As their end-of-year field trip, Salford Hills fifth graders spent three days and two nights at Camp Men-O-Lan from May 27-29 to get ready for middle school and enjoy the outdoors.
After years of success and a pause for COVID, Salford Hills continues its tradition of Outdoor School for fifth graders.
Due to COVID, the elementary school had to put Outdoor School on hold for two years until it was safe for students to go on field trips.
“It was a big give-up,” fifth grade teacher Jeff Sinkinson said.
Fifth graders Caroline Wacker and Layla Noll are eager for the opportunities Outdoor School will give them.
“I’m excited to sleep in a cabin with all my friends,” Noll said.
Agreeing with Noll, Wacker is looking forward to “spending time with friends.”
In contrast, fifth graders Jacob Mancini and Keegan Nyamuomba are interested in the activities they will be doing, specifically in “canoeing and fishing.”
For those who have gone through Outdoor School before, one standout memory is the campfire and talent show.
“Our talent show at the end was so fun. It’s a good memory for me being with your friends for the last time,” senior Alisha Linthicum said.
According to fifth grade teacher Denise Richards, the “special” part about the campfire celebration is “when we’re all sitting around the fire and just kind of reminiscing and singing songs, and the kids do skits.”
On the more reminiscent side, Sinkinson enjoys “watching high school kids come back.”
“There is something nostalgic about being there together and watching old friendships rekindle, and seeing kids drop some of the barriers and go back to being simple friends from elementary school,” Sinkinson said.