The entire 10th grade at St. Paul's School for Girls went on an exciting and fun-filled retreat. The retreat's purpose was for grade bonding and service opportunities. The retreat included going to First Fruits Farm, Terrapin Adventures, and ending the experience with an in-school sleepover.
On the first day, which was the most service-oriented, the sophomores took buses to First Fruits Farm. Shortly after, they were all taught the origin and importance of First Fruits Farm in order to help them have the most engaging experience possible. The story was about their growth — how they started as a small farm, then progressed into a 281 acre organization. First Fruits Farm is a nonprofit organization; they rely on donations and give everything they grow to those in need. After learning the backstory of the farm, the 10th graders split into two groups. One group was to pick corn, and the other group was to pick potatoes. The group in charge of picking corn got to pick it straight off the stalks and put it on a conveyor belt. Meanwhile, the potato group gathered potatoes off the ground and placed them into buckets. While they were two different things, both groups got to experience hard work, determination, and consistency. At the end of the day, all the girls returned to school on the bus and went home.
On the second day of the retreat, the sophomores arrived at school and took a bus to Terrapin Adventures, a ropes course not far from St. Paul's. The day started off with a bonding activity that consisted of holding hands and working on communication skills and listening skills. Later, the 10th grade was split into groups and began taking on the different activities offered by the adventure course. One of the most memorable activities was the giant swing. The girls mounted the swing in groups of three. When they were all seated and locked into the swing, they were lifted around 50 feet into the air. Once the swing reached the highest point, one of the three girls would pull a lever, causing the swing to drop. During one of the swing drops, rain started pouring down onto the Terrapin Adventures grounds. The rain was harsh and cold, yet it didn't dim the moment one bit. In fact, this moment was the highlight of the day and something everyone could remember and laugh about.
After the ropes course, the girls returned to school and got ready for their next set of activities. First, they headed down to the nature pavilion to make slime. After that, they watched 10 Things I Hate About You — a fan favorite — in the Ward Center auditorium. Chipotle was served after, where students got to make their own bowls or tacos. Nearing the close of the night, the girls raced to the mansion to hear head of school Mrs. Malfa tell stories of ghosts haunting the halls and flickering the lights. After that, everyone got ready for bed. In the morning, the girls woke up to a Panera breakfast consisting of a variety of bagels and different toppings. Everyone was able to eat breakfast with their friends, and recap on all the adventures and moments of the past two days while doing so.
The retreat was a wonderful and unique experience for the sophomore class. It truly accomplished the mission of bonding the grade together. From going to pick vegetables, to hearing ghost stories, everyone had a favorite part; whether that was finally getting to sleep, or racing through the climbing courses at the adventure park.