Into the Blue

Nearly 400 Walla Walla High School freshmen are making a two-hour trek to Camp Wooten for an overnight adventure as part of the inaugural Into the Blue event Sept. 12-15. All freshmen have been invited to participate in the event at no cost thanks to the generous financial support of the Walla Walla Schools Foundation.

Students will participate in fun games, connect with student leaders and spend a night in a cabin in the heart of this majestic Blue Mountains recreational getaway. Sessions include service projects, hiking, canoeing, fishing, art, games, dancing, archery, rope bridge and more.

“As a school district and community, we have been looking for ways to ease the transition to high school for our incoming freshmen,” said Assistant Principal Carina Stillman, who helped organize the event. “This is a great opportunity for students to connect with each other, as well as time to learn about school and community programs and efforts.”

Nearly 40 adults, mostly staff, are volunteering to provide supervision and lead activities. Several underclassmen are also volunteering to serve as mentors and camp support. Groups of students are divided into thirds to have the space to accommodate the entire class of freshmen over three nights. The focus of the event is service, connection and fun, with high expectations for appropriate school behavior and rule following.

Thanks to everyone involved for making this memorable experience possible for the newest Blue Devils.