Val Masino Take Two

Monday October 13 - Tuesday, October 14

Last year's trip to Val Masino in Northern Italy was such a success that we decided it needed to be an annual thing. However, this year we planned the trip in the fall to start off the year for the sixth graders with something special. Also, to see if they were able to handle an overnight field trip in preparation for a potential trip to Rome in the spring.

We stayed in the same hotel as last year but this year was a little different. The wind was whipping through the valley at such great speeds it was causing a howling noise throughout the hotel. A couple of the kids scared themselves by telling ghost stories while getting ready for bed and they were knocking on our doors late into the night because they were afraid.

On Wednesday morning we woke up and had the traditional European breakfast of croissants and cereal before heading off into the valley. It was absolutely freezing the entire time and I was even cold with all of my gear. A couple of the kids were crazy only wearing shorts but they never complained once because they had been warned and a packing list was given. I guess they had a little too much pride to show their weakness.

The 6th Graders gearing up for the hike

Along the path we came across 4 beautiful horses just a stones throw away with a tiny fence separating us from them. The pony was off to the right bucking and running along our trail. While the older horses were on our left with the mountains as a backdrop. They truly looked like something out of a book.

The Horses

Later down the path we came to a rock that the kids are able to climb and we took our customary jumping picture.

Walking along the river

Finally we reached our destination with a beautiful falls where we took all of our group shots before heading out of the woods and back to the valley to enjoy our lunch behind a huge rock protecting us from the wind. With chattering teeth I started a boys verse girls soccer game to get the kids moving and warming up. The main challenge of the game was keeping the ball out of the river that was flowing behind the girls goal. It took a plunge a couple of times but the kids worked together to retrieve it by throwing stones and balancing on the rocks to grab it as it floated by. Celina was the master hoping from stone to stone recovering the ball.

The Falls

The Chaperone's ~ Lizzie, Emily, Federica and Guia

After lunch we headed inside a little hut to enjoy a little tea and warmth before heading back to the bus for our ride home. Right as we were leaving the sun hit the valley and the temperature increase by many degrees to make the walk back much more pleasant.