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Connecting to Nature, Ourselves and Each Other
This August, Severn's class of 2026 began the journey through middle school with their 7th and 8th-grade peers just a few steps ahead. They have spent their entire lives in a world where we make online connections without a second thought. We want to make sure our middle schoolers value connections of a different sort — connections to each other, their sense of self, and to the natural world. With that goal in mind, we start the year by heading to the Eastern Shore to push boundaries, learn teamwork and perseverance, and strengthen the bonds of our community.
Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center
The entire sixth grade spent the day at the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center, a 510-acre wildlife preserve. Working together, they kayaked, hiked, caught and identified different species of animal life, tested water quality, and constructed buoys. With our close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay, it’s important that our students feel a continued sense of connection to and responsibility for our local ecosystem.
Tuckahoe State Park
Our seventh graders traveled to Tuckahoe State Park to camp, fish, kayak and participate in team-building activities. The kids set up their camps, cooked dinner, and had to rely on one another to face the challenges of the ropes course. For many, this was their first time sleeping away from home, in a tent in the woods. These shared experiences — a mix of responsibility and fun — help students form genuine connections with each other and with our teachers.
Echo Hill Outdoor School
Leaders of the middle grades, our 8th graders spent three days and two nights at Echo Hill Outdoor School. They ventured into the Chesapeake Bay on a traditional workboat, developed orienteering skills, went on a night hike, and practiced group problem-solving in high and low ropes challenge courses. This three-day trip involves a degree of risk-taking, both individually and as a group, that truly brings the class together. The relationships they build outside the classroom help to foster a more supportive learning environment when they return.
