To help develop some important skills: teamwork, respect, communication and cooperation, Grade 4 and 5 students each recently spent a day at Camp Pringle in Shawnigan Lake. While the students gained an appreciation for the outdoors, they also had the opportunity to try some fun, new activities (like the low ropes course, archery and rock climbing!) by learning how to work together.
The students had a lot of fun and, as you’ll read below, came back to SMUS with some great reflections on the day related to their talents, their friend’s talents, the benefits of teamwork and how the day connects to the school’s Virtues program.
Grade 4 Student Reflections
- I was surprised at how hard the rope course was. A virtue I needed was creativity because I needed to listen to others’ ideas and think about what ideas are best for the group. A highlight for me was rock climbing because it was challenging but not too hard. I learned that I’m good at physical and mental challenges.
- A virtue I needed was cooperation because you had to work together. I learned you can accomplish anything if you put your mind to it. A highlight for me was low ropes because I did not know I could balance on low ropes.
- A virtue I needed was patience because I wanted to get my arrow after I was done but I had to wait. A highlight for me was when I shot the target.
- I was surprised by how much fun I had doing archery. A virtue I needed was patience because I really just wanted to do everything. I learned teamwork with my friends because we were always doing stuff together.
- A virtue I needed was trust because I needed to trust that I was going to be safe. I learned how to use a compass.
- Virtues I needed were patience and courage because when I was waiting for my turn for bow and arrow I needed patience. I needed courage when I wanted to climb the climbing wall. I learned that having courage could accomplish anything and overcome fears you have.
- I learned that archery is not as easy as it looks.
- A virtue I needed was generosity because you need to be nice at all times or you might not get to do anything. A highlight for me was archery and the compass because I had never tried it before.
- Some virtues that I needed were teamwork and communication because on the low ropes you had to have communication to get from one side to another.
- I learned that even with a big group you can still make mistakes all together. A virtue I needed was courage because I didn’t have enough at the climbing wall.
- A virtue I needed was courage and patience because with courage in rock climbing it has a hang over that you have to reach for really high. And with patience, you just wanted to jump right into the activity. A highlight for me was archery, because even though I wasn’t good at it, it doesn’t mean I can’t like it.
- I learned that people have different talents.
- A virtue I needed was creativity because we had to create different things.
- A virtue I needed was flexibility because everybody wanted to do their own thing in initiative games. I learned that I’m good at low ropes and I didn’t know that I was. A highlight for me was low ropes because I used teamwork and it was fun.
- I was surprised that I couldn’t aim when I was doing archery, but I had a really good distance. A virtue I needed was patience because it took a long time to find my arrows.
- I learned that everything is fun, even when you don’t win. You can still try again or you should just enjoy it.
- A virtue I needed was teamwork because you need to work together in the initiative games. The highlight for me was rock climbing because I like rock climbing and I’ve never done it before. I learned that I am good at low ropes.
(photos by Becky Anderson)