This was our first outing this year and our first camping trip ever! In the afternoon, we arrived at Harriman State Park and set up our tents and gear. When the sun started to set, we cooked dinner, which was pasta, roasted veggies, garlic bread, and salad. We also drank hot chocolate, ate peach cobblers, and roasted marshmallows around our campfire. We bonded around the fire and then hung out in our tents after. It was very cold, so we had to bundle up before bed! Early in the morning, Audrey and Jilly set out with Dr. Porterfield for a morning hike around the lake. We watched the sun rise over the surrounding mountains and observed the reflections of autumn trees in the lake, all while talking and getting to know each other more. When we got back to camp, everybody was setting up breakfast, which was banana pancakes! We also set up our lunches to eat on our day hike. Once we were all packed up, the entire group started our hike with a huge uphill climb! While the hike was difficult, it was also beautiful. We bonded when we passed by open views, climbed seemingly endless hills, and navigated our way through the trails. After a long hike, we hopped back on the bus to drive home, thankful for the refreshing time we spent together but ready to sleep in our warm beds. Thank you to Ms. Chaffee-Cohen, Ms. Woodring, and Dr. Porterfield for being such supportive and fun chaperones!

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By Audrey Alix, Molly Kelley, and Jilly Sher