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Mini Week 2022 Features Rock Climbing, Glassblowing, and More
Calvert’s Middle Schoolers had the opportunity to experience more than 24 hands-on activities late last month as part of Calvert School’s annual Mini Week. Hosted on October 27 and 28 this year, Mini Week is a multi-day departure from academic classes that encourages students to explore new subjects, acquire new skills, and discover new interests.
In addition to experiential leadership journeys to West Virginia and the Bahamas, Mini Week 2022 featured sessions on glass blowing, bouldering, ropes courses, and more, all aimed at fostering well-rounded Calvert students.
On Thursday, October 27, the day started early with sessions beginning at 8:45 A.M. and multiple buses departing from campus. On one, 23 students accompanied by art teacher Katie Leonard and counselor Terri Merwin traveled to McFadden Art Glass, a local glassblowing studio, where they learned the basics of glassblowing and created their own custom glass pumpkins.
At the same time, 19 students accompanied by music teacher John Babcock and Latin teacher Rick Norton explored a portion of the NCR trail on bikes while three other groups also ventured off campus: One for a scavenger hunt at the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA), another for a visit to a dairy farm, and the third for bouldering at a nearby rock-climbing gym.
Back on campus, the day continued with guided sessions on CPR training, composing, flag football, and more before concluding at 2:30 P.M.
On Friday, activities picked up right where they left off, with all Middle Schoolers leaving campus that morning to embark on still more adventures. At Sandy Spring Adventure Park, students participated in a high ropes course and team-building activities, while the “Dairy Discovery” crew learned the ins and outs of dairy farming with former Calvert teacher Katy Dallam. Closer to campus, small groups of students got hands-on experience free climbing or “bouldering” at Movement Hampden while still more of their friends returned to the BMA.
These unique offerings expose students to new environments and experiences beyond their comfort zones, where they find the support and compassion to broaden their horizons. Thank you to teachers Eric Cowell and Becky Kinney for planning this exceptional week – and to everyone who contributed!
Calvert School is a coed independent lower and middle school.
