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By Daniel Hughes and Danielle Robertson
Each fall, our fifth graders exchange their familiar Carey routines for a week of discovery in Yosemite National Park. For our students, stepping into a new environment for four days and three nights becomes an incredibly meaningful experience. These four days are not only about hiking or observing nature, but also about stepping up as leaders, welcoming new challenges, and learning what it means to support one another both in and out of the classroom.
On campus, the fifth graders act as role models for younger students. The Yosemite trip acts as one of the first major thresholds they cross on their way to being leaders in middle school and beyond. The enormity of the natural world surrounding them offers an important and beautiful reminder of all the possibilities that lay ahead.
During the trip, students engage in morning camp clean-up, take charge of and organize their daypacks, and connect with their trail group about the plan for the day. These moments might seem small, but they represent a meaningful opportunity to practice leadership and collaboration. Leadership is not only speaking with confidence. It is noticing, supporting, and helping the group move forward.
Moving beyond the classroom, students had an opportunity to discover strengths they did not know they had. Some found themselves explaining natural features to classmates after listening closely to our guides. Others challenged themselves physically on uphill sections of the trail, or emotionally by spending multiple nights away from home. The act of saying yes to something unfamiliar, whether it was trying new food on the trail, building new friendships, or leaning into a difficult hike, built confidence that carried directly back into school life.
During reflection discussions on trail, students shared what felt hard, what felt exciting, and what they were proud of. Over and over, they recognized that accepting new opportunities helped them feel more capable.
Every day included experiences that required teamwork, sometimes in obvious ways and sometimes in subtle ones. The team-building activities required listening, cooperation, and trust. Just like in academic group work, success came when students focused less on being first or being “right” and more on supporting and listening to one another.
One of the most important takeaways from Yosemite is that leadership grows stronger through practice. Students found themselves navigating unfamiliar trails, and that experience parallels the academic challenges they face at Carey. Whether working through complex math investigations, planning a group presentation, or supporting classmates, students returned with a renewed sense of responsibility and capability.
On the final day, our trip concluded with a visit to the breathtaking Yosemite Falls. After several days of trail hikes, teamwork, and personal growth, arriving at the base of such a vast and beautiful waterfall was more than just a scenic moment. It was a celebration. Standing beneath the mist and looking up at thousands of feet of cascading water, students were reminded of the scale and beauty of the natural world. This expedition stretched students’ minds, strengthened friendships, and invited them to imagine themselves as confident leaders of their own next chapter.
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