Eyes aglow with the campfire light, the air is filled with the smell of pine and laughter. Life is good. But oh, there’s a calculus test next week! Are the five days of memories away from school worth the stress of schoolwork upon return to Summit?
Camp Tamarack, an experience unlike any other, yet experienced by such a niche community within Summit. The program has both positive and negative impacts on students. On one hand, Tamarack offers real world skills for students, however this leave causes an immense burden of schoolwork.
Arguably, a week away from school will benefit your future in a greater way. By exploring alternate forms of learning through the experience of teaching and leading, the program provides students with a new perspective on both school and beyond.
“I think that having a break from not having so many things on your mind like all of your classes, [you can] come back refreshed and think of everything in a new way, [with a] new perspective,” explains Summit sophomore and Camp Tamarack counselor Tove Skarperud.
In addition to a rewarding outdoor experience as explained by Skarperud, the opportunity offered by Tamarack helps students on paper as well.
The program offers half of a credit for transcripts along with a bulked up list of extracurricular activities, after students write a brief essay for Mr. Rankin on their experience. As well as, volunteering specifically in the Spring (advisable after AP testing) will put you in the pool for a Summer counselor position.
Summit students are in a storm of stress when it comes to college admissions, as they learn the importance of a well built transcript, yet what to do to improve these transcripts is unclear. Opportunities to volunteer such as that offered by Tamarack are few and far between, so why is this opportunity not taken more readily?
Balance is a challenging aspect of any high schoolers life, every Storm student knows the struggle of absences and making up the learning from these days.
“When you’re in the classroom, you’re getting both conceptual understanding and procedural fluency,” commented AP Pre-Calc teacher Jackie Greenwood on the importance of attendance.
With heavy course loads from academics, leaving school for a week feels daunting. While this break is enjoyable, like a sick day away from school, it makes coming back that much harder.
Within these challenges, there are also hidden benefits and opportunities from this week.
This camp allows highschool students the opportunity to make a difference in the world, even if it’s just with a few kids.
“I was able to kind of become an adult with kids, I had a lot of responsibilities to take care of,” says Summit sophomore and Camp Tamarack counselor Gavin Shaparast.
Shaparast advises the program mostly for freshman and sophomore students, taking advantage of the ability to (more) easily manage a week’s worth of schoolwork.
So, if you’re feeling stuck in the chaos of school and are looking for a new perspective, consider a week in the woods. Joining the Tamarack family is worth the risk.
