Written by Danica Derner - 8th Grade member of the OMS Marketing Team
“Whoa, Mr. Thompson! I didn’t think it was going to be like this,” one of the 6th grade students said as they were looking up at the beautiful handmade structure. The 6th graders had started their day early at 6:00 AM to watch the sunrise hit the majestic Grotto of Redemption located in West Bend, Iowa. The students were amazed by this man-made structure. This trip to the Grotto taught the students about the creation and powerful meaning of the Grotto itself. “It was really good learning outside of school,” said Mr. Thompson, the advisor and activator of this entire field trip.
After learning about the Grotto, the students moved on to see the Iowa State Women’s Basketball game. All of the 6th grade students were so excited to be there and were intrigued and very cheerful the entire game. Being at the stadium was truly an enjoyable experience. The stadium was also very interactive, as the students were able to do things such as high-fiving players, sitting in front-row seats, and being on the jumbotron screen for everyone to see. This unique learning experience allowed the students to have fun, enjoy watching basketball, and represent our school.
This field trip was inspiring, as the students at Okoboji Middle School learned about Iowa history and enjoyed themselves as they watched a sports event. One of the students added after the trip, “This was by far the coolest field trip I’ve ever been on!”