Guest Feature by Valeria Salas-Dietz (Cohort 39)
On August 22nd, Cohort 43 students traveled to the Sandy Hill Camp & Retreat Center for a two-day excursion that defined and launched the beginning of their QUEST journeys. I was lucky enough to be able to accompany the fresh QUESTees as one of their mentors this semester.
Cohort 43 at QUEST Camp!
After a two hour bus ride, we arrived at camp. A dining hall, pool, recreational rooms, gymnasium, basketball courts, archery range, stables with horses, and lodges made up the place Cohort 43 and their respective mentors would call home for the next few days.
After an express welcome from the camp owner, we jumped into revealing teams and mentors. For QUESTees, this a definitive moment in their QUEST journey. I met the fantastic five that will be my team for the rest of the semester. I knew from this initial meeting that one thing was clear: I cannot wait to see what Cohort 43 has in store for QUEST!
The fantastic five.
After grouping into teams, we all embarked on a three activity rotation that spread to all different points of the camp. My team began in the Pilot Product activity in the recreational room. Once inside, each team was provided with paper, markers, and an hour and a half to create a product. Instantly, my team got to work. It was in this activity that they were able to get a taste of what the next few years with QUEST would look like. But, before we knew it, time was up.
Activity number two: the ropes course. For this activity, the camp guides took us through a series of trust building exercises. For the final exercise, we gathered around and everyone used one hand to push one person up high into the air. To my surprise, that person ended up being me!
Up in the air!
Lastly, we trekked down to the bay for the boat building activity. At the dock, each team was given tape, scissors, cardboard, and plastic bags. Using these materials, each team had to build a ‘boat’ fit enough for a race in the Chesapeake Bay. The competition was hot! The three boats set off, each vying for first place. After naming a champion, and a couple dunks in the water, we dried off for dinner, s’mores by the bonfire, and karaoke to close off. A perfect trifecta for a perfect first day.
Cohort 43 enjoying s’mores.
Day two was monumental. The teams presented their pilot presentations to the Quality Guild (QUEST faculty/staff). Cohort 43 is a talented and innovative bunch!
The winning team: Say It With Your QUEST
Emily Marks and Jess Roffe, our program staff, truly created the best experience for Cohort 43 and the mentors. QUEST Camp is an incredibly defining moment for QUESTees and this year’s camp did just that. My team is amazing and has already begun inspiring my own mentorship skills. Reflecting on his team, Bryan Rios Ramirez of Cohort 43, told us that camp allowed him to “learn more about them and their personalities have latched onto mine, making me feel more comfortable and cooperative within the team.” I cannot wait to see what more is to come with Cohort 43 and am excited to learn from QUEST’s newest members.