The Forest and the Trees
THS Spends a Week at Camp Niwana
by James Cardo, Assistant Head of School
The start of school is a busy, busy time for everyone. Students are adjusting to new expectations, catching up with friends, and trying to find their homework. Teachers are cranking out lessons, setting the stage for a year of classes, and learning about new kids. Parents and families are getting routines in order, quelling fears and tears, and trying to find out what kids like for lunch!
It's a time where it's easy to lose sight of the forest for all of the trees.
In the case of The Harbor School, we see the trees as all of the academic work we do here. The forest, however, is the sense of community we want to nurture, the reliance on our Cornerstone Values, the feeling that we're all on the same team. That's what makes THS such a fulfilling place to be, and we can't lose that amidst the bustle at the start of the year.
As such, since its inception, students at THS have kicked off the year with an orientation retreat designed to build that sense of community. The work that goes into that week pays measurable dividends in the classroom for the rest of the year. The camaraderie, the sense of belonging, and the realization of ownership of the school lay a groundwork that promotes the academic successes our students experience here.
For the second year, the entire THS population journeyed west to Camp Niwana on the Kitsap Peninsula. Camp Niwana is a classic American camp with all of the expected features: a small lake with canoes, a scattering of open cabins, towering fir trees, a lodge decorated by years of campers, and bathrooms that are maybe a little questionable (as camp facilities perhaps should be!).
Throughout the week, students explored together, played together, worked together, and deepened their understanding of how THS works. There were many highlights, including but hardly limited to an awesome Variety Show, a powerful art installation using the flora of the camp, a superb Mexican meal, a lot of swimming, inductions into homegroups, the pairing of 8th grade and Lower School buddies, a sidetrip to Dungeness Spit (including rumors of an actual spitting contest!), and an 8th grade hike to the summit of Mt. Ellinor.
The trip was a huge success, due in large part to the positive and inspiring attitudes and actions of the kids. Another large factor was the help of many parent volunteers, most notably the Garrison sisters Elizabeth and Leslie, who kept us fed all week! And presumably the teachers helped out at least a little bit in making the trip so rich! Many thanks go out to everyone who lent a hand—it was a great kickoff for this year's theme “How Can I Help?”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Students at their cabin in Vagabond Village. Each morning the students cleaned and decorated their cabins for judging by the teachers. Bribes were expected and took the form of songs, poems, choreographed routines, gathered berries, and even chocolate!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. We came together for lots of assemblies, all gathered by the giant, loud train bell! That's our new science teacher Steven Smith addressing the students. “Food + Cabin = BEAR!”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3. It is Travel Study, so journal entries are one of the academic components that weave into the community building.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. Teamwork in action! Lauretta Hyde and the 8th grade girls helping each other out.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. Head of School Steve Edele entertaining the masses (or at least himself!).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
6. The 8th Grade and Lauretta on the very steep trail up Mt. Ellinor!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7. Paddle boats were a little more popular than canoes.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8. Swimming makes kids happy—a tried and true fact of Travel Study!
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9. No electronics on THS trips, so seeing kids talking and finding ways to entertain themselves is a small joy when we're at camp.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. The three art projects were themed on the idea “How Can I Help?” and were made by matching paint swatches to colors found in our environment. After scavenging the Middle School Homegroups (joined by their 8th graders' Lower School buddies) worked together in their designs. This one was by The RAW.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. By the Groovy Pandas.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12. By The Blū.