The Grade 9 Out Trip

19 October 2011Diego M

For some people, going in canoes in bad weather for two and a half hours, then sleeping under a tarp with just a sleeping bag and a sleeping pad was a bad thing, and they didn’t like it at all. For me it’s a different story. Since the moment we arrived at Strathcona Park Lodge I started talking to people I thought I was never going to meet; I started doing different things like basketball. In the beginning I didn’t like the idea about NO cellphones, iPods or computers, but now I see why and I am glad they weren’t allowed. For the out trip we loaded our canoes as a team and started to paddle towards Rainbow Island. When we stopped to have lunch at a small island I was really cold and, honestly, in a bad mood. But then I started to listen to all the jokes, laughter and the positive attitude of my team; they made my bad mood change totally. I even started to skip rocks on the lake and had a lot of fun. It’s funny how such a small thing can totally change your day. We started paddling again and it was a bit cold and rainy but I was amazed at the views. I live in a really big city in Mexico and coming here and looking at all the beautiful views such as the lake, the forest, the sun, the cloud, the animals, and listening to the sound of water as we paddled, is just incredible. Even though it is my first time coming here I can tell it is one of the most beautiful places I have been to. When we arrived at the island I imagined something totally different and more comfortable and I was not excited at all, but looking at everybody having fun, being happy and trying to make everyone have a good time, I made the best out of it. I loved the way we worked as a team building the tarp, making the food and starting the fire. Everybody helped, everybody was so positive and even though I was freezing, the attitude of everyone made me feel warm; it made the difference. So for me it doesn’t really matter where you are or what you are doing, what matters is who you are with and that you enjoy everything you do in life.

Where Students Choose To Be