Key Experiences
Great River engages in key experiences throughout the school year that are essential to our academic programs. Key experiences are school-lead trips and projects geared towards engagement with the broader community. The goal is to support students both intellectually and physically while encouraging independent self-reflection. Key Experiences vary by Grade level and availability of the facilities each year.
3rd Grade: Eagles Bluff Nature Center
This is the third ever Key Experience for third years. In the spring all 3rd years go to Eagle Bluff Environmental Learning Center. All students are encouraged to attend this trip as it will be a great stepping stone towards their full week trip in the fall. It’s also a great chance to get to know other third years that are not in their class. We will also have Classroom Guides, an administrator, EA’s, and other support staff on the trip (about 10 total adults).
4th, 5th, 6th Grade: Widjiwagan
In the Fall, all Upper Elementary classes go to Camp Widjiwagan! Camp Widji is in Ely, MN, almost 4.5 hours from GRS. We take charter buses and have an emergency vehicle with us as well. We will have Classroom Guides & Assistants, EA’s, and other support staff on the trip as well (about 12-15 adults/trip).
UE Widjiwagan Packing List
Widji Information Slide show
Widjiwagan Health History Form
Widjiwagan Parent Information
7th, 8th Grade: Odyssey
7 / 8 Odyssey Packing List
7th, 8th GRADE: Bike Trip
Each Year the 7th and 8th grade students take a bicycle trip as a community to end each school year. On this trip, we camp, cook, and tent together as we travel. Students and teachers transport themselves from one place to another on bicycles. The Bike Trip demands a great deal from every person in the community and calls for all of us to work together to make the trip a success.
On the Great River Bike Trip, students always wear helmets while biking, carry some biking accessories and spare parts, carry water, bike with 25 other people in a group, ride single file, and sometimes (rarely) bike on county roads.
9th Grade: Philadelphia Farm Trip
9th Grade Farm Trip Packing List
10th Grade: Itasca State Park
10th Grade Itasca Packing List
11th Grade: Northstar Quest
11th Grade Northstar Quest (NSTQ) Packing List
12th Grade: Canoe Trip
-
There exists a great deal of pressure on our senior year in high school, and commonly we are asked questions about our future plan, what we want to be, or what we want to do... once out of high school, there is no end to the number of choices and options we may encounter for our life’s structure. Expectations of college, jobs, living on our own all carry hopes and anxieties that both fuel our work and sometimes stop us paralyzed by fear. That fear can be of failure, of the unknown, or of commitment when we are unsure. The few facts that are universally accepted about coming of age all have to do with overcoming obstacles through persistence. As a metaphor, our trip takes us from the beginnings of a small river through challenges and long work into the passage of a larger river. We are going to be challenged physically and mentally in our journey. The route of our travel is set, but what we make of it is yet to be determined.
-
What if I’m not ready?
That’s okay! No swimming, canoeing, or camping experience is necessary for this trip. We are going to be challenged on this journey with both physical tasks (canoeing, walking, & setting up camp) and mental tasks (deep reflection, readings, and connecting with our past and future selves) that will be new for some of us. We will work together through these challenges, using all of our combined skill sets. We will have our community and the support of each other to make this a successful trip. If you are still feeling scared or hesitant, your trip leads are here to help.
-
EVERYONE:
Mark key dates on your family calendar:
First week of school: Medication Forms & Behavior Form due
Wednesday, September 10th: Your overnight bag needs to be brought to Room 270 for waterproofing
Monday, September 15th: Arrive at 10:00am at GRS
Thursday, September 18th: Plan to be picked up around 2:30pm at GRS
BEHAVIOR FORM: Look it over with your adults, read it, and reach out with any questions. Once you understand the expectations, sign either the electronic link or paper copy.
PACKING LIST: Make sure you know where your camping gear is; you’ll need all the usual Key Experience supplies.
Start getting excited. This will be your last Key Experience, and show up ready to enjoy (in our opinion) the greatest Key Experience yet!
PSEO students ONLY:
RSVP now: We need to know whether or not to expect you on your final senior Key Experience.
Important information
No swimming, canoeing, or camping experience is necessary for this trip. We will have a short hike (about 17mins) on Day 2 of the trip where students will need to carry their gear.
Lindsey Weaver and Aidan Clements are the trip leads - please email us BOTH with any questions or concerns! Our norm is to “reply all” to emails to ensure all parties are informed.
