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Over the past few days we have been out of contact at Camp Glenburn, a local YMCA camp situated on the St. John River about thirty minutes from Rothesay Netherwood School. We arrived on Sunday morning in absolutely soaking conditions. The rain found its way into a few of our tents the night before making for a bit of a wet, early-morning rise.Camp Glenburn is a special place in the heart of the St. John community. We listened to many stories of teachers who grew up attending Camp Glenburn in the summer months, and returning later as counselors in training and eventually working full time at the camp during summer break while in college. It is a beautiful spot, a very narrow and steep property cascading from the roadside down to the riverfront in a thick patch of Acadian Forest with a blend of mixed hard- and soft-wood tree species. It was cold, blustery and rainy when we stepped off the bus, but the rain let up and we proceeded through an adventurous gray day.We split into four groups. There were four different ropes course challenges. The first focused on low rope soft skills; trust falls, the 'Eskimo' toss, and a variety of group games. We moved on to the high ropes course in the afternoon. We challenged ourselves on elements such as the 'Catwalk', 'Optimus Prime' and the 'Burma Bridge'. We wore climbing harnesses and were belayed from a top rope. Each element offered the challenge of a different variation of balance, height, and movement.After the first day at Camp Glenburn, everyone was exhausted. We had a delicious dinner in the main lodge, and afterward the kids played an enormous game of capture the flag. We came back in and sat around the fire. Slowly people wandered off to bed.We were greeted by a beautiful sun filled day on Monday morning. We ate a hearty breakfast and each group proceeded to the ropes course elements they did not do the day before. Our group went down to the river to learn how to tie a variety of different knots, and create a game from a sundry of items: a hula hoop, rope, and tent stakes. After lunch we proceeded to the final ropes course activity, a high ropes activity focused on team building. Each group had to get as many people as they could on a tiny tower while the other team members belayed from below. Afterward, we played a number of different games group games, 'Sharks, Whales, and Dolphins', 'Squirt, Squirt, Bang' and others.Everyone enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the beach next to the river after dinner. We build a huge bonfire and the students were treated to a dance party on the beach complete with a light show.The gray weather returned this morning and we loaded the buses for a tour of the Fundy Trail. The Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world. We got a chance to explore a few local fishing villages and sea caves caused by the erosive power of the ocean over time, carving out enormous rooms in the sandstone geologic features lining the coast.The kids went off to their afternoon activities, paintball and river kayaking, and we all convened back at Rothesay School this evening. Tomorrow we are heading into the St. John community for a day of service. The kids will enjoy stays with local families tonight and tomorrow.The conference has afforded great opportunities for conversation and collaboration with adults from other school communities. The Rothesay School has been more than welcoming, and the vibe is relaxed and spirited. --Brett Mayer
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