From Wednesday, Sept. 9 to Friday, Sept. 11, the freshmen, their advisors, and prefects spent time getting to know each other at Camp Merriwood in Orford, N.H.
As the school year begins, it is important for freshmen from KO’s Middle School and the new members of the KO community to get to know one another. That’s what makes this trip unique, offering students countless opportunities to connect, form friendships, and build a sense of community as a class.
After a three-hour bus ride, the freshmen arrived at Merriwood and were met with rainy weather. Students spent the afternoon exploring the camp before gathering for dinner. The evening included “Name That Tune” bingo and a class trivia competition.
For freshman Stephanie Reale, who attended KO’s Middle School, the trip was an opportunity for her to meet people she had not interacted with much before. “The trip definitely helped me meet more people,” she said. This was especially because activity groups were random.
During their time at camp, students had the opportunity to choose from many different activities, including mountain biking, hiking, rock climbing, swimming, tennis, arts and crafts, ziplining, and the five-hour hike up Mount Cube.
These activities were not only designed to keep students busy but also to encourage them to step outside of their normal friend groups and comfort zones. “I hope they found some new friendships out there,” said Form Three Dean Jimmy Oxsalida, “and some connection points they wouldn’t necessarily get here on campus.”
The prefects played an important role in helping the freshmen connect. They helped organize activities and create an energetic atmosphere throughout the trip.
Senior Prefect Danica De Dios noticed students becoming more comfortable with one another. She recalled that the initially quiet bus ride turned into a much louder ride home, with students talking to each other in their newly formed friend groups. “I feel like, as a class, we wouldn’t have been as close together if we never went to Merriwood,” Dania said while reminiscing about her freshman trip to Merriwood.
A memorable moment from the trip was the dance, where the prefects brought a speaker outside, formed a conga line, and then led the freshmen around the barn while dancing and encouraging everyone to join in.
“I think our prefects did such an amazing job pumping everybody up,” English teacher Megan Hilliard said. “They spent the entire time dancing, which is not the norm.”
An unexpected part of the trip was the decision to limit phone use during activities. After noticing some students on their phones instead of doing activities, the faculty required students to keep their phones in their cabins while they were out at activities. Ms. Hilliard said she expected students to push back against the rule, but she recalled hearing kids say that, without phones, they found themselves playing games or talking to people to get to know them.
By the end of the trip, the freshmen shared many new experiences, met classmates outside of their usual friend groups, and stepped outside their comfort zones for activities they may not have tried otherwise.
