Why ESK Middle School Goes to Camp the 2nd Week of School: 8 Faculty Perspectives

Camp!? The second week of school!?

The first year I went to camp with the ESK middle school, I secretly questioned the wisdom of why we would choose to go the second week of school. As a teacher, I was sure the three days off campus for team-building, swimming, and s’mores would severely disrupt the routine I was building in the classroom. Nevertheless, I packed my sleeping bag and beat-up tennis shoes, and boarded the 7th grade bus bound for the lush green mountains of East Tennessee.

 

Once among happy students playing sand volleyball and octoball, I quickly realized the value of taking time off campus out in nature to allow friendships among students and faculty to develop. A few middle school teachers weighed in on what they understand to be the importance of Doe River Gorge Camp at the outset of the school year.

Camp – The Ultimate Icebreaker!

Mrs. Lovely says “Camp provides students an opportunity to interact with their teachers in a different setting. It’s the ultimate ice breaker. By the time we return to campus, we know one another. It’s hard to distinguish the new-to-middle-school-students from the pack.

Camp allows students to practice independence. At camp, students are responsible for their belongings, decisions, and friends.

Camp is technology-free for students. We travel together in a natural setting to enjoy face-to-face contact and practice being humans. We bond during activities, chapel, quiet times, and around the campfire.”

“The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only one page.” – Saint Augustine

Camp facilitates a family-like atmosphere and sets a caring tone for the year

“I feel it is important to take the kids to camp in order to build camaraderie among teachers and students. We always come back feeling more like a family.” – Mrs. Lockhart, 6th and 7th grade Science

Students and faculty learn to work together as a team!

“Going to camp at the beginning of school is an important element in building relationships and teamwork with other students and the teachers.” – Ms. Huff, 6th and 7th grade Math

Camp builds grit and independence

“I think that it helps students learn to trust that they will be cared for within the ESK community no matter whether they are in the classroom or away from it. They learn that they can depend on the faculty, staff, and each other to help them overcome any challenges that they may experience. Camp provides an opportunity for team building as well as for gaining more independence and confidence within a safe environment. Upon returning from camp, you can sense that the bonds of affection among us school-wide have been enriched and strengthened.”

– Ms. McIntosh, 5th and 7th grade Social Studies

At camp we create relationships that extend beyond the classroom

“Camp helps us, as teachers, get to know the children in a non-academic setting.  You can see who they really are, and it’s so much fun to spend time with them in a setting different from the classroom.” – Ms. Guerry, 6th grade Language Arts and Literature

The challenges presented at camp allow us to build one another up!

“Mark Twain famously said, “I never let my schooling interfere with my education.”  Camp provides learning that is not academic but nonetheless vital. Students learn self-reliance, overcoming challenges, and the importance of encouraging each other.” – Ms. Lancaster, 8th grade Language Arts and Literature

Camp fosters community

“The Happy Acre Woods are alive and well at ESK.  We work hard in our family-centered environment and truly include community in our educational program.” – Ms. O’Donnell, 7th grade Language Arts and Literature  

True ESK Spirit

Some lessons are better taught beyond the four walls of a traditional middle school classroom. When immersed in the ambiance of mountain peaks away from home, the cooler air of late summer and a roaring stream of clear water, our students cannot help but relax the anxieties typically faced by the middle school child. From starting a new school year, to the awareness of their changing appearance, to the uncertainty of who they are and just how they fit in with their peers and teachers, these common stressors quickly dissipate, as students and teachers alike engage in a jam-packed schedule of activities and fun. Whether its taking the “leap of faith” on the high ropes course, ringing the bell at the top of the climbing wall, sailing 250 yards down the lakeside zip line, or detangling peers from a group challenge puzzle, the skills of problem solving, communication, relationship building, and physical prowess are unleashed in full capacity. The experience uniquely creates a common bond and a level of confidence that pays many benefits for years to come. Our teachers call it camp, the kids call it awesome, and no one calls it “school.” For me, I call it life at ESK. What a thrill! – Dr. Talmadge

Doe River Gorge Camp is an important cornerstone to our whole-child academic and developmental program at ESK. Without this special time outdoors, outside of the classroom, students and teachers alike would miss out on getting to know one another, challenging themselves to try new things, and building needed independence. As a middle school we’re excited and grateful for this opportunity, and can’t wait to see what adventures Doe River Gorge 2018 will bring! Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook @esksaints to see what we’re up to while away!