I had the opportunity to chaperone the girls' fifth grade learning trip up north to Camp Widjiwagan. It's a wilderness YMCA camp on the border of the Boundary Waters. The trip was a Tuesday night through Friday (March 18-21). I rode up with another mom who was a chaperone, the kids all took a charter bus.
Hearing the camp rules once they got their gear delivered to the cabins.
Playing an outdoor game as a big group.
The main role as a chaperone was to be with the students before and after meal times and then bedtime and overnight. The other times the camp had tons of sessions planned for the students. They had smaller study groups and the camp staff was in charge of each group. The first night we did a night hike and the chaperones were invited to tag along. Here's Mary's class learning all about eye anatomy, seeing in the dark, and how light can affect the eyes before heading out on our night hike. Super fun!
Lots of game playing back in the cabin. Me and the other mom had 12 girls in our cabin.
The next day we had lots of free time while the students were out learning with their study groups. Another chaperone and I went for a wonderful hike!
Emma's group learning something.
After lunch we played a big game of predators and prey, it was super fun! They taught us all about the cycle of life and prey animals, etc. before explaining the game. I love how much education was provided sprinkled into everything. Like at meal time, they would weigh and chart the food waste from the group as a whole and the kids could see and learn that when they make a small change of only taking what they want to eat instead of piling their plate our impact on how much food was wasted ended up being huge.
Chaperones got to play the game too, I was on the team weasel.
Card playing in the cabin before dinner, there was really only 20 or so minutes of downtime between activities.
Dinner then a constellation slide show since it was cloudy outside.
Thursday was the last full day, while the students were all busy on their full day Eco Hike, me and another mom went into the town of Ely, which was about 20 minutes south. Then we came back for our lunch (kids all had lunch out in the wilderness) and then 4 of us went for a walk across the lake - which was still very much frozen up there.
The students returned and shared skits that they put together sharing all the things they had learned at camp. Here was Emma and Mary's groups.
After dinner everyone had the opportunity to do a polar plunge. It was super fun and exciting. Most all the girls choose to, even some of us chaperones!
Emma went, then Mary.
Then I dipped in.
If anyone wanted to go a second time they could. Mary did and even put her head under!
It was a super fun experience.
When the girls were done we headed back to our cabins to change and head to the camp store while the boys took their turn at the ice hole.
Friday was a short day, wake up, pack, eat breakfast and prepare to load the bus. We got a group photo before leaving. 36 kids and 6 adults. I'm so grateful for getting to go with them!
