On the 27th of August, the Duke of Ed students from Rochester Secondary College arrived at The Summit, buzzing with energy and ready to dive into adventure. From the first challenge to the final reflection, the group brought courage, teamwork, and plenty of laughs to camp life.
The Five Keys
- Have Fun
- Play All In
- Make Lots of Mistakes
- Get Uncomfortable
- Don’t Go Home Wondering ‘What If’
Day Day One , Teamwork & First Steps
After settling in, the group met their coaches, Mim and Timmy, who introduced the Summit values and the Target, Stretch, Super Stretch goal-setting strategy.
The first initiative challenge, Tiles, had students working together to cross a space without touching the ground, testing communication and creativity.
The group then split: half ventured into The Cave, navigating in complete darkness, while the others tackled the Bush Challenge, a timed obstacle course through the bush that pushed teamwork, trust, and resilience. Later in the day, they swapped so everyone got the full experience.
Day Two — Intention & Grit
The morning began with a reflection on setting intentions, choosing how to show up for the day and not letting things outside of our control take charge. A quick game of Jockeys set the energy before activities began.
The group split again: one half faced Snake & Nails, walking barefoot across nails and meeting Hercules the python, while the other half took on the Leap of Faith, climbing high and leaping with courage. Everyone came together for the Sky Bridge, balancing high above the ground with plenty of encouragement from below.
In the afternoon, the tribe soared on the Giant Swing before diving into the legendary Mud Run. Little did they know, it was two laps! This surprise tested grit and resilience, showing just how much more they had in the tank than they first believed.
Final Day — Gratitude & Goodbyes
On the last morning, Coaches Mim and Timmy spoke about the power of gratitude, encouraging students to reflect on what they’re thankful for. Then it was into the park for the final rotations, Flying Fox and Summit Window, ending camp on a high note.
Before leaving, each group voted for a Values Winner, someone who truly embodied the Five Keys. These legends earned a ride in The Summit’s WWII tank, a memory to treasure!
Activities & Tribe Names
- Trump Mafia
- Kamala Mafia
Activities included: Tiles, Cave, Bush Challenge, Snake & Nails, Leap of Faith, Sky Bridge, Giant Swing, Mud Run, Flying Fox, and Summit Window.
Bush Challenge Results
First Attempt:
- Trump Mafia , 15:43
- Kamala Mafia , 17:29
Second Attempt:
- Kamala Mafia , 8:58
- Trump Mafia , 10:37
Mud Run Improvement Times
- +10:51 , Kamala Mafia
- +8:33 , Trump Mafia
Values Winners
- Reno , Trump Mafia
- Ella , Kamala Mafia
- Teacher’s Pick: Brooklyn
Thank You, Rochester!
A massive shoutout to the Duke of Ed crew from Rochester Secondary College, you showed courage, teamwork, and resilience every step of the way. From muddy challenges to sky-high leaps, you played all in and proved just how much you can achieve together.
Take the Five Keys back into school and life, you’ve got everything it takes to smash your goals.
From your coaching team , Mim & Timmy
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