Middle School Trip to Hale Reservation: Challenges, Choices, and Community
If you want to build a team, you’ve got to have a rope. That was one takeaway from Monday’s Middle School trip to Hale Reservation in Westwood, where students learn leadership skills, build confidence, and practice teamwork while engaging in high ropes, low ropes, a rope swing, and a team jump-rope challenge, among other activities.
The trip is a longstanding tradition for Rivers middle schoolers. “We've had a relationship with Hale Reservation at least since I started at Rivers, 16 years ago,” said Head of Middle School John Bower, who was among the adults who accompanied the students. Formerly, it was part of Leadership Lab, held the first week of school. “It was a wonderful opportunity to put our definition of leadership—being your best self and positively influencing others—into action,” said Bower. However, he added, “Over time, we found that participating in this programming was more effective after students had spent a number of weeks getting to know each other and building some foundational trust,” so the trip was moved to its current calendar spot in late October.
Grades 6, 7, and 8 all participate, so it’s an opportunity for middle schoolers to connect with students they might not encounter in class or activities. Bower noted, “We intentionally create groups that mix genders and grade levels to facilitate community-building as a whole division.”
The Hale staffers help students set goals for themselves and do their best to reach those goals. The philosophy is “challenge by choice,” so, as Bower explains, “If they’re assigned to a high ropes element, one student’s goal might be to complete the element, while another student’s goal is simply to put the harness on and climb up the first rung of the ladder.”
Students enjoyed the day’s challenges and the opportunities for growth contained in those challenges. “I thought the best part was climbing up a telephone pole. Even though I didn’t make it all the way, I thought that I really stretched myself,” said Rory Walter ’29. “I learned to stretch yourself to your best ability.” She added that, overall, “I felt that we bonded more with people we have never talked to.”
Bonding, stretching, talking, and enjoying a fall day combine to make the trip a valuable exercise in building community—and all it takes is a little rope.
Bonding, stretching, talking, and enjoying a fall day combine to make the trip a valuable exercise in building community—and all it takes is a little rope.
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