Class of 2016 Leadership Retreat

  

Eighth grade, the culminating year at The Swain School, is full of milestone experiences, the first of which is typically the Fall Leadership Retreat. This year's adventure took place at the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation. 

Twenty-four students, accompanied by Outdoor Education Coordinator Bradley Hirsh, Eighth Grade Dean Julia Getty and Middle School Director Megan Franzyshen, spent a day and night together in the woods building social bonds, exploring the concept of leadership and having fun!

 

The group arrived at sunset on Thursday and, after toting their gear to their cabins and setting up their bunks, they were treated to a family-style meal in the cafeteria. Dinner was followed by a competitive scavenger hunt in the dark with flashlights. Students had to figure out not only where to find objects like moss, a gum wrapper and a feather, but also whether a drawing of a feather or someone "rapping about gum" would fulfill the requirements.

 

Next on the agenda came a campfire and a discussion about what leadership can look like, led by Mrs. Getty and Mrs. Franzyshen. We think of leaders as the people "out front" like committee leaders, team captains and class presidents, but there are many ways to be leaders. The eighth graders mentioned things like acting as behavioral and academic role models, showing empathy and understanding, and asking someone to sit with them at lunch as examples of leadership. Students also reflected on how Swain has prepared them to be leaders and ways Swain can improve even more in the future. These deep reflections were, of course, followed by s'mores.

 

The next morning, breakfast was followed by more opportunities for teambuilding and reflection through journaling with Mr. Hirsh, as the Class of 2016 explored their ideas for their three-day class trip in the spring, their final chance to spend time together before they graduate and go their separate ways in June. 

Next, students participated in an adventurous zip line across the lake and a partnership building exercise that involved getting to the top of a 30 foot climbing apparatus loosely resembling a ladder. Students really supported each other in this endeavor (physically and emotionally) and everyone accomplished their personal goals, with many making it all the way to the top - even those who were afraid of heights!

 

The last activity before departure was roasting hot dogs (or tofu dogs) over open fires for lunch. After that, students piled onto the bus for the ride home, happy and exhausted. This trip is just the first of many memories the Class of 2016 will be making this year and we are thrilled they have kicked the year off with such a great start!