During the first weekend of the school year, the Concord Academy junior class went to Cathleen Stone Island on the Boston Harbour for some “class bonding.” While the trip had many memorable and enjoyable moments, I’m not sure it fully achieved its original goal. Instead, I left with a mix of emotions from exhaustion to frustration to joy.
We left campus early Saturday morning, lugging our bags and suitcases on the bus. The ride was lighthearted, with music, chatter, and excitement filling the atmosphere. When we arrived at the dock, the view of the sea was gorgeous, and I appreciated the boat ride. Once we arrived on the island, our phones were collected and we were split into groups mixed with people from every corner of the grade.
Our first challenge was a 62-foot climbing tower. We learned each role needed to execute a successful climb, and though it was exciting to step out of my comfort zone, the heat was brutal, especially since I wore pants. We later had some spare time, so we headed to the beach. The sea was clear, and shells were scattered along the sand. It was a moment of peace and became a highlight, but by the end, I was exhausted. Instead of resting, we headed to lunch, and more activities awaited us.
Next was the low ropes courses, which ended up becoming a favorite. Activities like balancing a wooden plank or swinging the whole group from block to block used teamwork, which made our collaboration truly feel like bonding. Later, we were introduced to the dorms. Roommates were randomly selected, and I ended up with someone I’d barely spoken to. To my surprise, we got along well and had great conversations throughout the trip. The dorm itself, on the other hand, wasn’t the best. I found hair on my pillow when I first entered, and spiders hung in the shower stalls. Still, I was grateful we weren’t sleeping outside.
Evening free time in the common room was another favorite moment. With a mix of friends and people I wasn’t close to, I learned new card games and laughed a lot. Dinner was decent, but what followed was, as corny as it sounds, magical. Our planned smores and campfire night was canceled due ot thunderstorms, so my group walked to the beach in the drizzling rain. A wedding was happening nearby, and as we danced along to their music, we observed the nightscape of Boston Harbor. Finding a spot, we sat down, some people skipping rocks, some improvising a fire using hand sanitizer, and others just quietly watching Boston glow in the distance. It’s one experience I regretted not capturing on film.
The next morning, however, was a different feeling. Torrential rain made the boat ride back chaotic, and by the time we reached campus, I was drenched and shivering. This wasn’t my problem with the trip, though.
Looking back, the retreat itself was enjoyable, but the timing was rough. It was scheduled for the first week back at school, after Grit 'N Wit on Friday, and we returned on Sunday at noon, leaving little time for homework. As juniors, we already have heavy workloads, and I quickly fell behind, with the stress lingering the following week. If the trip had been scheduled later, it might have solved this problem and let us enjoy the experience without the looming presence of homework. Additionally, while I bonded with my group while we were on the island, everything remained the same when we came back to campus, so the connections didn’t last. While the trip was fun, it didn't quite achieve the goal of lasting class bonding.
Still, I’m glad I went. Cathleen Stone Island gave me moments I’ll never forget, like seashell collecting and getting soaked in the rain — but I hope future trips can consider timing and workload more carefully.