Every fall, students in the Upper School participate in grade-specific class trips that have become a rewarding D-E tradition that combines educational experiences with an opportunity for students to bond with fellow students, their deans, and faculty advisors.
“D-E trips have been a meaningful way to use the world as a classroom,” said Ms. Debbie Rivera Murphy ’11, Dean of Student Life. “Our students go off campus to build community, foster self-awareness, explore new experiences, and celebrate their accomplishments.”
Grade 9 took a trip to Camp Mason in Hardwick Township, Grade 10 visited the Museum of Math (MoMath) in Manhattan, Grade 11 traveled to The New York Botanical Garden in the Bronx, and Grade 12 went to the Apple Ridge Orchards in Warwick, New York, for apple picking and fall festivities.
Dr. Brian Merry, Dean of the Class of 2029, said the 9th graders had positive things to say about their experiences on the Camp Mason retreat. “It was a pleasure to see them bonding and working together on the various activities they participated in, and I enjoyed watching them get along in the unstructured portions of the trip,” he said.
“We want every student to be a part of this shared experience, and we believe that the more students attend, the more celebratory and enriching the trip will be for everyone involved.”
Freshman Jalen Jeter-Martin ’29 said one thing he took away from the trip was “to always be open to do uncomfortable things because some stuff on the trip took you out of your comfort zone and forced you to collaborate with your peers.” Classmate Max Strashnov ’29 remarked, “At the start of the year everyone needs a trip like this to reconnect you to your buddies.”
When planning this year’s trip, Dylan Bryant, Dean of the Class of 2028, said he wanted to choose something educationally rooted in STEM, as he and eight of the 13 advisors for the sophomore class are STEM teachers. “Although some students were initially hesitant about visiting a ‘math’ museum, many were pleasantly surprised by how engaging and enjoyable the experience turned out to be,” said Mr. Bryant.
During her students’ visit to The Botanical Garden, Stephanie “Tuc” Tucker, Dean of the Class of 2027, said the juniors learned about the flora indigenous to the region and engaged with exhibits around this theme, such as Van Gogh’s Flowers. “This trip was an informal blend of environmental science and art that the students really enjoyed,” said Tuc. It’s an experience that “helps us to build and strengthen the ‘community of learners’ that is an essential part of our mission at D-E,” added Tuc.
“These moments of togetherness—and play!—are crucial in building strong, lasting relationships among students, which contribute to a positive and collaborative school environment,” remarked Emily Sclafani, Dean of the Class of 2026. “We want every student to be a part of this shared experience, and we believe that the more students attend, the more celebratory and enriching the trip will be for everyone involved.”
Following the seniors’ trip to the apple orchard, Ms. Sclafani invited her students to participate in a fun recipe bake-off that resulted in such delectable treats as apple pie blondies, apple crumb cake, maple apple cinnamon rolls, pies, breads, and tarts. “It was a sweet way to conclude our fall trip!” she said.
