05/24/2026
Camp McDowell showed us a version of learning that felt deeply human, deeply joyful, and impossible to forget. On the surface, Gulf Shores Middle School students were canoeing, chopping logs, planting and harvesting vegetables, sifting compost, collecting eggs, feeding livestock, milking goats, singing songs around a campfire, hiking to waterfalls, cooking together, and dancing to the pulse of lightning bug flashes.
Moreover, we walked away with a newfound respect for all of the work and resources that go into producing the food we eat. We learned how interconnected our food systems and the natural resources they depend on are with each other. We felt how good it is to serve others. We cherished real conversations and laughter in the absence of screens and internet. We learned that rain doesn't delay work or play–with the right gear and mindset... it can add magic to the moments.
Most importantly, we learned how to speak softly, listen carefully, and live mindfully. There is so much wonder in the humdrum of our days–can we slow down enough to appreciate it?
Gulf Shores City Schools
