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).

Eagle Bluff Packing List

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.