Students Soar to New Heights at Camp Milken

Cheers of excitement and encouragement were heard as students climbed a 40-foot pole and carefully made their way across a cable using long ropes suspended from a wire. The exhilarating activity was part of Camp Milken, an overnight team building retreat for 7th and 8th graders, which took place August 30 and 31.

Engaging activities such as high and low ropes challenge courses, including a 60-foot climbing wall, dance, art activities, and boat building were just a few of the exciting sessions in which the Middle School students participated. Held at Camp Hess Kramer, in Malibu, which sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, students took part in five rotations including one held on the picturesque beach. After viewing artistic pictures of stone sculptures, groups of students collected rocks and built structurally sound and visually appealing formations.

Designed to help students overcome fear, build trust, communicate effectively, and to think critically, the program challenges students to venture out of their comfort zones. This is exactly what Kate Behrman ’23 did. Afraid of heights, she pushed herself to complete the ropes course with her friends cheering her on. Behrman enjoyed bonding with the other 7th graders in her group and said, “We had tons of fun!” Some of the highlights for her included dancing, creating art, and the boat race.

The retreat offered students the opportunity to move beyond the confines of the classrooms to connect with classmates and teachers, while making new friends, and creating a nurturing community. This year’s theme was “Think Well,” derived from Milken’s Portrait of a Graduate, which encourages students to possess an innovator’s mindset and entrepreneurial approach to the world around them. Students were divided into advisory groups and sported different color shirts that read “Think Well” with a picture of a well on them.

 

Whether it was gathering around the campfire performing skits, sharing communal meals, showing off their skills in a talent show or confronting their fears on a climbing wall, students created lasting memories and began building friendships.

 

“Every year for me the highlight is seeing the students and the teachers bond and begin to form the Middle School community,” remarked Middle School Assistant Principal Chris Scarlata. He hopes that students come away with a greater sense of the Milken Community while building closer relationships with their advisors and teachers as they face challenges and take risks.