February 25, 2022
We're excited to share with you our first trip report of 2022! Written by our very own Catrock Alumni, Certified ICO leader and up and coming outdoor Maverick and Trail Blazer: Andrew Negron.
"We were lucky to catch one of the warmest days this winter, and took that opportunity to take the students from M.S. 302 to Bear Mountain State Park. Students got off the buses and were introduced to the amazing CatRock Leaders that came to help lead the trip. After introductions students were out-fitted with ice skates and got on the ice. For many students it was their first time ice skating and with the assistance and guidance of Craig, Issac, Melanie, Nicholas, and Miriam, students were able to get accustomed to being on the ice. Students took breaks from ice skating by a beautiful fireplace and stayed hydrated while enjoying healthy snacks. For me as a leader, who was once a student on this very same trip, and where I too learned how to ice skate; the only describable feeling was a blast of nostalgia, to have tought the 7th and 8th grade students of M.S. 302 how to ice skate in the same way that I learned.
Once we got off the ice rink and returned the gear, we took the students to the picnic tables by Hessian Lake, where we intended to start the hike after students had lunch. Students were playing group games when they finished lunch early, while others were finishing up their lunches. After lunch we lined up our students and set out to hike around Hessian Lake. Unfortunately, due to the snow and terrain of the trail, the path was closed off unexpectedly. We walked back to the picnic section, where we noticed a lot of garbage that was not cleaned up. We had the students form one long line and as we did a group sweep of the picnic area so that everyone could practice Leave No Trace. After students practiced Leave No Trace, we took them back to the buses to head back to their school. Overall it was a great experience despite not being able to complete the full hike. We left students with a stronger connection to the outdoors and motivation to continue seeking more experiences."
Looking forward to many more trips this year. We hope to see you all out there!
Cheers,
Andrew Negron and Nick Radulescu