The first day of school for most students is filled with excitement and anticipation as they discover new classrooms, teachers, and subjects. But our eighth-grade class does things a little differently.

Rather than kick off the school year on campus, our eighth-grade students, faculty, and advisors head to Buena Vista, Colorado where they spend the first week of “school” camping, hiking, rock climbing, and building strong bonds for the upcoming year. This adventure was inspired by the one originally undertaken in the school’s formative years several decades ago.

In 1974, our founder Father Swann took ESD’s very first eighth-grade class down to Galveston on the first day of school. The landscape of south Texas beaches might differ from the mountainous region of Buena Vista, Colorado but the intent behind the excursion remains the same. Each day focuses on one of ESD’s Founding Tenets: Daily Worship, Community, Ethical Decision Making, and Service to Others. The activities and advisory sessions of the trip are then built to enhance the understanding and purpose of our Founding Tenets.

“We frame the experience around our Founding Tenets so that our eighth graders begin their last year of Middle School with a deep understanding of our core values and who we are as a school,” explains Assistant Head of Middle School and ESD alum Meg Fahrenbrook ’01. “Our hope is that it sets them up to live out those values as they set the example and tone for the rest of the Middle School division.”

Throughout the trip, students are challenged physically with hiking and rock climbing, but also mentally, emotionally, and socially as they carry out summer reading discussions, daily chapel talks, and making new friendships. Combined, these activities stretch our students and help them create lasting bonds that will allow them to step into the role of “leaders” of the Middle School.

We wish the Class of 2024 a fun and productive trip! We can’t wait to see you back on campus for the second week of school.