Grade 8 Embraces the Chewonki Challenge

To start the school year, Grade 8 students traveled up into Maine's cooler weather. Almost three hours north, Camp Chewonki is a staple of the Grade 8 experience at Nashoba Brooks, and after a hiatus last year, students and teachers alike were happy to return. For years, Camp Chewonki has provided a place for the leaders of the student-body, the new Grade 8 class, to come together, bond, and think about the year ahead of them.
After a bus ride of excited catching up, students disembarked busses and were immediately set to work by a group of experienced outdoor educators. It was clear from the start, that this was going to be a hands on trip, when Hailey, one of Chewonki's leaders, explained that students and teachers alike would be packing in all the tents, food, water, and supplies needed for the next four days. And the distance to the campsite? A mile and a half. 

There were always reasons to turn back. Some were made obvious by the sound of labored breathing or the swat of a mosquito. Students walked in lines, carrying long poles with kitchen equipment, water, and food adorning their lengths. The poles needed to be held up by two, four, or even six pairs of hands. This was certainly not easy.    

Some reasons for turning back were harder to see. Just underneath intermittent laughter and nervous energy were questions about the storm coming the following day, the lack of a bathroom or shower, and really, just a general fear of being away from home. 

But, there were no complaints, just encouragement. "Do you all need any help?" Zoe asked, as she carried a heavy three person tent with both arms. Angelina turned to her, and smiled; "We're ok! Do you need help?" They laughed, both realizing the absurdity of their offers. As they walked, it was clear to see that what carried them forward was a communal trust—a faith moulded from last year's close and personal community building—a silver lining of the cohort model. The class fell into step knowing that they were ready to weather any storm, literal or not. As the Nashoba Brooks School's class of 2022 walked a mile and a half, carrying heavy gear, drowning out the hardship with songs and laughter— their teachers observed with wonder. And it was made all the sweeter by the knowledge that this all came naturally to them. 

The days that followed did include a storm, but after the clouds broke, there was a high ropes challenge, a water quality study, basil picking, and cooking over an open fire. In the morning and evening, students were broken into teams with different campground responsibilities. Some gathered and chopped wood while others prepared food, retrieved water, and cleaned dishes. 

The newest leaders of Nashoba Brooks met these challenges with excitement and poise: "I loved chopping wood and preparing the fire," said Abby as she helped fold her tent on the last day of the adventure. After stuffing the tent into its bag, she finished her thought: "You know, jobs are always better when you know that what you're doing is helpful for everyone."
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Situated on a beautiful 30-acre campus in historic Concord, Massachusetts, Nashoba Brooks School enrolls all genders in Preschool through Grade 3, and students identifying as girls in Grades 4 through 8. Nashoba Brooks is an independent school designed to build community, character, and confidence in its students.
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