Waldorf News

Why an 8th Grade Culminating Trip in Fall Makes Sense

By Matt Mohi with Sonya Warren & Darlene Gilchrist

The 8th grade class culminating trip is a time for celebration, recognition and remembrance of their shared voyage of discovery and growth and is a special part of the Waldorf experience.  For most classes, this trip happens in the spring of their final year together, before they go their separate ways.

Some Waldorf educators have taken a slightly different approach to the culminating trip, seeing it not only as a joyous occasion, but also as a chance to bond the class together through a meaningful shared experience, which then can be nurtured to grow over the course of their final year together.

Sonya Warren from the Cincinnati Waldorf School will be taking her second class in six years out to the Southwest in the Fall of 2019.

In her words, “A fall eighth grade trip is not something that many people consider. I chose to take my eighth grade on a trip in the fall because it allowed them to bond at the beginning of eighth grade rather than the end. It also provided great source material for inquiry and for their writing block.  Our last class brought back “Circle” from their trip, which we would do weekly. This all helped contribute to a much richer final year together as the students really came to appreciate each other and our class more.”

Students from the Cincinnati Waldorf School explore an Ancient Puebloan dwelling on the San Juan River

Ms. Warren was inspired when she observed another class at her school who had done the trip in the fall and was amazed at the maturity level of the eighth grade for the remainder of that year.

We see this kind of maturing of perspective as people are exposed to a world much different than their own and embrace new experiences and challenges.

Advantages of a fall trip:

• Bonding that occurs on the trip is allowed to flourish with the time and space of their final year together
• Spring is busy with finishing projects, school plays, and graduation
• Student experiences can be used for academic inquiry and projects
• Potential to increase the number of students continuing on to Waldorf High School
• Cost of the trip is potentially lower

We know with experiential education that growth and learning occur when there is time and space for reflection. By allowing more time for the 8th grade trip to take root, this happens on a deeper level and there is more growth.

Darlene Gilchrist recently brought her class of thirty students from Denver out for a fall trip after exchanging some emails with Sonya and shared this:

“I feel that the fall trip for the 8th graders was a chance to really get to know each other as you can only do in nature. Although the majority of the students have been together for years, it added a new element of bonding. The opportunity to get to know those that you may not be the closest to only strengthens the class. When I mentioned that we were doing this trip in fall to other faculty and parents, they all, with one exception, thought it was a great idea.”

I had the opportunity to spend time with Darlene’s class and they had a great energy, enthusiasm and appreciation when they began their trip here at Basecamp. When I joined them at their service site, they shared their experiences on the river and how much closer they all felt to each other.

Denver students prepare a garden bed

Gathering in the Navajo Nation

As we sat in Circle around a campfire at the top of Narbona Pass—a fire our Navajo hosts, Earl and Sadie Bitsoie had started when the group arrived and would keep burning until they left—all of us were struck by the authenticity and heart with which the students spoke.  Many were grateful for this opportunity to get to know each other in a new setting and appreciated different aspects of being that were displayed during the trip. Nearly all spoke of the deep bonding and surprise at the depth of connection they felt towards each other and how excited they were to get back to school with each other.

A little about Deer Hill Expeditions: Sharing the beauty of the natural world and the connection that comes from service for nearly 35 years, Deer Hill is honored that so many Waldorf schools choose to gift their classes with our unique trips which combine river rafting and cross cultural service with the Hopi, Navajo and Zuni people.

For more information, please contact me. I truly want as many young people as possible to have this experience. Matt Mohi at matt@deerhillexpeditions.com or 970.533.7492

Learn more about Deer Hill Expeditions at www.deerhillexpeditions.com.

Sonya Warren is a class teacher at the Cincinnati Waldorf School. Darlene Gilchrist is a class teacher at the Denver Waldorf School. Matt Mohi is Outreach Director at Deer Hill Expeditions