Sixth Graders Take On Camp Storer
By Taylor Smith and Olivia Strasser
September 22, 2025
TOLEDO, OH – The sixth graders at Saint Ursula Academy attended Camp Storer from Wednesday, Sept. 17, to Friday, Sept. 18.
While at camp, students learned new things through classes they attended each day. Some skills include outdoor abilities, connecting with their classmates, and learning to have fun without devices.
“I think they can have fun. They don’t know that they can have fun without their phones,” said Mrs. Areddy, a chaperone from previous years of camp.
Students participated in many activities such as canoeing, horseback riding, and learning how to use a microscope. Mrs. Areddy shared that the girls’ favorite activity is often horseback riding.
Alina Abdelwahed ‘32 is enjoying riding a horse while attending sixth grade camp at Camp Storer. Photo Courtesy of Maxie Yoder.
The experience not only teaches them important outdoor experiences but also gives them the time to connect with their classmates and make new friends.
From left to right: Sixth graders Farah Abou-Arab, Alina Abdelwahed, Molly Feldkamp, Molly Strasser, Emery Creque, Aynslie Poturalski, Brezlin Flietz, Aria Smith, spending quality time with their peers at Camp Storer. Photo Courtesy of Maxie Yoder.
Mrs. Areddy shared that after everyone returns from camp she can hear students talking about their experiences before classes and during lunch.
“They’ll say ‘oh remember when we did this’ and they might be talking to other people they aren’t usually talking to,” Mrs. Areddy said.
Each year, members of the junior class are selected as cabin leaders to help supervise the camp. They volunteer and receive service hours for their help. This year, the cabin leaders were Zola Schuster, Maxie Yoder, Kenadi Arndt, and Liberty Dusha.
“I came (to SUA) in seventh grade, where we also ended up going to camp,” said Schuster. “This impacted my decision because I knew I was in the JA and I would be familiar with how the girls were feeling,” said Schuster.
Molly Strasser, who attended camp this year, said she was nervous going into it but ended up enjoying it.
Each girl completes a survey requesting friends that they want in their cabin and the teachers do their best to group them together to help them feel comfortable.
“It helped having people I knew in my cabin, but people I didn’t know as well. I was able to feel comfortable but also make new friends.” Strasser said.
She also shared that her favorite activity was exploring the wildlife in the lake. Overall, the feedback on the activities was very positive.
The sixth graders enjoyed their experience bonding with others and exploring the outdoors while at camp, and this long-lasting tradition continues to prove successful at SUA.
