~Bryce Nash, Class of 2024 

A Windsor Mountain Story

“Splash” I went flying into the pond. It was a great end to a perfect day at Windsor Mountain. During my 8th grade trip to the wilderness camp, it was free time which meant we could do whatever we wanted. It was just after low ropes, which focused on team building with your advisory, and I chose to go to the waterfront. Before going to Windsor, I thought that the trip would not be exciting. I didn’t think that our class could come together. I thought friend groups were solidified and nothing could change that. I learned that going to Windsor helped me connect with so many of my classmates in new ways.

While on the trip, I was at the waterfront, with a bouncy trampoline blanketing a beautiful pond. As I started to climb on the trampoline, I was ready to play king of the hill. King of the Hill is a game where you have a group of at least three people. With these people, you choose an object as your hill. The hill should have something under it so you can push people off the hill.  with Jwaun, the invincible fighter who we could never get off, and Eli, the main target, and the person who was up the most. Then there was Colter, the crazy child, he never got up on his feet and was always getting pushed off. I could also not get on my feet and went flying off. It was apparent that this was going to be a long free time for me.

Before the trip, I was not close friends with any of the kids that I was playing with. As I got back on the trampoline, my balance started to crumble.  With all of us bouncing, we were falling over and losing balance easily. We continued pushing each other off,  and while doing this, we started to see just how much fun we have with each other. Despite this enjoyment, it still was difficult to stay on our feet.

As we struggled to stay balanced, we continued to push each other off. It was harder to stay on with our slippery feet, and we were having a great time and other people started to get on and join in. It was an intense battle to the end. As a group, Jwaun, Colter, and I managed to get Eli off the trampoline. Having fun at the waterfront made me realize how much fun 8th grade was going to be. Also getting closer to new kids like Juan, and getting closer to kids I already knew like Eli and Colter.

Looking back, we could not have had a better free time and trip. It made us all step outside of our comfort zone. It made us rely on each other in ways we had never experienced. Before going to Windsor, I thought that the trip would not be fun. I didn’t think that our grade could come together. I learned that first impressions are not how things always go. As I reflect on this moment, I think back to the start of the trip. I was not excited and thought it would be a waste of time, I learned that I could not have been more wrong.