Photo by Steven Miller, CC by 2.0, on Flickr

By: Victoria Hung

As a rite of passage for Grade 9 students and as an excellent opportunity for senior Titan leaders to show their initiative and leadership, Muskoka Woods 2022 proved another successful yearly trip that united the whole school community. 

In accomplishing this, many activities allowed the students to foster their collaborative spirit. For example, despite the rainy, damp weather, students gathered on the outdoor bleachers during the evening campfire, and they sang their hearts out to catchy, uplifting pop tunes, such as “You Can Count On Me” by Bruno Mars and “Viva la Vida” by Coldplay. 

Moreover, some other team-building activities include the Giant Swing Activity, where a group of students communicated the process of tugging a rope in order to lift a group member, harnessed in a rope, up to the top of a pole to be swung. This followed in turns, as patient, supportive group members strenuously tugged the rope in order to allow for the best experience as the swinger takes on this thrilling exploit. 

In addition, for instance, in one of the activities of tight ropes, some students were required to take on the role of being “spotters”, while watching out for the safety of a member climbing to the other side of a complex set of ropes. This enabled the students to see how their cooperation and awareness of the safety of others brought forth a huge benefit for the whole group. 

Besides some memorable connections amongst themselves during the 3-day activities and meals, students’ experiences were spiced up during the fun-filled costume runway, Monopoly game night, and dance during the last night of their stay. During the costume runway, senior Titan leaders boasted their creativity by sashaying down a make-shift runway with costumes inspired by, for example, the minions, X-men, and even Adam Sandler. 

In the monopoly activity, students spent and obtained monopoly money by completing a multitude of games, such as Twister, Truth or Dare, Finish the Lyrics, and Photobooth, in order to hopefully cash out for three thousand dollars worth of “money” that would win their cabin group a grand prize. 

Lastly, over the course of the late-night dance, the exhilarated student body– and later a mosh pile– hyped up the disco floor, showing off their dance moves and blasting out the lyrics of trendy songs. 

Overall, Muskoka 2022 was a truly memorable experience. That is to say, next year’s trip is highly recommended to upcoming Grade 9 students!