Returning from a school trip - Week 5

I have a lot to write about.
First - I would like to thank all of you that encouraged me on my previous post. I'm sorry I didn't answer till now and I want to tell you that your advices means a lot to me!!
I will address them more in my next blog this week but I would like to address the trip first, also as a reflection for myself.

As I am new to this school, I was told that this excursion is supposed to teach students to take responsability, to teach them how to cope in nature and how to cooperate and help each other. As all of  our school trips it is also meant to allow them to see and know our country "by foot". A lot of them don't travel much and therefore do not know other parts of Israel and its history, apart from their own surroundings.
The hidden curriculum is to teach them values of cooperation, helping each other, be aware of each other's needs, cleaning their surroundings etc...

We went on two field trips - one each day. At night, we camped at a special campground designed for pupils to come and experiment. They had to divide into groups of three and raise a tent we provided for them. This process was not so easy for some of the kids who didn't find "roommates" . Thus, we could see the compassion of some when they agreed to add a "rejected" child to their tent.
Unfortunately there were other cases too, where you could see who are the kids who are less good natured (all part of the experience). This is were we had to come in and mediate in order to reflect to them what is happening.
Unfortunately, they were not enough pupils to take charge of the whole process so we - the teachers - ended up cooking and cleaning with only some of the students who came to do their part. At night we allowed them to party a little bit and then "put" them to bed and guarded in turns. It was the first time they heard foxes and wild dogs and where a bit anxious. Now they understood one of the reasons why it is important to clean and leave no food lying around!!!
The other teachers said that compared to last year  the kids behaved a lot better. I guess they learned something.

Overwhole, I enjoyed it. Most of the kids behaved well and we - the group of teachers and field instuctors - bonded and had a lovely time working together. I came home with sore muscles and a great smile.