The fourth group of freshmen from Strive Prep – RISE headed into the woods last weekend for an eventful camping trip full of friendship and adventure! The group met Saturday morning and traveled up to Sylvan Dale Ranch where they set up shop at Daddy J’s campground. Exploring, eating s’mores, and adventuring in the Devil’s Elbow were just some of the highlights of this unforgettable weekend.
After learning to set up tents and settling into their weekend oasis, the group ventured down to the river to play games and work on getting to know each other better. Everyone had a chance to practice their communication skills during a few activities including Entourage, a Which and a Watch, a rock stacking competition, and a tarp flip! After learning some new skills, the group set out on a hike to explore a ridge line complete with red rocks and expansive views. At the ridge, they had a chance to spend some time alone reflecting on the beauty surrounding them. Eventually, they made their way down the hill and back to camp to prepare for the coming night.
Back at camp, some of the team worked together to create a tasty pasta dinner with delicious chicken and veggies. The others teamed up to build a fire and set up the cleaning stations. After dinner, everyone convened around the fire and told stories about old memories and silly dreams from their childhood. They shared lots of gooey, melty s’mores, and after a few more stories, it was time to head into tents and get cozy for the night.
The next morning, the STRIVE group enjoyed a breakfast of oatmeal, yogurt, bagels, and berries. They took some time to explore Daddy J’s and found some cool rope swings and an old treehouse! They met at the Devil’s Elbow to take another moment of solitude and peace overlooking the river. After their final activities, everyone headed back to camp to do one last sweep and have lunch together before heading back to the city with many new memories and newly strengthened friendships.
Written by CI Instructor Alex Simonian
See more photos from the trip here!
