On Thursday June 4, 2015, the entire grade fives in my school went to the YMCA Cedar Glen Outdoor Centre located in Schomberg, Ontario.
Going to the YMCA was a pretty long drive, but let me tell you, it was worth it, and it was the best trip ever. When we got to school, we wrote our agendas then we boarded the bus. We did a countdown then we left the school. I think we took about an hour but when we reached the YMCA, I could tell this was going to be a great day.
Once we got off the bus, we went into a small building where our guides introduced themselves. I forgot what my leader’s name was but he was very kind and nice. The guides told us what was planned for us. My teacher then reminded us about what group we were in and then we separated.
Once we went our different ways, my group went to a field. We took a stretchy rope circle that was green. We all held it, said our names and a place that we would like to visit. I said that I would want to go to Jamaica. Then we started to play the trust games, while we all held to the rope. Our feet were together and then when the leader counted to 1 we all leaned back. It was to trust each other. We did great! Next, we squat down, and then we got the smallest boy to walk on the rope, with the leader supporting him. He fell but he was okay. The last thing we did for this activity was standing while the smallest girl walked on the rope. She was supported too. This was a fun activity and I had a great time.
After we placed the things back into a bin, we got ready to go to the next activity. Our walk to the next activity was a long walk and it was very steep. After five minutes or so, we reached our destination. We saw that there was another group already there waiting for us. My leader explained to us about compasses; he even added some humor into it! He said “What did Kanye West name his daughter? North West! What are they going to name their baby boy? South West!” He was so funny! Then we went off to find letters which would lead us to questions. When we went looking for the letters, we had to go uphill and downhill; it was tricky but fun. The forest was kind of shaped like a bowl.
We then had lunch, but I am not going to put great details, although we had rice, chicken, corn, salad, fruits, and drinks too.
After lunch, we went to the maze. It was quite hard because there were dead ends and we lost one of our teammates. My friends and I were stuck, and my other friend from the other group tried to help us but it was no use. Then our leader called our names and told us where to go. Yes, we were able to get out alive, thank the Lord!
After the maze, we had a short walk to our next activity: shelter building. Once we reached the place, we all sat on a bench. Then our leader explained to us what we would be doing. He also touched up on a unit about energy. He told us about winter shelters and summer shelters. Then he showed us some shelters that we could make. Then we went off to work, and my group of four made a tee pee. We first got a tree which we thought we could use, and then we started to collect long tall sticks to put on the tree. We then got tree stumps to put all around it, and even put some stumps in it for chairs and leaves for a bed.
Our last activity was high rope climbing. I want to get this out right now: I am afraid of heights so I only got past the ladder then I came down. High rope climbing is when you are attached to a harness, and then you climb a ladder. Once you have finished the ladder you go up the steps. Then you stand on a platform. If another person comes up, you can do a challenge. You hold each other’s wrists and lean back. Sound familiar? It is like in my first activity! I didn’t do the challenge but my friends Anna and Emma did!
After our last activity, we walked back to our house building where we were fed apples, bananas, and granola bars. Then our bus arrived and then we said our goodbyes and left. I had a great trip. The whole point of this trip was to trust one another. I don’t think we did well, but I know we tried our best.
Angela-Acaye.