Grade 7 WWH Recap

“Week Without Halls” is undoubtedly one of the most anticipated events at Branksome Hall that students look forward to each year. This year’s WWH was no exception. Did this year live up to those expectations and anticipations? Did it provide everything that students were looking for? Let’s find out.

From the polar bear dips in the morning to the campfires at nights, students participated in many fun activities and went outside their comfort zones. The polar bear dips hyped up students in the morning even when it was freezing outside. While some encouraged their friends to jump, others pushed them off the dock! Later in the day, students enjoyed group activities such as archery, canoeing, and hiking to name a few. At night, everyone came together around the campfire eating smores and reflecting back on their experiences in a gratitude circle. Whether it was high up in the trees doing high ropes or down by the dock canoeing, students enjoyed themselves and made new friendships throughout the day.

While most things met the expectations, arrival schedule, food menu, and quiet after-hours did not. For example, many students felt rushed upon arrival. After a long bus ride, it would have been better if students were given a chance to freshen up and unpack. This would really allow them to get used to the new environment and know their cabin members. Similarly, there was no prior consultation on the food menu. While there was a lot of variety in the menu, students only enjoyed a few choices. This meant that people with dietary restrictions such as gluten free, kosher, halal foods, etc. had even fewer options. Finally, there were no quiet after-hours which meant students couldn’t sleep till late which resulted in fatigue in the mornings.

All in all, during these four days, the grade 7s made lots of fun memories and new friendships. They bonded strongly with other students in activities, campfires, and during lunch hours. Many long-lasting memories and friendships were made throughout this trip. The best part was that after the trip,students knew way more people than when they first came. While it lived up to my expectations in some areas and fell short in others, the overall experience was good. What about you? How was your WWH experience?