On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, the sixth graders had an exciting adventure at the Fairview Lake Camp in Newton, New Jersey. Over two days, the students engaged in a range of team-building activities that fostered friendships and connection. Guided by the knowledgeable Fairview Lake naturalists, they hiked through the forest, explored environmental topics and even practiced wilderness skills like building shelters.

After a fun-filled afternoon on Tuesday, the students ate a delicious dinner and then set out for the night activity—a walk through the moonlit woods where naturalists introduced them to survival skills, taught them how their eyes adapt to darkness, and even shared that pirates wear a patch in order to help them see better in the dark. To top off the evening, the group then gathered around a bonfire in the lodge to roast marshmallows and share reflections on their day’s experiences.

The trip concluded the next morning with a challenging yet rewarding three-mile Ridge Hike, along the Appalachian trail. At the summit of the mountain, the sixth graders were treated to a spectacular view of the camp ground and saw where three states meet: New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. It was a memorable trip full of learning, camaraderie, and fun—an experience the students won’t soon forget!