Students from Aurora Experiential Learning (AXL) Academy’s CAP class took Thursday and Friday off from their regularly scheduled school activities to spend an overnight in a cabin and get in touch with nature and their peers in Allenspark, CO.

During the overnight adventure, students stayed in the Horse Lodge at Highlands Presbyterian Camp. Upon their arrival on Thursday, the group discussed how to reduce their environmental impact during the trip. Then, they strapped on snowshoes and tried out what was a new sport to almost everyone. They stopped along the way to smell the Ponderosa Pines. (Ask a student what they smell like!) After some time outside, they warmed up in the activity center with hot cocoa and games. A third of the group chose to use the sleds in the activity center to get in some more outdoor fun on a nearby hill.

The evening was spent cooking dinner, starting a fire with flint and steel to keep the cabin warm, playing a big group game called “Salad Bowl” (rules and game description here), and spending some time getting to know one another better. The following morning, they packed up and headed downhill towards Lyons for a few more outdoor adventures!

Due to the snowy weather, the class ended up heading straight back to the school in the early afternoon. A big thanks to all of the families in accommodating our adjusted plan on day two and for giving permission for these 13 students to attend an overnight trip they will remember forever!

Written by AXL CAP Instructor Adam Fedyski

See more photos and videos from the trip here!