, we believe courage grows through practice,” says Head of School Michelle Candelaria-Dunstan. “Sometimes that means math courage, writing courage, or friendship courage. And sometimes it means packing your bag, leaving the comfort of home, and heading out on a camping adventure with your Crew.

“Our Middle Level camping trip is about more than time outdoors. It’s about trying something new, working through challenges, taking care of one another, and discovering what you’re capable of.

“Adventure – whether in the woods or in the classroom – asks us to take risks, stay curious, and keep going. That’s how courage grows.”