The CAP Middle School Camping Trip was Filled with Fishing, Games, Moose Sightings, and Mountain Memories
Written by Harmony Esqueda, Angevine Middle School CAP Instructor & Social Media Coordinator. Angevine Middle School (AMS) students eagerly gathered outside of the school the morning of our middle school camping trip, trading phones for donuts, playing name games, and sharing excitement and expectations about our trip.
We started off at Waneka Lake Park for fishing and exploring. As soon as we arrived, gusts of chilly wind made casting tricky, but students persevered. The weather calmed down and warmed up as students explored logs, frog eggs, and plants. When it was time for lunch, a group of student chefs helped prepare a sandwich buffet, until we got swarmed by wasps trying to steal our deli meat. So we moved our lunch spot further away, until we were free from the wrath of the wasps.
After lunch, we played a silly Super Power game, which required you to explain what super power you would want to have and the next person would give a stipulation to your super power. For example, one person shared: “I would want to have super speed!” to which the next person replied, “but you can only run in circles.” Everyone had such a good laugh imagining these scenarios.
Afterwards, all students organized and participated in the game Groundies (a sort of hide-and-seek and tag game in the playground), until it was time to head over to Camp Cheley in Allenspark. Once we arrived at camp, students recounted the safety guidelines for pitching a tent, and then had plenty of time to set up their tents and decorate them – one group opted to put solar-powered glowing mushroom lawn lights outside of their tent for visibility at night.
To regroup afterwards, we played a few games including Rocky Handy and Pretty Darn Quick (PDQ). Meanwhile, Erin set up a fun activity that hung from a tree branch: Norwegian friendship bracelet making. This requires 2-4 students to coordinate swinging thread attached to weighted objects (in this case, black walnuts) in a pattern that makes for an awesome wearable bracelet.
When we made our way over to the next campsite to set up our kitchen area, we were stopped in our tracks by several moose grazing across the stream. We carefully kept our distance and watched in awe. We decided we would check on them again later when it was closer to dinner time.
For our next activity, students split up into groups to learn outdoor and survival skills at each of our skills stations: Fire Building, Cordage Making, and Spoon Whittling. Students were so invested in each activity that they did not want to leave for the next one.
Eventually, we had to cut the activities short because it was time to get started on making dinner. When we checked on the moose status of the kitchen area, there were 2 more moose there! So we set up our kitchen in a different location and made nachos with meat, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, sour cream, cheese, and guacamole! After s’mores and night games, we called it a night.
The next day started off on the right foot with the best French toast, including blueberries, strawberries, butter, and homemade Shagbark Hickory syrup (with a slightly spicy taste). We explored a trail that led us to an abandoned hotel and another campsite that was a perfect place to eat our pita pizzas for lunch and play many rounds of the game Camouflage. It was a spectacular trip full of surprises and exploration.
Thanks to the funders and supporters who make the CAP class possible, including: Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Patagonia, PeyBack Foundation, Strear Family Foundation, Thorne Nature Experience, the Walton Family Foundation, and the Xcel Energy Foundation.
If you are also passionate about getting students outside for middle school camping trips and unique outdoor learning experiences, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!
