Ella’s Testimonial
While applying for summer jobs in 2021, I stumbled across the Princeton-Blairstown Center (PBC). I was not very familiar with experiential education, but it appeared similar to the hands-on learning which I find to be most effective and enjoyable for my own learning.
Both the 2021 and 2022 Summer Bridge Programs were hybrid due to ongoing concerns about COVID. This hybrid curriculum was designed to have PBC facilitators visit the schools and parks in students’ neighborhoods Monday through Thursday, and on Friday the students would visit the PBC Campus. Our students are mainly kids from the historically marginalized communities, focusing on the cities of Newark, Trenton, and Camden.
One of my most memorable moments of Summer Bridge involved me, another facilitator, and a 10-year-old student who had been displaying difficult behavior throughout the week. We asked him, “If you could have any superpower in the world, which would you choose?” The student answered, “Spidey senses. Definitely Spidey senses so I can always see what’s happening around me. I need to be aware at all times or else someone could hurt me.” I didn’t know how to immediately reply.
My fellow facilitator and I took this time to connect with our student and provide him with a safe space to share his experiences. It became clear to me that his behavior throughout the week was, in large part, a defense mechanism to his environment. Many of our students lack spaces in which they can safely explore themselves and their relationships with their peers. It was in that moment that I fully realized the importance of PBC’s work and mission.
The best part of coming back to PBC for the second summer was seeing again many of my students from the previous year. Many of the kids I worked with in 2021 remembered and greeted me with hugs. It was awesome being able to continue the connection that I made with them the previous summer and to be able to give them some sense of familiarity.
PBC’s 268-acre Campus is filled with trails, waterfalls, and wildlife that allow children s to connect with nature in ways they may not have experienced before. I feel so fortunate that I was able to give some of my students their first-ever canoeing experience and support them while they attempted their first challenge course. Almost all of Summer Bridge’s participants live and grew up in urban areas where it is nearly impossible to access environments such as forests and lakes. PBC provides our participants with a safe and spacious place to grow to their full potential and provides an outlet for kids who may not have other options.
PBC’s slogan is “A Place to Grow.” I observed growth in so many students within a short span of a week. I have never worked at any organization like the Princeton-Blairstown Center, not only because of the impact it has on the students we work with, but because of the impact it had on me.
