Students in the fifth grade visited Frost Valley YMCA in Claryville, NY on September 20. The cloudy and drizzly weather did not put a damper on the trip at all! The students were engaged throughout their stay, and they participated in several activities at the beautiful 5,500-acre location.
One activity, canoeing on beautiful Lake Cole, was a big hit. Isabella shared, “My favorite activity at Frost Valley was canoeing, because it was my first time doing it. I enjoyed canoeing with my partners because we worked well together.”
The low ropes course was also a favorite of many. Conrad reported, “My favorite activity at Frost Valley was the low ropes course, because it was challenging and fun.” During another activity, teambuilding, a Frost Valley staff member gave the students group challenges. Students had to collaborate and communicate with each other in order to successfully complete the challenges.
A sense of community was definitely fostered during teambuilding. Humphrey noted, “My favorite activity was teambuilding, because it was challenging, but, when everybody worked as a team, we were all happy!” We also went on a hike, crossed cable bridges and made face paint by rubbing rocks together to make “paint.” Madigan excitedly shared, “Hiking was my favorite activity because I love being outdoors and in nature. I loved hopping around on the rocks and balancing on tree roots. The waterfall was awesome!”
During the evening, students saw a presentation by an ornithologist (a bird specialist). The emphasis of this presentation was to show the students how important these birds are in nature. Frost Valley will most likely be a highlight of the year for many fifth graders. According to Brandon, “Frost Valley was a very good experience for the 5th grade, because we were able to spend time with friends.”