TA News

In Thetford Academy’s half-day Environmental Studies and Outdoor Education class, students spend a lot of time learning in, and from, the forest ecosystem. They also learn basic outdoor survival skills, building their own shelters to use over the course of the semester. Every student creates a “solo spot” shelter, a place for quiet reflection, reading, and writing.

The semester culminates with an assignment that puts students’ new skills to the test. Bringing only the bare minimum, they head to their solo spots to spend the night in the woods. In the winter, students not only face their fears of being alone outdoors, but also the challenge of keeping warm. This year’s class experienced rainy and cold conditions for their overnight – a test of their shelters and their grit.

Students’ written reflections spoke to these challenges and how they overcame them. One student wrote “…in the beginning with the thoughts of being alone, it [was] scary. But once I came to the realization that I wasn’t alone and everything surrounding me was not just there with me, but also there living its own life, it became a special kind of peace.”

Another spoke about persevering and the confidence it gave them. “I realized through this experience that I can do hard things that push me out of my comfort zone. And pushing myself out of my comfort zone actually doesn’t scare me but makes me feel more confident. And that is something I think I will carry with me the rest of my life.”

The solo overnight can be a transformative experience for students, a time of deep reflection and personal growth. This year’s class came away a little tired and damp, but a lot more confident.