Every year, during the first week of the school year, Eaglebrook has a new student cookout. This year it started on September 11, when the new students arrived. 

Deerfield, being more of the wildlife side of the United States, gave a calm sort of background for the students. They climbed up one of the mountain-like hills near Eaglebrook going through many rocks and paths, and eventually reached their campsites. 

The way up was time for new students to introduce each other and returning Sixth Formers to think about last year’s cook-out. We gathered wood, the teachers made a fire, and we cooked hotdogs, hamburgers, corn on the cob, and marshmallows on the fire. 

While the food was getting ready we had activities like man-hunting. The cookout had a fresh feeling, like a farm-to-table project cooking our own food. The experience was enjoyable and different from how other schools began their semesters. 

It was a unique and Eaglebrook-ish way to start the school year. This cookout served and offered opportunities for new students to get to know each other better. It also helped new students to get to know the Sixth formers who, in turn, helped the new students by joining conversations and having fun together. It wasn’t long enough to make everyone know each other well, but it helped the new students relax and feel comfortable in the community. I also had a great time getting to know everyone, introducing where we are from, what we like, what sports we play, and what brought us to Eaglebrook. I hope the cook-out tradition continues every year.