Throughout my teaching career at Benton, I have always been blessed to be able to take my students on field trips. One of our favorite places to visit has always been Camp Courageous. They are so welcoming and provide us with activities that are both fun and educational. Although the bus ride can get quite long, the students have been too excited to even notice. The joy on their faces when they get there is priceless!
For most years we have been able to attend Camp Courageous 3 times per year. They typically do a back-to-school camp in early September. Then we get to go again to meet Mr. & Mrs. Claus in late November. We have one more opportunity in the spring. During the spring date, we get to choose activities and get more one-on-one attention.
The Fall event at Camp Courageous has traditionally been a carnival. We enjoyed carnival games and collected lots of prizes. There have been clowns, other costumed characters, and ice cream trucks. There have been local police officers, who share safety tips and introduced us to their canine partners.
At the Holiday event, we enjoyed arts and crafts, a few cold train rides, a dance party, and the bouncy house. We always enjoy the visit with Mr. & Mrs. Claus, they always bring us a gift. But our favorite part has been the karaoke and cookies! We were surprised this year when one of our students made the newsletter!
During our springtime trips, we’ve enjoyed rock climbing and zip-lining to conquer our fears of heights and new experiences. These challenges have made us aware of just how unstoppable we can be! We’ve made ice cream, held small animals, gone fishing, rode a train, wobble cars, and horses. We’ve shot bows and arrows, jumped on trampolines, hiked trails, and even swam a time or two.
I can’t say enough good things about Camp Courageous! They have been a blessing to my students over the years.