As the first month of the school year came to a close, Third Formers embarked on a two-day trip to Camp Saginaw. Over those two days, we participated in a variety of activities alongside Sixth Form leaders, fostering a sense of brotherhood and community.
After an hour-long bus ride to Oxford, Pennsylvania, we arrived at the camp, disembarked, stored our bags, and met our cabinmates. We then gathered, eagerly awaiting to find out who our accompanying Sixth Formers would be and what activities we would participate in.
As the games began, many students found excitement in activities from dodgeball to pickleball to the exhilarating ropes course and zipline.
I particularly enjoyed pickleball and the zipline, both of which brought out a sense of adventure and competitiveness.
These activities didn’t just make the camp fun—they also helped us build connections as a community.
Listening to the fire crackling and the words of the Sixth Formers, I felt the weight of their stories: these were words to live by for the rest of our years in the upper school, and possibly even for the rest of our lives.
Ben Qu ’28
We also participated in team-building exercises, like turning a tarp over while standing on it, keeping a yoga ball in the air, organizing birthdays without speaking, or finding something that we all had in common.
As night fell, we ate dinner together in groups and participated in a “Thursday Night Live” trivia activity.
The most memorable activity was the after-dinner bonfire where Third Formers heard from Student Body President Josh Williams ’25 and other Sixth Form student leaders. They spoke about their experiences and passed on lessons learned.
Listening to the fire crackling and the words of the Sixth Formers, I felt the weight of their stories: these were words to live by for the rest of our years in the upper school, and possibly even for the rest of our lives. These words told us to lean in, to never give up, to support each other in times of need, and to realize the importance of brotherhood.
After a few hours’ sleep, we awoke on Friday with rejuvenated spirits. As noon came, we ate lunch and listened to a closing speech from the Head of Upper School Mr. Mark Fifer, Third Form Dean Ms. Brooke Kenna, and Dean of Students Mr. Luqman Kolade.
We all took something away from the Saginaw experience. The thrill of the adventurous activities, the messages of the Sixth Form speeches—these have not only impacted the Third Form, but our school’s community as a whole.
Camp Saginaw wasn’t just any trip—it was a memorable, influential experience.
