7th Grade’s Unforgettable Big Bear Adventure!

Each year, the St. Matthew’s 7th Grade class takes part in a defining middle school experience, a four-day retreat to Big Bear, California. Set against a breathtaking mountain landscape, the retreat offers students something increasingly rare: time and space to challenge themselves, connect with one another, and grow in meaningful ways. For the Class of 2027, this year’s retreat proved to be a pivotal moment in their middle school journey.

From the moment students arrived, the retreat asked them to step outside their comfort zones. Whether navigating a high ropes course, collaborating during team challenges, or supporting one another through physically demanding moments, students quickly learned that success depended on trust, communication, and collective effort. Leadership emerged naturally as students encouraged peers, faced fears, and discovered new confidence in themselves. One student reflected, “Big Bear was a great time to bond with my classmates. It helped me push my boundaries, especially on the ropes course where there was a 40-foot free fall. I didn’t think I could do it, but having my classmates there made all the difference.”

The experience extended far beyond structured activities. Hiking was intentionally designed to deepen students’ understanding of the natural world, from a cold night hike focused on nocturnal animal adaptations to an astronomy hike exploring the night sky, to longer wilderness treks highlighting native trees and local ecosystems.  

Students captured these moments through reflective nature writing in composition notebooks. Students recorded sensory details, figurative language, and thoughtful questions linking what they noticed in nature to their own lives, relationships, and place in the world. This balance of physical challenge and quiet reflection is a hallmark of the retreat and of St. Matthew’s approach to academic excellence.

Just as impactful were the informal moments that unfolded throughout the week. Sharing meals, trying unfamiliar foods, laughing together, and having unstructured time allowed students to see one another, and their teachers in new ways. As one student shared, “We did things we wouldn’t normally try, like long hikes and different foods. We also got to know our teachers a lot better. They performed skits, and it was really interesting to see a different side of them.”

St. Matthew’s Middle School Principal, Ms. Soulios, also reflected on the experience: “What struck me most was the care our students showed for one another. Every student faced a challenge, whether physical or emotional, and every time, their classmates rallied around them with genuine encouragement and support. Watching them lift one another up affirmed the strength of our middle school community and the character of these young people.”

By the end of the retreat, students felt more connected, more confident, and more aware of their ability to meet challenges together. They practiced independence and responsibility while deepening empathy and respect for one another. These are skills that will serve them well both in the classroom and in their journeys after St. Matthew’s.  

The Big Bear retreat is more than a tradition; it is a foundation. It prepares students for their upcoming leadership roles as 8th graders and reinforces St. Matthew’s commitment to educating the whole child. 

Interested in learning more about how St. Matthew’s creates transformative experiences for middle school students? Contact us to schedule a tour and discover what makes our community so special.