Session #1, September 20 - 26, 2008
Closing Comments by Sixth Grade Classes, Friday, September 26
East School, Splash's Class (Ms. Warbingon's Class)
Outdoor School has meant a million different things to each person who is here. Whether it's counselor, YO! Staff, camper or grandparent, it is impossible to leave Outdoor School as the same person we were on Monday. We can share memories and lessons forever, but we'll just narrow them down to the Top 5:
For teamwork, our class has had the advantage and disadvantage of being together for a second year. The advantage is that we know each other really well, but it's also our disadvantage at times. We have reminded each other, here at Outdoor School, that our weaknesses only become strengths when we work together. We learned it is important to hear all the voices, new or old, and that everyone deserves a chance to be heard without having to yell. Out team is only complete when we work together.
Everyone has kindness inside them, and here at Outdoor School, we have learned how to be kind and show kindness. It's not just being kind to our best of friends, but it is also the caring and acceptance for all of us to be ourselves. A simple helpful hand or hug has made us happy, and that feeling will stay as we leave today.
Outdoor School has been our family. We've laughed and cried, shouted and whispered, and become a family like no other. this family is with us, wherever we go, and when we are old enough, we'll come back as counselors to make this Outdoor School family even more ginormous. If all of us as a family carry what we've learned with us, then the memories of this week will carry on into our own communities and families. Outdoor School, and all the people we've met this week, will make our family endless.
At Outdoor School, we have learned empathy. Each of us lives with hard challenges, and each of us has days we want to quite and days we succeed in greatness. We know someone would trade our challenges for theirs, and we step back to realize that disabilities or challenges don't make the person, but the will-power and strength to overcome and want more make people unique. With kindness, faith and encouragement, our disabilities become our strengths.
Last, but not least, we have learned change this week. New experiences begin and end, but how you learn from them and hcange is so much more than the stacks of pictures or pile of muddy laundry. It's oK to change, to grow, to become better. People will come along for the journey, and some might pass through our lives in a day or a week, but how we chose to learn and change from their presence is the gift from Outdoor School. We know what teamwork, kindness, family, and empathy are and we are forever changed because of all of you. And it feels great!
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