In the first week of September, Bishop’s students lived out a high-schooler’s dream — escaping reality on their annual two-day retreats. Freshmen and seniors stayed overnight at camps, while sophomores and juniors enjoyed various activities around San Diego. From kayaking at La Jolla Shores, to zip-lining at Camp Pali, it was three days of fresh mountain air, heavy sunscreen, and unforgettable memories!
9th Grade:
The freshmen had their first high school retreats at Pali Adventures (Pali) in the heart of the San Bernardino mountains, hanging out with cabin counselors, learning about nature, and most importantly, bonding with their fellow 9th graders. They hit bullseyes during archery, screamed when they zip-lined above the camp, and took leaps of faith (literally) in the obstacle courses.
10th Grade:
The sophomores began their retreats by giving back to their community and engaging in service for their unhoused neighbors in San Diego. They took turns putting together boxes of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, pairing them with handwritten letters. On day two, they made their way downtown where they got a tour of the Padres stadium Petco Park, played an engaging advisory scavenger hunt, and finished the day off with lunch and bowling at Tavern + Bowl. On the third and final day, they spent the day at La Jolla Shores where they took turns kayaking, playing in the waves, doing beach clean-ups, and participating in a sand castle competition. The warm weather allowed for a perfect day at the beach.
11th Grade:
The juniors began retreats by taking a two-minute walk down to Windansea Beach where the ocean awaited them. Aside from body surfing in the waves, students played around on the volleyball court, sparking a little friendly competition between them. As a perfect sunny day treat, they got to enjoy a shaved ice truck, equipped with a wide variety of flavors. On day two, the juniors made their way down to Balboa Park where they had the opportunity to explore the different museums, including the San Diego Air and Space Museum and Natural History Museum. On day three, the students spent their day at the Mission Bay Aquatic Center where they ventured around the bay using paddle boards and kayaks. Alongside the water activities, the students were able to pull out their volleyball skills yet again on the sand courts.
12th Grade:
The seniors went to Whispering Winds for retreats, and it was especially emotional as they cherished their final high school retreats, creating lasting memories with their classmates before stepping into the final year at Bishop’s. With a mix of nostalgia, heartfelt moments, and lots of laughter, they embarked on hikes, games, archery, and late-night karaoke.
All in all, students from all the different grades had a blast on this year’s retreats, not only because they were excused from school work, but also because they got the opportunity to form new friendships and strengthen existing ones!
