Every year, students enrolled in the eighth grade at Haldane Middle School look forward to their two and a half day excursion to Frost Valley Camp in Claryville, New York. Depending on the year, the trip may be in the winter or (hopefully) the spring. This year, the current eighth graders got the opportunity to go in May.
If you ask any student at Haldane High School, they will most definitely be able to tell you about at least one core memory that they have from their own Frost Valley trip. This trip has been a huge part of the eighth-grade experience, and even though it may have its downfalls, it is irreplaceable.
There were varying opinions on Frost Valley, especially with the cell phone policy. Freshman Anya Mercurio said, “Frost Valley was overall a great experience for both me and my friends. We made lots of really memorable memories that we will never forget.” She added, “But I don’t think it’s worth the price that they charged us.”
The majority of students loved the archery class, the zipline, and the ropes courses. Eighth grader Nomie Karetny stated, “My favorite part of Frost Valley was being in the community room with my grade, and having independence. Concerning the no-cellphone policy, I enjoyed hanging out with my friends without having a screen.”
Brian Rommel said, “ Frost Valley was an amazing adventure we embarked on as a group, where we learned team building. What I enjoyed the most was not the adventure, but playing Texas Hold’em with my peers.”
Theo Swan, another student in the eighth grade, had a similar opinion. “My favorite part of Frost Valley had to be running Blackjack with my friend group,” said Swan. He added, “I was not a fan of the no-cellphone policy. I would’ve liked to play my favorite mobile game.”
The activities that Frost Valley offers were the most popular part of the trip, but it is clear how much of a deeper impact this trip had on students beyond just momentary fun. As Karetny and other students referenced, the Frost Valley trip gave eighth-grade students the opportunity to bond with their classmates and become more independent. During the trip, students were assigned different jobs where they had to assume responsibilities. This provided necessary stepping stones for 13 to 14-year-old students as they begin to prepare for high school and the remainder of adolescence.
In addition to the responsibilities of this trip, and despite the opinions on the food and sleeping arrangements, there were many fun activities such as hiking, team-building, and ziplining.
The Frost Valley trip is a crucial part of the middle school experience. I personally have so many fond memories from the trip this year, such as going on hikes with my friends and exploring the aviary. The counselors and chaperones did an amazing job of packing each day with activities. Groups move from team-building activities to ropes courses without the chance for boredom to set in. With the success that this trip has seen over the years, I hope that it will continue to improve and that every incoming eighth grader will have the chance to experience this once-in-a-lifetime adventure.
