Following a more than 40-year-old tradition, Willets Road School seventh grade students, in the East Williston School District, participated in a five-day, four-night outdoor education experience at Camp Stockwell in Medford Township, New Jersey. Each day was filled with learning experiences to enhance their education, communication skills, teamwork and trust.

This weeklong outdoor education program uses cooperative learning and hands-on experiences to develop an atmosphere of team building that fosters leadership, effective communication, commitment and cooperation. The students participated in group games, team-building activities, challenge courses (high and low elements), canoeing, pond ecology, archery, sports, survival skills and the famous swamp challenge course which was yet again a big hit with the students. While participating in these amazing activities, students made new friends, formed new relationships with their peers, gained self-confidence and learned to survive in nature while learning about the environment and the world around them. They proved they were able to survive off the grid with absolutely no technology for five days. In addition to the daily camp programs, students experienced two nights of Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge Birds of Prey presentations.

The students also joined together to build on the values the East Williston School District, as a school community, strives to instill and achieve in all students including action, caring, courage, honesty, inclusion, kindness, pride, respect, responsibility and success. As in years past, this well-rounded middle school experience left a lifelong impression with each student. They will use the skills learned during this experience throughout the remainder of the school year and beyond.