By Isabella Fiutak, Banner Staff

Whether through team-building activities or shared experiences, class retreats are integral to the bonding of a grade. In September, Lower School, Class V, and Class VI students went on their own retreats, traveling as near as the New England Aquarium and as far as Maine.

Classes I and IV went to Hale Education, located on 1,200 acres of woodlands in Westwood and Dover, MA. Class I completed a ropes course and participated in numerous team-building activities such as a trust walk, where they took turns guiding each other blindfolded to a lake. At lunch, they were joined by Class IV, and the two grades met their buddies for the first time. “This was my favorite part of the retreat because I got to tell my buddy about all the fun things we do at Winsor, like Spirit Week and Death by Chocolate,” said Claire Skeffington ’29. “It was fun to see her get excited and look forward to the new school year.”

For their retreat, Class II visited Good Pickin’ Farms in Westford, MA, where they first fed and pet the different types of animals kept there. After lunch, they split into groups, with one participating in goat yoga as the other went on a hike. According to Nepheli Pantazis ’31, “the goats were all around [them]” and even chewed their hair. 

Similarly, Class III spent the day at Eastie Farms. As stated on their website, the farm teaches the surrounding community  about  climate-friendly practices and prepares youth for climate activism and green jobs, all the while growing fresh food for their East Boston neighbors. 

Class III Students at Retreat, photo by Winsor Communications Department

For a special overnight retreat, Class V spent two days at Camp Wavus in Jefferson, ME. According to Allegra Catalino ’28, it rained the first day, so games and team-bonding activities took place in the main lodge. That night, the class was split into advisories, and they competed  for extra materials for an egg drop challenge. The next day was sunny, so they participated in “outdoor games including partner tag, steal the bacon, and high [ropes] courses.”

Class VI  went to the New England Aquarium, where they completed a scavenger hunt in advisory groups. They stayed in groups for lunch at Faneuil Hall, and some students also explored the nearby area. After lunch, the class watched a 3D movie about the ocean at the Simons Theatre. Sana Khan ’27 said “I think it was a very successful trip because we were able to bond with our advisory and get to know each other even better.” 

Like Khan, students from other grades mentioned the positive impact these retreats had on their grades. Wren Gourley ’31 stated that the retreat “was a chance to meet new people and bond with them in a way that is hard to do in a classroom environment.” Meanwhile, Skeffington asserted that the Class IV retreat “helped me re-bond with my classmates and catch up with those who I hadn’t seen over the summer.” While the memory of the exact activities or sequences of events may fade, the connections created on each of  these retreats will last throughout each grade’s Winsor journey.