Windy and Snowy Conditions Punctuated the Overnight Trip to Cheley for the AXL 8th Graders. Written by CI Field Instructor David Goldsmith.
On a windy Thursday morning, AXL Academy 8th graders met once again, but this time, for their last CAP overnight before migrating to high school. Before setting off in the caravan to Cheley Outpost, students played a game of “Gunslinger” to really dial in everyone’s names. They traded in their phones for delicious donuts and set off!
Battling wind on the front range, students arrived at Cheley Outpost, ready for the day ahead. After a bit of snacking, they unloaded the van and established their tent city. Hungry from a morning of travel, they enjoyed their sandwiches for lunch and learned the lore of the “alpine apple”. Peaking around every corner and turning over every stone in search of it, they traveled to a separate campsite nearby, ready for more games.
Circling up, students got ready for a game of “Mass Paranoia” after a detailed explanation of the game by Cottonwood-Changemaker-Turned-Field-Instructor Jesse. Everyone obtained a bandana and got into an athletic starting position. After a few rounds, students managed to form unofficial teams, conspiring to find the best strategy. Winning strategies included the formation of a boy band, screaming and yelling, animal sounds, and charging the opposing team.
Out of breath, we played “Gaga” and made cordage bracelets with the wind whipping around us. As the snow fluttered down, we formed groups for skills rotations, learning more about cordage, fire building, and whittling. We knew we all deserved free time once a bit of hail started coming in. Gathering around the fire, students organized and executed games of “Mafia”. For dinner, we made burrito bowls, and even found the spiky alpine apple before nightfall! To wrap up the night, students roasted s’mores and shared their “Rose, Bud, Thorn” experience from the day. Exhausted from a busy day, students collapsed into their tents, excited for the following day.
As the sun rose, it left behind the windy conditions and brought with it the sounds of Jesse singing. His rendition of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was beautiful, and it made us want to do anything but go home via country roads. We left our tents and were welcomed back to the campfire with a warming dose of hot chocolate. Students organized into cook groups, and after a bit of confusion surrounding the process for making french toast, made an excellent breakfast. They enjoyed roasted alpine apple, bagels n’ schmear, and french toast. Yum!
Students packed up camp and took a moment for a “sit spot,” where they sat in silence and enjoyed the sound of the wind rolling through the trees before getting in the vans and rolling out to Estes Park. At Lake Estes, they each got a fishing rod and went fishing. To wrap up our trip, we enjoyed a pita pizza lunch. With graduation just around the corner, Cottonwood will miss these AXL 8th graders!
A big thanks to the funders and supporters that make the CAP class possible, including: Enterprise Holdings Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Patagonia, PeyBack Foundation, Strear Family Foundation, Thorne Nature Experience, Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program and the Xcel Energy Foundation.
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