Walking through the courtyard last year for the first annual Canned Food Campout, tents could be seen thrown up haphazardly across the grass; blankets, flashlights and food items littering the ground. On the north side of the courtyard, a makeshift volleyball net was set up despite the cold.
Video games, TV’s, and projectors were set up at random intervals, some were even stashed in tents. Lawn chairs were lined up in front of the projector screen, the seats filled with students who were either watching a movie or playing a video game. In the essence of a true campout, friends gathered in circles and talked about anything and everything.
Last year was the introduction of the first annual Canned Food Campout, which took place in the courtyard after a Friday night football game. The Campout was created by Senior Class Council to draw a crowd for the first basketball game of the season.
On the Saturday following the Campout last year, students tailgated leading up to the game. However, this year’s Campout was held after Basketball’s first game against Harrison due to this game taking place on a school night. Instead of promoting basketball, the main goal this year was to collect food cans and money to support the fundraising of Wooten’s Helping Hands.
The rainy and cold weather this year resulted in less people camping outside, as well as less electronics outdoors. Instead, Xboxes and televisions were set up inside of the cafeteria, and tents filled with students who did not want to risk getting soaked were arranged accordingly.
The main attraction of the outdoor courtyard was a fire pit supplied by senior Maddie McWhorter. Students gathered around the warm glow to talk and roast s’mores while others played board games, Halo, and Call of Duty in the comfort of the cafeteria.
“Who thinks to have a campout at school? Who would even want to do that, most of the time you want to get the heck out of here,” said Ms. Kim Biondo, sponsor of Senior Class Council.
The campout was reported by Biondo and several students as a way to build a sense of community and unity within the school.
“It shows you school can be fun. It’s being at the school without the school work,” said senior Wade Lawson.
This unique approach to fundraising provided a fun way for students to get involved, as well as spend time with fellow classmates outside of school.
“I enjoy seeing the kids getting excited about it,” said Biondo. “I think people had fun, it was something totally out of the box.”
Junior Marriah Geels had never been camping before, and happily joined in on the school campout for a chance to experience what sleeping in the elements was like, although the courtyard isn’t a normal place one would camp at.
“I’d rather it be in the legit wilderness, but I had a lot of fun! We watched movies and played Twister. I’d definitely go again next year,” said Geels.
Despite the successes of the two campouts, there were roughly 50 in attendance last year and about 20 this year, there’s always room for improvement. Biondo believes that the campout would be more successful if more faculty and students were to get involved.
“Teachers see a whole different side of students and students see a whole different side of teachers [at the campout]. It is good to build relationships,” said Biondo.
The campout is an easy way for all students to get involved, there is no signing up or any kind of planning involved, you just show up with supplies and a can of food. This is especially true for new students. Last year senior Wade Lawson was new to the school and didn’t know many people. The campout is where he met several of his current friends.
“I just thought it was a fun way to meet people and get to know people you don’t normally talk to at school,” said Lawson.
