Navigating Junior Four Point: Winter Camping With A Deeper Purpose

They might not realize it then, but they leave campus well-prepared for their journey. Besides being accompanied by expert faculty trip leaders, they are impressively geared up. Here’s a short list of items they carry into the woods.

Four Point groups could stay in the woods until spring with all that in tow. Dining services also make sure that they are well-fed. Hiking all day and setting up camp in deep snow is hard work, so students must replace thousands of calories. You really can’t overeat on Junior Point. There are tales of whole sticks of butter added to hot chocolate after a long hike.

On the surface, this appears to be an exercise in wilderness survival. Students learn to navigate the woods, build and cook over a campfire, dig shelters, string up tarps, and, most importantly, stay warm. But these hard skills are only part of the picture.

Director of Experiential Learning and Four Point Program Coordinator Chris Hayward gives a lot of thought to the underpinnings of Junior Four Point. He talks about the importance of the competencies gained on Four Point excursions. Problem-solving, effective communication, and caring for one another are just a few of the benefits he envisions. “These skills are essential in life, and this is much more than a wilderness trip; it is a journey into each student’s person and helps them figure out who they are and who they want to be,” explains Hayward. “Students learn that they can take on daunting tasks and work as a team, be creative, and get through anything they put their minds to. They will need this confidence as they move forward.

Facilitating this type of empowerment requires a reset. Students at Gould lead busy lives. They have classes, athletics, clubs, service opportunities, instrument lessons, standardized tests to prepare for, college visits, and much more, all while being inundated with their digital lives and social media. Not a minute of a typical Gould day goes unaccounted for, and students are perpetually plugged in.

That’s where the Junior Four Point program comes in.

None of those distractions are allowed out in the woods. No smartphones, studying, texting, video games, and definitely no TikTok. Just their peers, their trip leaders, and the wilderness. It’s a chance to unplug, reflect, and get to know their classmates in a more intimate setting.

“Technology is incorporated in every aspect of our lives,” says Isaiah Connoly ’23, from Bethel, Maine. “It’s nice to have an excuse to step away from it and lose touch with the nonstop of the world. It’s nice to connect with classmates without any distractions.”

Maybe even more importantly, it’s an opportunity to take some time to learn something new about themselves. Students learn where they fit into a group and where they can flourish.

Abbie DeMello ’23 of Scituate, Massachusetts, found that to be a leader doesn’t necessarily mean being vocal all of the time. “I learned that it’s not just about being the loudest or who takes charge first. It’s also about leading by example, inspiring everyone to try their best, and work together to reach our goals. It’s more than a camping trip; it is an experience we will never forget.”

In the end, the physical part is manageable. Trip leaders pull back after the first few days and let the students take the lead. Groups figure out how to work together and thrive in the cold.

Being in the woods becomes their reality. Walking without snowshoes feels unnatural, and you grow accustomed to the taste of the campfire in your water. Calmness becomes the norm. The constant need for technology fades, and students are present and engaged with their teams.

Nancy Eaton, a former Gould Science teacher who still leads Junior Four Point trips, noted that relationships and self-reflection are at the program's core. “Junior Point is about connecting with each other and within oneself,” says Eaton. “I hope my students emerge with a new perspective on their peers and with new friends. They discover they are stronger and more capable than ever imagined.”

There’s a well-known saying that Gould students emerge from the woods on day nine feeling “ten feet tall and bulletproof.”

Meitong Chen ’23, of Shenyang, China, echoes that sentiment. “Setting out, I was nervous, excited, and uncertain. But I grew more than I expected. I took the time to slow myself down. I learned more about myself. I found out that I was stronger than I thought I was. I can do more than I thought I could. I had so much time to think about who I am and who I want to be.”

When faced with the notion of whether or not they would do it again, some students are proud of what they have accomplished and have a newfound appreciation for the simple things but would never consider it. Many others, however, would do it in a heartbeat. Right after, they take a hot shower and a long nap in a warm, comfortable bed.