Continuing an annual tradition, five members of South Kent School’s (SKS) junior class – including Benjamin Bruen of Sherman and Connor Greene of Bridgewater — braved the elements during a mid-Winter camping adventure, this year in the rugged hills of western Massachusetts.
Jimmy Gabrione(l), Billy Speight, Benjamin Bruen, Connor Greene, Curran Forgue, Photo by Tim Bonis
The trip – which was voluntary — focused on putting into practice the School’s core values of self-reliance and community leadership.
While disappointed at having to cut the trip short due to the dangerous conditions, Mr. Bonis characterized their adventure as a “true test of character which all of the boys passed with flying colors. They all maintained their sense of humor – doing what they could to keep up morale on one of the coldest nights of the year.”
The next day the group retreated to Bish Bash Falls on the New York/Massachusetts border where they were able to spend the day hiking before returning to the South Kent Campus. All the boys vowed to return for a second attempt at the Mt. Greylock summit in April when conditions will be more favorable.
“We are convinced these kinds of challenges, under carefully controlled conditions, help to develop character and provide leadership training for boys. We believe the boys will one day draw upon what they have learned in exercises like these to make the right choices in life,” said South Kent School Head of School Andrew Vadnais.
“The winter camping experience this year gave some of our students a chance to push themselves past their comfort zone and make real-life choices under adverse circumstances. It also presented the leaders in the group a chance to lead — which they did admirably,” he said.
Rising above the surrounding Berkshire landscape, Mt. Greylock provides dramatic views of 60-90 miles. It was Massachusetts’ first wilderness state park and was acquired by the Commonwealth in 1898.
