Chaperones ‘Survive’ Year After Year

The annual Survival camping trip is one of the most notable features of the Old Rochester Regional Junior High School experience. Each year since 1973, a large group of seventh grade students has traveled up to the hills and forests of Northfield, MA for a week of hiking, climbing, exploring, and learning about the great outdoors. This year’s trip departed on Sunday, June 14, and returned on Saturday, June 20.

As a byproduct of the Survival experience, many former participants continue to take the trip as chaperones. Noah Tavares, a rising junior at ORRHS, Jared Wheeler, a rising senior, and Evan Tilley, a rising sophomore, are among the students that travel up to Northfield each year to aid the seventh graders. Jillian Higgins was one of the many students who participated in this year’s trip. She, Wheeler, Tilley, and Tavares shared their experiences post-Survival.

This was Noah Tavares’ third year as a chaperone. For him, it’s all about seeing the seventh graders live up to Survival’s motto.

“I enjoy seeing the seventh graders succeed, and helping them achieve the many goals that the trip sets for them,” said Tavares. “[One of the best benefits of Survival] is watching the seventh graders unite and empower their fellow classmates to overcome challenges.”

Speaking on his best Survival memories, Tavares mentioned the great mountain views in Northfield that “we don’t get down here near the ocean.”

Wheeler has now been a Survival chaperone for four consecutive years. He had an interesting take on Survival’s effects on junior high culture.

“For one week, all the cliques dissolved and became friends,” he said, reflecting on his initial voyage as a camper in 2011.

Wheeler’s best memory – so far – is lying under stars with a group of fellow chaperones this past year. He called the experience “surreal.”

Survival has had a big impact on Wheeler.

“The friends I have made will last a lifetime, and the gratitude of the kids and their families makes it all worthwhile,” said Wheeler.

Tilley enjoyed being a chaperone for the first time in 2014, so he returned this year.

“I think it’s a good experience that creates lots of memorable moments and makes you appreciate your daily lifestyle,” said Tilley.

Tilley acknowledges that Survival has had a profound impact on him as a person.

“I’ve learned how to become more supportive, helpful, and optimistic,” he said.

All three of these chaperones plan to continue with the program in the future.

As any past Survival participant knows, climbing the Notch Mountain is one of the most physically challenging parts of the trip. Seventh grader Jill Higgins noted that this was the one thing she was nervous about before heading up to Northfield this year. However, when asked what her favorite part of the experience was, she said it was “the feeling of accomplishment and the great views at the top of the Notch.”

Like many before her, Higgins wasn’t sure what to expect on the trip.

“The hardest part was preparing, because you didn’t know what was coming,” said Higgins.

In Higgins’ experience, the most important lesson Survival taught was “learning to encourage and support the people around me.”

The mission statement of the Survival program is “A shared road to a stronger self.” Each and every year, Survival instills great values into the students who participate, allowing them to achieve this goal. For this group of chaperones, the lessons taught by Survival have left a lasting impact, causing them to come back each year. Higgins’ experiences resonate with the mission statement, and as 40+ years of Survival participants can tell you, the program does make a person stronger: mentally, physically, and emotionally.

By Patrick Briand

normal_Survival_6

Leave A Comment...

*