Malvern Prep’s 8th grade students traveled to Northbrook Canoeing. They got to choose a partner to navigate their way down the 4 mile long trip through the woods of the Brandywine. People chose to have conversations to get to better know their peers and others decided to take a little swim. This was an opportunity for a class bonding experience.
On September 27th, the 8th grade and their teachers traveled to Northbrook Canoe to travel down the Brandywine River as a class. The classes got to choose a partner to take with them. It was difficult at times if you flipped, but hopefully you did not. The excitement from the class filled the air and everyone was excited to get canoeing.
This trip has been a trip for a while in the 8th grade now. Mr. Duda is always the tailman at the end helping people who tip over, making sure everyone is in front of him and enjoying their time on the water. Mr. Duda talked about what it is like to be in the back of the line watching everyone go down the river. Mr. Duda says, “I’ve been the ‘anchor’ on our annual canoe trip for years now and it’s been an adventure for each new 8th grade class that goes down the river. This year, we had more canoes tip over than in past years so I’m the person that lends a hand to the boys to get the canoe back on the river. It’s fun watching them try to maneuver the canoe to the finish line…something they don’t do everyday.”
Along with going down the river and trying to avoid hitting obstacles, you can see some pretty cool animals on the river. Mr. Duda explained that he has seen fish like carp, bluegill, bass, and more. I saw a variety of birds. He was hoping to see a bald eagle, but he did not. Mr. Duda says, “I really didn’t see many animals at all this year but in previous years I saw foxes, deer, otters and of course, fish in the water.”
Students for the most part, but maybe some teachers, experience canoe tipping. This can happen if you hit a rock or log. The water this year was very cold so you would try not to have it tip. If it did tip, the inside of the canoe would fill up with heavy water. You needed to pull it aside on the bank to flip it and get the water out.
Going into canoeing, you and your partner should have a strategy in mind. It helped a lot if you knew what partner was at the front paddling and the one at the back steering because if you both were steering, it would not work out. If you did not work together then your canoe would be impossible to keep straight and might even tip.
The school connected to every day school life in many ways. We needed to work together and communicate to make sure we knew where we were going. Mr. Duda commented, “At MP, we stress how important it is to be able to work together in order to accomplish our goals. Communication and teamwork are essential skills needed to be successful, not only in the classroom, but in life. The canoe trip is always a fun way to practice those skills.”
Canoeing with a partner can help gain or even help grow skills, including communication. Mr. Duda shared that at Malvern, we stress how important it is to be able to work together in order to accomplish our goals. Communication and teamwork are essential skills needed to be successful, not only in the classroom, but in life. The canoe trip is always a fun way to practice those skills.
The Northbrook canoeing site is amazing and has delicious food aside from the actual canoeing. Their instructors are incredible too. They provide everything for you. You drive your car or bus to the site where you will end and then they will drive you to where you start on buses. They will drop you off 4 miles up and you will kayak down to the suite. This place is great for all families. Northbrook is located between Downingtown and Kennet Square PA.
People who love canoeing should visit this place and if you are in the grades lower than 8th, then you should look forward to this field trip to come.
