PLP 9 just got back from the Loon Lake Learning Advance, and it’s safe to say that this field study has been my favourite out of them all. We spent a week away in the forest of Maple Ridge practicing our collaboration and learning to trust our peers as well as ourselves. Pinicale Pursuits, the program that had us, and Johno, the leader who was with us through most of the trip, made the environment of the trip more welcoming and comfortable.
Tuesday, my group, the otters, went rock climbing and were pushed out of our comfort zones. It was exciting to challenge ourselves physically and mentally and we saw how determined and resilient our peers were. We learned about planning our next steps and strategizing to overcome obstacles. In the afternoon, we had group discussions with Johno, where we appreciated the unique strengths and qualities of our group members. It was heartwarming to see the support and encouragement within our group.
On Wednesday, we started the day by participating in a challenging low ropes course. It required teamwork and trust as we navigated through the ropes and obstacles, supporting and encouraging each other. After that, we split into smaller groups for a thrilling scavenger hunt, using maps and compasses to find hidden challenges in the forest. It tested our critical thinking and creativity. We then had a meaningful discussion about our individuality and created posters to showcase our unique qualities. Sharing and affirming each other’s posters brought a touching moment of love, support, and genuine connections. Then to end the day, we gathered in the gym and did a few more bonding activities, bringing us closer as a class.
Thursday was full to the brim with events, and after breakfast, we started on the first one. Our animal groups were given colours, then split into 3 smaller groups to compete in a variety of challenges. This activity as a whole tested out time management, teamwork and attention to detail, as we raced for 1st place. My team ended last, but that didn’t stop us from learning and enjoying it while it lasted. Afterwards, we were put into 3 groups, and lead through 3 different activities. We did the high ropes that made us get out of our comfort zone, shelter building to help our skills of survival, and lastly trust falls, where we had to fully trust ourselves and others.
By the time Friday rolled around, we were getting ready to welcome our parents like Pinnacle Pursuits welcomed us. We gathered in our fruit groups one last time, as we discussed the 5 key things we learned over the week and put them in categories. Clear communication, social awareness, leadership, internal talk and emotional intelligence was what we decided. My group got leadership, so we wrote a script, made a poster and soon enough our parents arrived. Throughout the gathering, we presented our ideas and thoughts surrounding leadership to different people, and at the end shared goals we planed to take home with us. My goal is to think before I feel. I’m someone who would react before actually proceeding the information in a logical way, so that’s something I’m trying to bring back to Seycove.
In conclusion, Loon Lake was a transformative experience for me. The program and Johno created a welcoming and comfortable environment for us to learn and grow. We did activities like rock climbing, low ropes courses, scavenger hunts, and team challenges, which pushed us out of our comfort zones and helped us develop trust and teamwork skills. The discussions and reflections throughout the week fostered genuine connections and support within our group. We shared our learnings and goals with our parents and I want to work on improving my leadership skills. Overall, this field study was an unforgettable experience that taught us valuable life lessons and strengthened our community bonds that we will never forget.
