Juniors Reach New Heights

Annual Junior Ski Trip Recap

Photo courtesy of Blair Bayliss/Maclay Andalusian

Every December, the junior class anticipates a tradition that takes them to the ski slopes of Breckenridge, Colo. This year, on Jan. 11, the students met bright and early at school, ready to begin their adventure. After a smooth bus ride to Jacksonville, Fla., they boarded a flight bound for the peaks of Denver, Colo., one bus ride away from Breckenridge.

Unfortunately for some of the juniors, there were complications with one bus, setting them back two hours. Group one arrived at Beaver Run Resort after stopping at a local grocery store, and headed to bed.

The next morning, students acquired their rentals and hit the slopes. New skiers had the opportunity to be taught by an experienced senior, parent or teacher chaperone. The juniors skied half the day until it was time to head back to the hotel and change for ice skating.

“It was really fun getting to walk through the town of Breckenridge, take a break from skiing and go ice skating,” junior Claire Smith said.

After skating, the juniors went on a short hike to The Breckenridge Troll, a statue built for the Breckenridge International Festival of Arts. They took a picture and headed back for dinner. Some students cooked dinner in their rooms, while others went to try out some of the restaurants in the hotel.

“Cooking brought us together because it was fun to all play a part in making dinner and share it with other rooms,” junior Addy Papuchis said.

The second day of the trip allowed students to sleep in before checking in with their chaperones in the conference room. Most students woke up early, getting out on the slopes for the entire day. Some skiers explored the mountain from left to right, while others stayed in big groups, still getting the hang of the sport. Once students checked in around 4 p.m., they started their dishes for the cooking competition, a fun activity that helped bond the class. Each dish had to have three ingredients and was judged on presentation, taste and creativity. The winners of the competition received Tru Bru gift cards.

On the final day of skiing, the juniors returned their equipment and had some free time to explore the town. They shopped and enjoyed dinner at restaurants of their choosing. After walking back to the hotel, the students still had some time before curfew. Most hung out with friends, played cards or relaxed in the hot tub if they were not packing.

The next morning, everyone woke up early to eat breakfast in their rooms and get their bags by the door. The chaperones and juniors boarded the buses and made their way to the airport for their flight to Jacksonville. To avoid any mishaps, the class arrived at the airport five hours early. Upon their arrival in Florida, the group boarded one last bus to Maclay, arriving around 2 a.m.

“It was exciting skiing for the first time and having the opportunity to bond with friends while living together,” junior Luke Daunt said.