Camping Trip Reflections
New Parent Perspective
By Amilia, Parent of Awesome Avocado Zara
Merriam-Webster defines adventure as “an undertaking usually involving danger and unknown risks.” Well, this past weekend, my family embarked on a true adventure… we participated in our first Village School camping trip!
Now, “danger” may sound a bit exaggerative for an elementary school event, but you see, we have never camped before – the kids have never slept in a tent before; I have never cooked a meal over a campfire before; my husband has never gone more than 10 hours without a shower before. So, in truth, we were in grave danger of being sleep-deprived, hungry, cranky and just generally miserable. Nonetheless, in the spirit of participation and in a determined attempt to support our new Kindergartener, we hurtled full-force toward the abyss. And to our surprise, instead of falling over the precipice, we discovered a Village on the other side.
This Village had children roaming free, from one campsite to the next, as parents casually conversed while looking out for whichever children happened within their view. In this way, even I felt reassured enough to let my new Kinder and her ‘only-four-year-old’ sister run around. In doing so, I discovered their incredible capacity for navigating their own way, their ability to look out for and care for each other and their total joy and pride at being allowed such independence.
This Village had a sea of familiar faces. All weekend long, I was struck by the sheer number of connections that we had already made in only 5 short weeks of school. We were doubled-up at our campsite with some of the first friends we made at Village, a family with 2 girls nearly the same age as ours. We were surrounded on all sides by our new Kinder friends. Having just completed my first work shift last week, I felt emboldened by how many kids’ names I knew! Everywhere we went, we saw people from parent education classes, from pick-up and drop-off, from participating in our family job. We even ran into old work colleagues and renewed friendships! I discovered that my daughters have an incredible capacity to make friends; and that I do too.
This Village was a family, and we were some of its newest members. I watched my usually shy Kindergartener approach her new 5th grade reading buddy at dinner on Friday night and was surprised when her buddy invited her to sit and eat together. What 5th grader let’s a 5-year-old crash meal time with her friends? A Village 5th grader, it turns out… because the people in this community treat each other as family, and their kids are taught by example to do the same.
I grew up in a community of five Indian families whose parents emigrated from India in the early 70’s. These people were my extended family – their kids were my sisters and constant playmates; the adults were my uncles and my aunties. The concept that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ was more than just a philosophy in my childhood experience; it was general practice. I’ve often felt guilty that my children aren’t privy to the same experience. As a nuclear family, living hundreds of miles from either set of grandparents, we have in some ways been very much isolated. But, over and over again this weekend, I was reminded that we are already very much a part of this Village family. And, I discovered how deeply grateful I am for the opportunity, the comfort, the support and the sense of identity that it will provide my children and my family for years to come.
Merriam-Webster also defines adventure as “an exciting or remarkable experience.” In all of these ways, and in so many more, our first Village camping trip was a truly remarkable adventure and an overwhelming success. We discovered that, as a family, we are far more flexible and capable than we give ourselves credit for. And that, in our quest for the best possible education we could provide our child, we inadvertently stumbled upon the community that we have been missing all this time.
We heartily look forward to all of the new adventures and discoveries still to come at Village.
Departing Family Perspective
By Jennifer and Geoffrey, Parents of Mystical Mountain Lion Lily and Village Alum Naomi
The annual camping trip has been a highlight of our 8 years at Village School. Our family has participated every year and made memories that will last a lifetime. It’s one of the special things our school does that truly makes us a community and makes it easy to see why they say “it takes a village” to raise kids. As the kids run from campsite to campsite, making friends and chatting happily with other parents, you feel this sense of belonging and togetherness that isn’t easily found outside of one’s family.
On our first year camping trip, when our kids were 3 and 5, we were chasing after them most of the time — hands-on as you need to be when kids are that young. Over the years we’ve been able to see them get more confident and independent. We enjoy the fact that they are able to run off, play, and do their own thing while we relax a bit and enjoy the company of other parents. We have gotten to meet parents and kids outside of our own kids’ grades and form friendships that go far deeper than just a quick “hi and have a nice day” at the school gate.
Some highlights for us have been the singalongs, making s’mores and bread on a stick over the fire, the dance parties, rock climbing and creek exploring, communal meals (one less meal to worry about = winning!), and just the overall sense of belonging and friendship at Village. This may technically be our last year, but our daughters are already angling for invitations from friends with younger siblings so that they can join the Village camping trip next year. We have had a great time every year, but we must say this year’s new location was extra lovely!
Student Perspective
By Third Grade Thunderbolt Amanda
I loved the Village School camping trip! They had a very good playground and an awesome arcade! I also liked the gift shop and movie. The beach trip was great and so were the dolphins. I think the camping trip was great. Did you?