The eighth graders’ annual trip to Boston was another resounding success, filled with history, team-building, and time with friends. Students visited historical landmarks like Lexington, Salem, the site of the Boston Massacre, and the Boston Tea Party, which proved to be a highlight for many.
“I learned so much about Boston’s history,” said Reed Quattrone, an eighth grader. “My favorite part was the Boston Tea Party site because it was so interactive, like getting to throw tea off the ship.”
Fellow student Luke Hassen shared similar enthusiasm for the trip’s historical focus.
“Learning about Boston was such a fun experience—it’s so hard to pick one favorite. If I had to, I’d say learning about the Boston Massacre. We talked about it a lot at school, but seeing where it happened and going in depth was really cool,” he said.
While history was a significant focus of the trip, the students also enjoyed activities like shopping, solving escape rooms, and bonding with friends. Reed and Shazil Kazi highlighted the escape rooms as a favorite experience, describing how the challenges encouraged teamwork and created opportunities to connect with classmates.
“My favorite part of the trip was Boda Borg,” Shazil explained. “It’s like an escape room where you enter a room and try to find clues to get out. The rooms are color-coded by difficulty. I wish we spent the whole day there—it was so much fun, and it took our group over an hour to complete just one room.”
For many students, the chance to travel and experience Boston with friends was a highlight in itself.
“The trip was a lot better than my expectations,” Luke said. “Everything we did was enjoyable and fun, especially because you were surrounded by friends. They gave us a lot of freedom, which was so nice because we could explore and do things together.”
Luke and Reed also offered advice for future eighth graders.
“If you can, definitely get a room with your friends,” Reed said. “It was so fun to go back to the hotel and watch a movie with them after a long day of walking. Also, bring warm clothes—it gets super cold walking around.”
Luke added, “Go into it with an open mind. You might think the whole trip is just about learning boring history, but it turns out to be a really enjoyable experience with your friends.”
From uncovering Boston’s rich history to strengthening friendships and tackling escape rooms, this year’s eighth-grade trip offered students a mix of education, adventure, and camaraderie.
