Historic Downtown Campus Grades 3-5 Adventure and Discovery at Refreshing Mountain!

On Thursday, October 10th, the third, fourth and fifth grades of the Historic Downtown Campus boarded buses and headed to Refreshing Mountain in Stevens, PA. This was the first combined overnight trip for the three grades and excitement was palpable! 

Surrounded by a beautiful landscape, with support from their peers, students pushed themselves to try new activities, including activities outside of their comfort zones! The first day consisted of tackling the 37 foot climbing wall, the elevated ropes obstacle course, visiting and learning about farm animals, racing with pedal carts, and taking aim with slingshots. Students even got to try out the zipline! The evening consisted of team building and camaraderie across grade levels as the group enjoyed recreational activities, a variety show, and finally an evening around the campfire. This year, students were treated to the Aurora Borealis! They all got a chance to enjoy mother nature’s light show! To conclude the evening, everyone had the opportunity to roast a marshmallow and make a smore! 

The next day third graders participated in team challenges that included carrying a log from one side of the playground to the other, creating shapes/designs with our bodies, getting all members of our team to score 100 points on the basketball court, building a pyramid, and more. These challenges were designed to draw upon student abilities to be leaders, work together toward a common goal, and have fun! We also spent time learning about Pennsylvania wildlife on Friday morning. We got to see snakes, turtles, lizards and more, which are native to our region, we explored different animal furs and learned about characteristics and habitats of wildlife from Pennsylvania. It was very informative!

The fourth graders got the chance to try their hand at archery. They learned the correct stance and how to use the bow and arrow correctly. They also met Patrick, their on site bird expert. Students learned all about birds that are native to Pennsylvania and how to spot them in the wild. They got to “meet” a red-tailed hawk, a peregrine falcon, and the great horned owl during their “Birds of Prey” presentation. We even had a vulture make a guest appearance in the sky!  

The fifth graders gathered after breakfast for an exhilarating day filled with laughter and excitement. They took turns on the giant swing, soaring high into the air as they cheered each other on. Additionally, they split into teams for a series of field games, playing spirited rounds of relay races, handball, and kickball. The friendly competition fostered teamwork and camaraderie. 

Students were surrounded by the encouragement of not only their Moravian Academy teachers and staff from Refreshing Mountain, but also their peers. The trip provided students with unique experiences through which they could connect with classmates, new and familiar, and participate in activities which, for many, were brand new! More importantly, they were able to strengthen their bond as classmates and learn, grow, and explore their curiosity and potential as students of Moravian Academy.