Dear Journal,
The Marie Murphy sixth grade students went on an adventure. The camp was called Snake River Adventure Center in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. We did lots of activities like nature, entomology, orienteering, survival, new games, archery, team building, high ropes, and zip lining.
SNake River Sign
Teams Course:
When we arrived at Snake River Adventure Center we unloaded the truck (where all the females luggage’s were in) and bus (where all the males luggage’s were in). Then we put our luggage in our rooms then we went back outside and got a brief introduction to the camp rules and guidelines. Then we did some big group games with the Snake River Staff. We played a game where we got a partner and a counselor gave us a number then one partner would go on the different side of the field so half of the kids were on one side and the other half of the kids were on the other side of the big field. Then the counselor called out numbers and we would have to score by getting the ball from the center and pass it through the other side of the field. My team won because we got the ball to the other side way more times than the other team but the point about the game was working together because the only way we could get through and score was working together by passing the ball.
Elena Chasing Me in Brawl Ball
We also did a game where we had to hold each other’s hand and poke each other but only with the hand that we are holding each other with. That game was to teach us that sometimes we have to keep on working until we get what our goal is.
We also played a game called blob tag. It was difficult for the blob because they had to stay together and tag people without separating. It was to teach us about how to work together and communicate. Then we had lunch. For lunch I had grilled cheese, a bag of lays chips, a glass of water, and a glass of lemonade.
Blob Tag
Monday Afternoon:
After lunch we had low ropes team course. My team leader was Teresa. We did a puzzle activity. We were not allowed to talk. It was supposed to teach us about how we can work together without speaking to each other and moving around. We had to stay in just one place.
Puzzle Activity
We also had a “magic carpet” activity. We were on a sheet and we had to flip it over without having anyone get off. It helped us learn that we have to work together not just have someone do all of the work.
Magic Carpet Activity
We also did an activity where we had to get on a seesaw. We had to sing row, row, row your boat loudly and cheerfully because we wanted the whales to hear us and get out from where they were. At the same time we all had to stand on the seesaw without having it move. We tried lots of things like getting the weights even but then we realized that the weight didn’t matter. We just had to stay still so we stayed still and sung row, row, row, your boat and we finally accomplished it.
The Row Row Row Your Boat Activity
Another activity that we did was that we had to get from one island to another island to another island with just a rope and two logs. We got to the second island by tying the two logs together with the rope. We all walked on the log and got safely to the second island. To get to the third island we did the same thing. We had to work together because we couldn’t put the logs together with just one person. We needed three people to hold the logs, two people to tie the logs together. Then when we were going to walk across, we needed three people standing on the log so that it would stay balanced then we needed two people to hold the rope so the logs would stick together. It was all about teamwork.
The Island 1-3(land home) Activity
Another activity was the spider web game. There was ropes tied together that formed like a spider web and we had to hold on to each other without letting go and get over the web with out touching it more than 3 times. We tried many locations where to crawl. We had to listen to each other’s ideas so we can try different things if one of them didn’t work.
Spider Web Activity
We played a have you ever game. Who ever was in the middle (because they didn’t get to a circle fast enough), then they would ask a question and if that question applied to you then you would switch to a different circle but there was one circle that was missing so we would have to go to the middle.
Then we went to the gym for relay races with the Marie Murphy staff. My group always lost except for once and we got 4th. We got one point because our materials that we used for the game were broken. The plate was cracked, the Frisbee was ripped in half, and the jump rope was ripped. Then we went to our cabin and after two hours we had to go to sleep. But I didn’t go to sleep. I watched everyone go to sleep and I timed everyone how long they snored and what they said in their dreams.
Me at the Chair Getting the Rope About to Jump-Rope Because it was Part of the Relay
The Points of the Relay Races
My Team in the Relay Races
Then all of the groups went to the big field and each group got a balloon. We had to work together to get the balloon across without holding it. My team won because we worked quickly because we planned everything out before we started the game unlike other teams. We had 15 minutes to wash up and get ready for dinner.
Tuesday Morning:
First I had breakfast then I went with Mrs. Rite near the triplets because that was where we were going to have the nature activity. We pretended that we were squirrels and had all of our fingers taped together and we had to pick up the candy that was on the ground. We also played an activity where we had to close our eyes and have our hands out. When we had our hands out and our eyes closed then Sra. Dion, Mr. Snerline, or Mrs. Rite gave us a material like rocks and acorns and all that stuff. I knew I got an acorn because I used one of my senses. I used touch as my sense. I felt how heavy it was, I felt how bumpy it was and how round it was, and how big or small it was. We also grabbed a partner that we trusted and one of us was blind folded with a band-Ana. Then our partner would take us to a tree and make us hug it and feel it. Then the one who wasn’t blind folded would un-blind us and then the people who were blind folded would guess the tree then we switched the people who were blind folded and not. So if you were not blindfolded then this time you are. Everyone figured out which tree it was. While we were doing that, Mrs. Rite went into the woods and sprayed some peppermint spray on 5 things in the woods like a tree or leaf. She also put paper there so it can stand out and we can see it easier. We were only aloud to communicate by howling and barking. At the end we got candy. Yummy!!
My Group With Tape on our Hands Pretending to be Squirrels
Right after nature, we had entomology. We learned about bugs. We learned interesting facts about bugs not boring scientific facts. Donna put pictures of bugs on our backs and then we played a guess and check game. We would go up to someone and they would describe our bug. Then we would guess it and if we didn’t get it correct then we would go to a different person. The game would end when everyone was finished. We would know when everyone was finished because once you figured out which bug you had then you would get it from your back and stick it on your chest. Then we looked at dead bugs and a wasp nest. We learned how wasps make it. Then we made our own bug with candy.
Bella and I With Our Candy Bugs
Right after entomology, we had orienteering. We learned how to use a compass. Then Mr. Ogden gave us directions and a penny. We would drop the penny I the spot that we started in then we would follow the directions he gave us and we would keep going and if we did it correctly then we would end up right where our penny was. If we didn’t and we couldn’t find our penny then we would have to owe Mr. Ogden a can of soda.
My Group With Compasses and Following the Directions Mr. Ogden Gave Us
Tuesday Afternoon:
Then we washed up and prepared for lunch. After we had lunch, my group met up with Teresa again. The activity that we were going to do was survival. We learned what we needed to survive. We learned what materials we needed, who we needed to inform when and where we are going, and who we were going to be with, not to be alone and be in a safe area. We then made our own home with wood. I was with Antonio, Alyssa, and Paul C. We tried to make a tipi because we thought it was going to be easy because we thought that all we needed to do was make a pyramid. The place that we got was a terrible are because there was no trees close to each other and there was no wood or pre-built homes around us. So we had to go a long way to get the wood and we also had to keep an eye on the tipi because it kept on knocking over. We had to work together. We worked very well together. Antonio and I got the wood. Antonio put up the tipi. Paul kept an eye on the tipi and Alyssa tried to make another home because the tipi wasn’t working so well. Then I helped Alyssa so we had two half built homes. It was very fun though and we learned a lot of things so that’s all that’s important.
The Fire That We Used to Warm Up
After survival we had new games with Mr. Henley. We played capture the flag. My team won. We got the flag twice and the other team got the flag once. My team had one person guard the flag, we had one person guard the jail, and the other people concentrated on one person to try to trick them. I was supposed to take care of the jail but I went in to jail on purpose to bring people that were in it safe to our side or to stay there to go to the flag directly from there. We worked very well. The other team didn’t do so well because they didn’t have a plan. They just had everyone everywhere so they weren’t prepared. After that we played kickball. My team lost by two home runs because we had less people on our team and less stronger people. But I had fun so that was really all I cared about.
After new games with Mr. Henley my group went to archery. We learned about the history of archery like how it started and who were the first people to use it and when they first started to use it. We learned the different type of bows and arrows. We learned how to use it then we actually used it. Everyone was very close to popping the balloon. Mathew was the only one who popped the balloon from my group. I was 1 inch away because it was windy and the balloon moved so I could have gotten it.
People Getting The Arrows During Archery
Then we had dinner. After dinner we went to the JAC for games with the Snake River staff. We did some small games to get to know what we learned during this experience (out door ed trip). Like we had to do hand shakes then talk to each other. Then we played a space game that I did not enjoy. We had to go into planets or else we were out. The planets were circles. If we were out of a planet we needed goggles. The goggles were our hands. I got out because I didn’t wear my goggles and most of my other friends got out because they weren’t in circles. Then we just hung out there. I played volleyball, basketball, and soccer with my friends. Then we had the campfire in Shadow Hill. We made s’mores. I didn’t make one because I didn’t want one. Then we went to the dorms. We could have gone to the night hike but I didn’t go. I stayed in the dorms and had lots of fun. But it wasn’t as fun as Monday night. But first I packed up then I had fun. Then I was in Alex’s bed talking then I was with Elena and Michelle talking.
Someone Zip Lining
We had high ropes also. I did the one where we just had to climb then balance and walk across. I also did the one where we had to walk backwards with our eyes closed and hop on one foot. I also did the really big ladder. We had only 3 minutes and 2 seconds to get to the top. I made it with Elena. We had to work together to get to the top together. To zip line I first had to climb the rock wall. I was very fast. Then I went down when I went down it was so much fun.
Out door Ed was an experience that I will never forget. It was really fun. I never would have done all of these activities and learn so much in such little time. I did so many activities that I always thought that I could never do because I thought I would never have the opportunity. I hope the next year; the new sixth graders go to this place and have as much fun as I did.
