By Simone Wisgerhof
From September thirtieth to October third the sixth bridge class went on their first big class trip, to Buttermilk Farm. At the farm there was a lot to do and lots to see, but because we were late the first thing we had to do was set up tents. For some people it took about two minutes, for others it took . . . longer. It was weird sleeping with two or three people you had only known for a month, but we made it work, well mostly. At night, we would talk for hours and play games and fail to quiet down when the teachers asked. In the mornings people would do different things like make breakfast or milk cows, depending on which group they were in. It rained almost every day, but we didn’t let that spoil the trip. Sometime during the day we would do some sort of activity, like walk to the waterfall and listen to our classmates argue about whether someone would survive if they fell down it. Or we might pick pumpkins, or help Carter with digging a path and building a wall.
People also really enjoyed the animals, eight people went to the Almo training, where we became Almo the dog’s Official Caretakers. We went to build a bridge for the creek—people were giving out orders and cutting down branches and it was hard work, but I hear it came together nicely. (I wouldn’t know, I fell in the creek!) When we weren’t picking pumpkins or taking care of Almo or doing some other important thing, we played games in the field or sat by the fire grabbing sticks and lighting the tips on fire, then blowing on them to make them glow. One particular student who will go unnamed went in a bush to retrieve a ball and came back covered in tiny poky burs from head to toe. Then there was the talent show. All the acts were amazing. One that I think was especially good was the person who sang “Meteor Shower” by Cavetown—and of course who could forget the purple house joke.
This whole trip really brought our class together. I know I can’t make you fully experience what a big deal this trip was for us, but I hope you enjoyed reading about a few of the most memorable parts.