This fall, our Fifth Grade Class traveled to Genesee Valley Outdoor Learning Center.
Genesee Valley is a seasonal year round outdoor center. Some students attend 
overnight summer camp and some have even cross-country skied there in the winter. 
This was a field trip to learn about each other, make friends, and for team building. Genessee Valley is located in Parkton, Maryland.  North of Baltimore City in the 
United States of America. Genessee Valley had elements such as challenge games,
thinking games, ropes courses and obstacles. We also learned about the outdoors 
and nature. Twenty-five students participated. One of our classmates was sick, so 
she couldn't attend.

It was a beautiful sunny day. We boarded the vans, and traveled 30 minutes North. 
Upon our arrival, we saw fields of freshly cut green grass. Ewes and a white, bald,
lopsided Guinea hen with a red gobbler greeted us. Gennesee Valley is a working 
farm with cows, dogs, chickens, geese, cats and ducks. It has four sparkling, shiny,
emerald swimming lakes gleaming with sunlight.  There were also many dusty, 
beaten, winding walking trails with animal and human footsteps. There are also
woods, fields, and pastures. We met 3 young college age counselors who gave us 
a tour and were our leaders. They had a lot of outdoor experience. These leaders 
live at Genesee Valley.

During our first activity, our entire class played a game called the "Chicken Plucker ". 
We had to run through a turning rope before the rope fell down on anyone. We went 
in groups of two's, three's, and twelve's.  We had to cooperate by listening to each 
other's thoughts, and ideas, and trying them out.

After we played some games, we were divided into three groups.  We played a 
name game where someone said their name and said their favorite ice cream. 
You had to remember everyone's name and their ice cream. We played a variety 
of name games.  We also played a game where everyone in the group had to get 
to an "island" We had to swing across on a thick, knotted rope and had to get our 
whole team of eight people on a tiny three by three foot wooden square.  We had 
to cooperate by moving around to get everyone on the "island"

Another game was called "The Path of Excellence." We had to find the correct path 
using little rug squares. Some of them were safe to step on, and some of them were
"snapping turtles". The purpose of the game was to use our memory skills to find 
the path of excellence to complete the game.  We also played a game called 
"Frogs and Lilly Pads". We had to think about how to cooperate and use two wooden
boards to get all our team members from one side of the water to the other.
Some of us had an opportunity to climb "the caterpillar". It was made out of  logs, 
and we had to climb using giant metal staples.  It was challenging, because every 
time we started to move it began to wiggle. We wore a safety harness for our 
protection.  We also had to climb "The Albatross". When you reached the top it 
made you feel important. It was really, really, scary. It was about two stories high 
and it had small wooden blocks instead of rocks which we had to grab on to so 
as not to fall. Climbing the wall required balance, strength, and concentration.
When we got tired and wanted to quit we took one step further because our
teammates were cheering us on. Coming down was a big relief.  Some people
had the feeling of success.

At the end of the day we felt exhausted.  We would all like to go back.  We learned 
that teamwork was needed to succeed. Some of us were surprised to learn new 
things about our friends, such as Kaity being an excellent climber.  We learned how
important it is to listen to other people and help them in activities.