Written By: Molly Hart

Kicking off the 2025-2026 school year with adventure instead of academics, the sophomore and junior classes headed out on their annual overnight trips. Designed to help students bond within their grade and start the year on a positive note, these trips have become a tradition many look forward to.

The sophomore class packed their bags for the Poconos in northeastern Pennsylvania, while the juniors traveled to Rocking Horse Ranch in Highland, New York. Both trips offered a mix of outdoor and indoor activities, downtime with friends, and the chance to connect with  people outside of the usual school setting.

For eleventh graders, the outing was an opportunity to both reconnect after the summer and branch out. Alexandra Lynch ‘27 noted that, “while I did stay with my friends for the majority of the trip, I definitely made new friendships that really helped me bond with my grade.” She noted that the quality of the trip stood out to her, from the comfortable hotel beds (with air conditioning) to the surprisingly good food. “The trip was great as there were lots of different activities, so the day never felt boring!” Lynch said, specifically noting the uniqueness of the animal-related activities. The ranch featured a wide range of farm animals, including cows, horses, and, surprisingly, a zebra. There was even an opportunity to go on a scenic ride through the woods on horseback.

However, not everything was perfect. The rooming situation was confusing, with no one being told their roommate assignments until hours after arriving, and no one had been asked about rooming preferences. Lynch explained, “I felt really disappointed that we didn’t get to write down some top choices for our rooms. I think in the future, they should change this aspect of the trip so students can feel more comfortable at night.” Lynch was not the only one who reported her frustrations. A poll sent to a small group of students displayed results that 100% did not understand why preferences weren’t collected. One anonymous comment read, “I felt like my opinion wasn’t valued and I had no control over the situation. I was scared I would be stuck with someone I wasn’t comfortable with because no one asked me.” 

Despite the uncomfortable rooming experience, Lynch described the trip as something she would absolutely recommend to underclassmen. “It was a very fun experience and I definitely tried new things,” she said, adding that her favorite memory was simply spending time with friends at night and playing mini golf.

Meanwhile, the tenth graders were busy making their own memories in the Poconos. The trip featured activities like ziplines, multiple sports, and a bonfire for s’mores-making, as well as plenty of time for classmates to reconnect after summer break. For Maddie Stokes ‘28, the highlight was a more lowkey moment with her cabinmates. “I think my favorite part of the trip was watching the newest The Summer I Turned Pretty episode with my whole cabin. We all sat down together and had a really fun movie night!” she said.

Stokes also emphasized how the trip helped to bring the class together. “While I mostly stayed with my own friends, I did have a fun time with everyone in my cabin and met most, if not all, of the new people! It was really good for getting to know them and reconnecting with my friends after summer break.” 

The Poconos trip was not necessarily as comfortable as the Rocking Horse Ranch trip, the cabins were not as spotless as the hotels, but Stokes believed that was part of the appeal. “I felt that the quality of the trip was great! The food was decent and certain bunks were nice. Mine, however, was a bit dirty, but that is expected for a cabin in the woods,” she admitted.

From movie nights to mini golf, this year’s field trips succeeded in their purpose of setting the tone for the year, giving students space to connect outside of school, and creating memories that go beyond the classroom.