Annual Colorado Trip Marks an Exciting Start to the Beginning of Eighth Grade
September 4, 2026
For ESD’s eighth graders, the school year doesn’t exactly begin in the classroom. Each year, students rising into the eighth grade travel to Colorado for an immersive trip designed to build community, challenge students, and set the tone for the year ahead.
Over the course of the trip, students trade the familiar for the Colorado outdoors, taking on whitewater rafting, aerial park courses, fishing, and multi-day backpacking – where students carry their gear, navigate the trail, and sleep in tents along the way.
While the activities offer plenty of adventure, students say the most lasting part of the experience is often the opportunity to connect with one another. Students are placed in groups with classmates they may not know as well, creating opportunities to form new friendships and strengthen existing ones. For some students, including those new to ESD, the trip provides an early chance to find their place within the grade.
“The Colorado trip showed us that we can do hard things even when we think we can’t,” one student reflected.
That mindset carries back to campus. Students described the trip as an introduction to the leadership expected of eighth graders and a reminder to approach challenges with an open mind and positive attitude. They also returned with practical advice for future classes: pack thoughtfully, bring warm clothes and extra socks, drink plenty of water, wear sunscreen and, most importantly, enjoy the experience.
Perhaps the greatest lesson came from the trail itself. Students who began the trip unsure of what to expect found themselves laughing with new friends, taking in mountain views and discovering that challenges often become the memories they value most.
“It was so easy to get back into school after this trip,” one student said. “I think that’s one reason I enjoyed it, knowing I’d come home with stronger friendships.”
