CLASS OF 2023 SENIOR CAMP
BY AUTUMN WOODS
THE WEDNESDAY before Labor Day was a little more exciting than most for the Class of 2023. They were headed to Camp Erdman, on the North Shore, for three days and two nights of Senior Camp. The camp has been a Mid-Pacific tradition for over 30 years—an experience that brings the senior class together at the beginning of their last year on campus. This year was the first overnight camp held since 2019 and the students seemed very happy to be out in the world again, outdoors and
without masks.
“It’s a great way for the students to kick off their senior year, get excited about their last year of school, build community it’s amazing to see them all come together,” observes Bill Wheeler, a veteran Senior Camp chaperone and Director of Student Activities. Some of the highlights include the homeroom games and the rotational activities t-shirt tye dying, hip-hop dance class, and the lip-dub video. The nights were ruled by karaoke, skits, campfires—and don’t forget the sunsets.
“Watching the sun set into the ocean on Thursday night was another highlight,” notes Class Advisor Kym Roley. “The students were all sitting in groups in the sand and taking pictures of each other—just pure, simple fun. I saw so many smiles and genuine happiness on their faces.”
Camp ends with a class photo in their newly dyed shirts and chants of “Seniors-Seniors-Seniors” ringing in the air. But these students will take home more than a colorful memento of their time together; they’ll leave with shared experiences and memories, bonds, and friendships they will take with them throughout their senior year and beyond.
“It felt like a family—everybody getting to know each other again, cheering, and getting sunburned,” reminisced Shuan “Archer” Liang ’23 Class of 2022 enjoying the beautiful sunset on the last day of Senior Camp.
Kate Bartholomees ’24 and Sophia Smith ’25 are part of the first rowing crew from Hawai‘i in over 50 years to represent Hawai‘i on the mainland this fall as they compete in the prestigious Head of the Charles Regatta in Boston, MA. They will travel with eight other girls from high schools across the island to the world’s largest rowing competition in October.
