written by Matty Brossart, Crow Wing River Guide
The Upper Elementary students have all returned from our annual adventures to Camp Widjiwagan—fondly known as "Widji." For five days, we came together as a community on the beautiful shores of Burnside Lake near Ely, continuing a tradition that has been part of Great River School for over a decade.
This Key Experience has evolved alongside the growth of our school. For many students (and staff), Widji is a place filled with fond memories, personal growth, and joy. For many, the experience is also challenging, as they miss the comfort of familiar routines, their families, and the “normal” lifestyle. Whether students eagerly anticipate this trip all year or grapple with homesickness and count the days until their return, Widji is an essential part of our work in the elementary program at Great River.
Given the significant investment of time, emotional energy, resources, and finances from both the school and families, it's important to reflect on why we commit to this annual journey. In Great River's elementary program, we focus on the developmental needs of the "second plane" child, work intentionally toward fostering interdependence with each other and nature, and make decisions guided by our mission: to grow a community of people who contribute to world peace.
Let’s explore how Montessori’s philosophy supports these goals and how our experiences at Widji this year align with the work we’re doing together.
The Second Plane Child
Upper Elementary students, typically ages 9 to 12, are in an extraordinary period of growth. At this stage, they exhibit distinct patterns of interest and behavior. Our goal is to create classroom environments that challenge and nurture them, meeting their developmental needs. Sometimes this process is joyful and seamless, while other times, students experience "productive struggles" that help them build confidence and acquire the tools needed to tackle ever-greater challenges.
At Camp Widjiwagan, students faced real-life challenges, like the night hike. On their first night, they learned to wait patiently for their eyes to adjust to the darkness (thanks to rhodopsin) and relied on one another to navigate the trail together. They also found ways to connect through moments like PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), sharing campfire stories, and simply holding hands as they walked.
Many students saw the Northern lights for the first time on the October 7-11th trip. It was truly a “cosmic” education. This magical show was only rivaled by the skits, songs, and poems that were shared at the Eco debrief, at the closing campfire, and before meals.
While our classrooms are vital spaces for learning, Montessori believed that time spent in nature offers one of the richest environments for human growth. She once said, “There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature, to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony, and the beauty in nature… so that the child may better understand and participate in the marvelous things which civilization creates.”
At Widji, each student was drawn to different experiences. Some engaged in competitive play, like testing their strength by carrying large fallen trees or throwing frisbees across fields. Others connected with nature by adopting bugs, sitting in quiet reflection to tell stories, or composing music and poetry inspired by their surroundings. Some students were highly social, while others spent more time observing.
No matter how they engaged, all students had opportunities to ask for help and to offer it, deepening their connections with one another. They began to trust and rely on their own strengths, while also learning that strength comes from the support of those around them.
Interdependence
Maria Montessori viewed interdependence as essential to both human development and society. At Great River School, we embrace this belief, recognizing that interdependence, rather than isolated independence, is crucial for living a meaningful life. Longer trips away from home—spent with classroom communities as well as people who are less familiar—offer students the opportunity to expand their understanding of what community means. During these trips, students develop mutual reliance on their cabin mates, trail guides, and school staff. Montessori wrote, "It is only by practical experience in social life that the child can be prepared for the demands of society."
This work is evident in every aspect of the trip, from passing food around the table family-style and cleaning up together, to helping one another when someone is cold, hungry, homesick, or injured. One of the most tangible examples of interdependence comes as students and staff learn to paddle canoes together—a skill that requires trust and collaboration. As Montessori noted in Education and Peace, "We cannot live isolated; therefore, we have to evolve in our relationship with others." At GRS, "others" includes not only our classmates but also the broader world around us.
The Importance of Nature
Interdependence extends beyond human relationships to include the natural world. We believe it’s vital for children to learn about the interconnectedness of all living things. In To Educate the Human Potential, Montessori explains that understanding the interdependence in nature helps children recognize their place in the world and the responsibility they have to protect the environment. "We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth."
When Montessori wrote, “There is no description, no image in any book that is capable of replacing the sight of real trees, and all the life to be found around them, in a real forest. Something emanates from those trees which speaks to the soul, something no book, no museum is capable of giving." She could have been predicting the students’ relationship with “the firepole tree” that many students visit on some of the hikes and excursions at Widji.
Returning to Camp Widjiwagan each fall allows students to develop a relationship with the landscape—the hills, ravines, trees, streams, and lake. They experience Widji through warm, mild days and frigid, wet ones, receiving direct lessons and hands-on learning about nature’s interdependence. Nature often serves as our first and greatest teacher, showing us how to live in harmony with the world.
Community Life and Peace Education
Many of the lessons students experience at Widji are extensions of what we practice in the classroom, but the weeklong trip offers an unmatched authenticity. Montessori’s idea of “real experiences” and “practical life” is brought to life here. As she said, "It is only by practical experience in social life that the child can be prepared for the demands of society."
At Great River, understanding interdependence is key to fostering peace. We believe that when people recognize their mutual dependence—both locally and globally—they are more likely to collaborate and work for the common good. At each meal, Widji staff emphasize the effort behind the food we eat: the fuel, time, money, care, and power involved. Students celebrate making conscious choices, like taking the right amount of food and minimizing waste.
Beyond the Mess Hall, students spend hours exploring, observing, and playing in Widji’s rustic, natural environment. Each moment reflects Montessori’s vision: "The child who has felt a strong love for his surroundings and for all living creatures, who has discovered joy and enthusiasm in work, gives us reason to hope... that humanity will develop a new social order and bring about peace."
As we return from Widjiwagan and continue our important work here at Great River School and in the Twin Cities, it’s fulfilling to know that we have Widji as a cherished tradition. It’s a place where we grow together, facing challenges, solving problems, and creating joy. These experiences help us move from concrete moments of teamwork and perseverance toward the abstract goal of building a better world for ourselves and each other.
FInal Note: If you have not yet been able to donate to help us protect this integral part of our program, please consider following this link and helping: Donate: https://go.givinghive.com/donation/101/key-experiences-at-grs/