Every year in October the seventh graders pack up their bags and sleeping bags and head up to north Florida for a week. They stay at a retreat center called Dogwood Acres in Chipley, Florida. More information about Dogwood Acres can be found at www.dogwoodacres.org.
During the week the students explore Torreye State Park (long hike and a tour of the plantation home), St. Andrew’s State Park (nature trails, beach/dune ecology, erosion etc., scrub), Florida Caverns (cavern tour and trails), and take a canoe trip down the Chipola River.
At a time in their lives when everything is in flux, the theme for the week is change. We talk about and witness how we change, how our bodies change, how the elements change the environment, how some things change very slowly (caves), and how some things change relatively quickly (sand dunes and beach erosion). We acknowledge that although change is happening all around us, God never changes.
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.
Information for 2012 Trip
- Dates: October 8–12, 2012. Drop off students at regular time on October 8. Pick up at 5:00 pm on October 12.
- Trip Leader: Robbie Andreasen (Life Science Teacher)
- Cost: The cost of this trip in 2011 was $350
- More information will be sent early in the summer
This is great week for the students to explore another part of their state and spend a an extended period of time living with each other, working together, helping and encouraging one another, worshiping together, and praying with and for one another.