Outings Week 2026: Different Trails, Same Lasting Memories

By Josie Song' 28

As Cate springs into action in late August, students embark on an annual Outings Week trip to create everlasting memories and bonds with their peers. Typically, freshmen have the opportunity to grow alongside their entire grade at Pyles Boy Camp, while sophomores and juniors undertake their respective trips to Yosemite and Kern with pods composed of 8-12 people. This year, Outings Week was scheduled a week later than usual, from September 7th to the 13th. 

On the Pyles trip, freshmen experienced several day-hike opportunities, including walks to Kern River, Freeman, and Teacups. Unlike on upperclassmen trips, students were able to sleep in cabin groups, fostering connections with their peers and seniors alike. Apart from physical activity, students competed in group Olympics, with their grade divided into groups A, B, and C. Many freshmen reflected on the pinecone ceremony, where gratitude and reflections were shared around a large campfire, a tradition that brings tears and laughter year after year. 

Taking a glance at the Yosemite trip, senior Ellie Walmsely ‘27 said that her favorite part of being the pod leader was “the bonding experience”. “My takeaway from the trip was that you can do hard things, and also see bears! We saw eight different bears across our trip,” she reminisced. On the other hand, Riwon Hong ‘29, a new sophomore, expressed, “I went on one of the hardest trails, going through ten lakes, which was around 26 miles. My favorite memory was cowboy camping on the final night and seeing a vast number of shooting stars.” Their differing reflections go to show the unique experiences of every pod, with no two pods traveling the same route. 

Unlike freshmen and sophomores, juniors can choose the level of difficulty they want to participate in. Trips spanned three difficulty levels: Rae Lakes offered the most challenging mileage and elevation gain, Kern followed close behind, and San Jacinto. Lotte Nicholas ‘28, who went on the arts and writing trip at San Jacinto, said, “At the beginning of our trip, we took a tram which was really cool, and my favorite part of the trip was teaching everyone in my pod how to make friendship bracelets.” 

Unfortunately, on many Outings Week trips, a record number of students were evacuated due to illness and injury. While some of these students went home, many of them spent time at base camp. Although their Outings Week experience was not what they had anticipated, they made the most of their time together and reminisced about some of their favorite moments. In the words of Oliver White ‘29 and Malcolm Gray ‘28, “The food was really good and had s’mores every night. On the pizza trip to the valley, we watched a movie about bears and tried a pizza called the ‘half-dome’, which was delicious.” They were also able to connect with wildlife, reflecting on a moment peering out at a family of deer. 

From freshmen embarking on adventures with new faces to seniors leading the charge and stepping into leadership roles even during Outings Week, the yearly tradition offers a way to step out of your comfort zone, ground yourself in nature, and make lasting memories for years to come.