Senior Survival: Rain, Hail, 40-degree Nights, and Success

Each year the senior class spends 4 nights at Glacier View Ranch in plastic tarp shelters they build themselves (with the help of rolls of duct tape). This year the shelters held up in pouring rain and hail as well as keeping the students (mostly) warm through the 40-degree nights.

But senior survival isn't only about campfire cooking and wild edibles, it's even more about teamwork, self-discovery, and spiritual growth. Each day the seniors work together in teams to meet physical challenges such as getting their entire team to cross a "canyon" by swinging on a rope, mental challenges such as orienteering, and spiritual encouragement as they meet each night at the campfire.

Jacey Johnson, a senior from Colorado, says, "Our group did everything really fast, but one challenge—the Nitro Crossing—was difficult. I learned that it’s not about speed or winning, or getting it right the first time. What’s important is having a good attitude."

Randy Maldonado, another senior, comments that, "It was a huge lesson to me about how even though our class seems very disorganized, we still accomplished our goals throughout the weekend. It goes to show that diversity is important, it’s good to have a group of people who are unique."

Friday and Sabbath brought warmer, sunny weather, and some students were reluctant to leave on Sunday, in spite of wanting showers and their own beds.

Jenny Sigler teaches English at Campion Academy

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