Three days at camp may not sound like an educational experience, but for a group of eighth grade students at Menands Union Free School District, the experience may not just be educational, but also life altering.
“[The experience] will change a little bit how I look at the world,” said Avi Lopez.
“It will change how I see other people and I will better understand how those people see thigs,” added classmate Evie Blanchette.
Lopez and Blanchette were among 17 students who spent Sept. 9 through Sept. 11 at the Lake George camp, where they took part in numerous adventures while building community and leadership skills.
Through activities such as archery, hiking, games, and campfires, the students formed skills that will be valuable well after their time at Menands is done.
“We did a lot of team-building activities and got to learn about each other,” Blanchette said.
The experience was not just educational, but fun.
“It was REALLY fun,” Lopez said. “I learned how to do archery, and I learned about mushrooms growing in the woods.”
Science teacher Lorenz Herrmann, who is also Co-Director of the Outdoor 
Education program, said the key skills taught during the trip are teamwork and community.
A side benefit is that the connections the students build now will last a lifetime, and this is important to Menands because the students go onto a variety of high schools following their eighth-grade year, said Superintendent Jennifer Cannavo.
