FALLING TOGETHER

Every year Wakefield Country Day School students enjoy a week off

in February to engage in winter sports or to travel. In years past it has been customary for the WCDS

International Students to spend the week skiing at Canaan Valley Ski Resort in Davis, WV. This year, however, Mother Nature did not cooperate. The day the students departed, the resort closed the ski area due to lack of snow.

Although disappointed, the students took the unfortunate news in stride and the chaperones came up with alternate plans which turned out to be engaging, educational, and even challenging at times. Each day of the week the group of students travelled to new destinations.

On the day they arrived, they enjoyed the resort’s indoor pool and spa area. The next day, students hunted and found their first geocache at Canaan Valley Resort State Park, enjoyed a mountain side hour long trail ride, and visited Blackwater Falls State Park. The next day the group hiked a beautiful trail through Canaan Valley Wildlife Refuge.

It was there they viewed some unique wetlands. The afternoon became rainy so the group spent a relaxing afternoon at the movie theater. On Thursday, the students toured Smoke Hole Caverns which were once used by Native Americans, soldiers, and moonshiners. After the cavern tour, students trekked up to the summit of Seneca Rocks where they enjoyed the spectacular views of the valley below and the mountains beyond.

Students and chaperones were scheduled to depart the resort Friday morning, but once again the weather foiled their plans. After waking up to several inches of snow which had fallen overnight and continued to fall, the group had to stay another day. The students all enjoyed the fresh powder covering the many ski trails. Later on the teens skated at the resort’s outdoor ice rink Friday night before departing Saturday morning for home.

A quote from Marilyn Monroe describes the week perfectly: “Sometimes good things fall apart so better things could fall together.”