Everyone to the Summit! Mount Cardigan 2020
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While the rest of our community enjoyed a quiet, cozy snow day, ten intrepid fifth grade students had one incredible adventure. On February 13th, students packed up their lunches, mittens, hats, clamp-ons, and courage and began their 3,155 foot trek up a snowy mountain with blowing snow and wind. (We were very impressed). Breakwater has been doing a fifth grade adventure to Cardigan for nearly 15 years and every year students come home feeling energized, proud, and really grown up. Mt. Cardigan often shows up in 8th grade speeches, in middle school discussions, and in any reflection about how Breakwater has really changed students.
Beyond hiking, students also spend two nights in Cardigan lodge, cooking meals for themselves, their friends and teachers. They do a “warm up” hike on day one to Welton Falls. They sled down a hill that is known historically as the first place downhill skiing was ever professionally taught. And of course, they put on the annual talent show which brings endless belly laughs, friendship and joy to students year after year (and every year is a bit different!). Throughout the trip, Students gain experiences in independence, caring for each other and their community, risk-taking, and leaning on their friends for challenges both big and small.
Alex Johnston, former adventure teacher and current T-K Spanish teacher, reflects on a really awesome few days: “The hike was really challenging. The summit cone was a very difficult obstacle. It was almost a whiteout. We were in a cloud. Fitz said “There’s the tower!” And I couldn’t see it through the blowing snow. There was a palpable sense of group exaltation when we all could finally see it. We charged toward the tower at the very top of the mountain. To be clear, we did not linger long. I was offering kids some altoids but no one wanted to take their gloves off. It was THAT cold. It’s so great to be in a group of people who are very much challenged to complete the mission. Even so, we had 100% of us joyful on the summit.”
Moriah reflects: “They triumphed through low visibility sustaining themselves on "hiker's medicine" and EVERYONE made it to the top. Our traditional evening talent show had all the wonders of break dancing, rap, skits, and Fitz even got to punk Alex which the kids thought was hysterical.”
It was another wonderful trip to the top of a mountain in February. Being witness to these 5th grade students conquering snow, ice, and elevation year after year To see more of the magic of Cardigan and hear some student reflections, check out the Cardigan video slideshow below: