Every spring at Midland School in Los Olivos, academic classes go on a week-long pause for students to engage in experiential learning both on and off campus. The week is called MIDTerm, and students are able to choose the options they are interested in.
This year, the lineup of activities included exploring sustainable seafood along the Central Coast, taking day hikes around Figueroa Mountain; learning about pinhole photography; and exploring Asian American sacred sites and foodways in Los Angeles.
The most challenging of the student choices revived a decades-old tradition — trekking 100 miles through snow-laden backcountry from Midland School to Thacher School in Ojai.
An intrepid group of students signed up to hike through the wilderness from Los Olivos to Ojai. They were led by Dan Susman, dean of experiential learning; and John Babbot, English faculty and Thacher alumnus.
The Midland Mirror student newspaper records attempts for this route from the late 1970s through the mid-2000s. The last time Midland students were actually successful in completing the route was 1996.
This year’s group beat the odds and arrived at Thacher School in Ojai, having hiked 100 miles in the snow over six days.
“I learned that everything is worth trying, even if it may end in failure,” said student Darien (’24). “I went into it thinking we were not going to finish the trip. At night two I had lost hope; however, I still wanted to give it my all and so did the group. After day three, my hope was restored and I was more fired up than ever.”
“It is worth challenging myself to experience past my known limits,” said student David (’24). “The days leading up to the trip I had plenty of doubt for myself and my ability to actually complete this hike considering that I have only ever been on three backpacking trips in my life. But at the same time, I was very hopeful that this group was able to complete the treacherous adventure.
“So in the end, me pushing myself to complete something that in hindsight felt impossible essentially proved myself wrong, leading to the idea that I can actually push my limits as long as I have the determination to do so.”
Students also considered how the journey helped them build their skills.
Ayanna, a senior at Midland, wrote: “I want to continue practicing self-advocacy (standing up for myself) and connecting my feelings or reactions to things to a universal need. I think this is a hard skill to practice. But it’s also easy in a way because situations where I can practice nonviolent communication occur very often at home and at Midland.”
“We’re so proud of these Midland students’ tenacity and grit persevering through some really tough conditions,” Susman said. This is a memory these young people will have for the rest of their lives.”