Orcas Christian School students take learning outdoors at annual campout and lake day

||| FROM ORCAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL |||

Orcas Christian School students take learning outdoors at annual campout and lake day Orcas Christian School (OCS) high school students took their annual campout to Moran State Park this week, spending two nights outdoors while participating in activities designed to build community, encourage learning and create shared experiences.

The annual campout, held each year after Labor Day, included overnight camping Tuesday and Wednesday at Moran State Park. During the day, students took part in a variety of activities and challenges, including time on Cascade Lake using paddleboards and kayaks. Students also enjoyed swimming near the bridge.

Each evening, students prepared and shared a “campfire story” as part of an activity led by homeroom teacher Andy Rivera. Although a burn ban prevented the students from gathering around an actual campfire, their stories provided plenty of entertainment, featuring suspense, cliffhangers and plot twists.

For the school, opportunities such as the annual campout help strengthen relationships among students while connecting them with the surrounding community.

“Experiences and opportunities like campouts and lake days are how we connect OCS students with their community while providing a fun-filled, learning atmosphere,” said Principal, Joel Shetler.

The high school students were not the only members of the OCS community to enjoy Moran State Park this week.

On Thursday, the entire school gathered at Cascade Lake for a schoolwide lake day featuring group activities such as painting, nature bingo and obstacle courses. Students spent the afternoon participating in activities, playing and enjoying time together before parents joined the group for an evening meal and fellowship.

OCS also included parents in school activities is an important part of building a strong school community.

“OCS loves to include our parents in our events and believe they are pivotal in making a  successful school,” Shetler said

The outdoor activities continued Thursday evening when elementary students had their own opportunity to camp overnight and experience sleeping under the stars.

According to OCS, events such as the campout and lake day provide students with opportunities to learn and grow outside the traditional classroom while fostering relationships among students, families and the broader Orcas Island community.