Every year, three Archer grade levels take part in Arrow Week, an outdoor education tradition designed to build class unity and leadership skills. In the past, the program was reserved for seventh graders, freshmen, and juniors, but this year it shifted to include eighth, 10th and 12th graders. The eighth grade trip took place Sept. 8-12 at the Young Men’s Christian Association Camp Surf in Imperial Beach, San Diego, California.
Planning for the trip began in Oct. 2024. Eighth Grade Class Dean Emily Gray and Director of Middle School Reed Farley organized the experience in partnership with Positive Adventures, an outdoor education company. The program featured guided hikes, ropes courses, surfing, boogie boarding, arts and crafts and team-building games, all designed to help students connect while engaging in outdoor activities.
“I worked with an outdoor [education] company to find a location and choose activities,” Gray wrote in an email. “We also organized the kids into trail groups and collected paperwork.”
Students stayed in cabins with three bunk beds and a private bathroom, and meals were provided with efforts to accommodate all dietary needs — a task Gray wrote was one of the more challenging parts of planning. She added that collecting paperwork from families also posed difficulties. Beyond these logistics, Gray explained that selecting the location and activities involves a more intentional process
“We choose a location based on which vendors they service,” Gray wrote. “Then, we decide on the goals for the trip, like SEL [Social-Emotional Learning], leadership, etc., and choose the activities accordingly.”
Six additional eighth grade teachers and mentors attended the trip. To help prepare students, Gray and the eighth grade faculty devoted several class meetings and mentorship blocks to review guidelines, go over the packing list and to address frequently asked questions from students to ensure they felt informed. Gray wrote that the top priorities for planning a successful Arrow Week experience are class bonding and time in nature away from technology.
“During mentorship time, it has been used to help students find their hopes and fears about the experience,” Gray wrote. “[We also] role-play different situations they might encounter.”
In August, Gray, Farely and members of Positive Adventures hosted a Zoom meeting for parents to learn more about Arrow Week and get important details such as activity options, cabin assignments and logistics. In addition to the group session, eighth grader Audra Wakeford’s mother, Jennifer Betka, scheduled a one-on-one meeting with Gray to ask more individual questions. Wakeford said the meeting helped address her concerns, leaving her feeling more prepared and confident as she focused on getting ready for cabin life and outdoor activities.
“I am mostly looking forward to team building activities like rock climbing, fun games, and swimming,” Wakeford said. “However, I am not excited for surfing because I am not the best at standing on wood that floats on the water.”
Eighth grade English teacher Alexandra Greenberg attended her third Arrow Week as a chaperone. As a mentor, Greenberg said she was actively involved in helping students get ready for the trip,
“We plan to support the students by making sure they are feeling safe and comfortable,” Greenberg said. “Also, by being a trusted adult, because they don’t know the counselors, but they know us, and to help them overcome fears and problem solve.”
Greenberg said that students often wondered about practical details such as bunk arrangements, food and safety, which are also discussed during mentorship. She added that preparation for the trip, and Arrow Week itself, is a great opportunity for students to try new things, ask questions and prepare for what’s ahead.
“I think the most important thing students should take away from the trip is problem solving, how to persevere through discomfort or challenges or any friendship challenges that come up,” Greenberg said. “It’s a really great time to work on repairing damage with friends, making new friends and trying new things.”
