The first rule of Junior Retreat is that you do not talk about Junior Retreat. If you ask a senior about it, they will tell you so themselves. As with any secretive event, rumors build and students grow curious or even anxious as the date looms ever closer. This year’s junior class will be leaving for their retreat at Camp Courage on Apr. 29 and returning on Apr. 30.

Two nights of uninterrupted (no technology allowed, as Dean Delgado said, we should be “plugged into our community”) bonding time with other students. That’s about the extent of the intel provided. The reason why it is so secretive is that students really do bond during this time, sharing very personal stories and feelings that aren’t meant to be shared publicly. But there are certain, less sensitive pieces of information that can be shared, at least some general memories.

Junior Michelle Heilig said that she wasn’t sure what to expect from the retreat, but had mixed feelings about what she has heard goes down. “[I’ve heard that there are] lot of tears. But people have a lot of fun, keep that in mind,” junior Michelle Heilig said.

“I didn’t, but a lot of people did cry… It was surprising how much people opened up about themselves,” senior Jonathan Trevathan said.

Trevathan said that it was an interesting and generally positive experience to be at camp with his class: they shared, they swam in the pool, they enjoyed walks in the not-quite-qualified as wilderness, they read heartfelt letters that their parents wrote them. “The red vines alone made it fun,” he said.

“I don’t think I’m going to make any new actual friends, probably some new ‘I’ll wave to you in the hallway’ people,” Heilig said. “But it’s only two nights, right? It could be fun.”