For the first overnight trip of Summer Session II 2015, six students and two staff members left for the sandy beaches of Wildwood, New Jersey. The group chose Wildwood during their Trip Planning class that took place during Summer Session I because they wanted to spend most of their time swimming in the ocean and soaking up rays. After considering several different beaches, the group selected Wildwood because of its proximity to other fun attractions, like the boardwalk and Morey’s Pier and Beachfront Waterpark.
On the first day of the trip, the group headed straight for the beach and enjoyed a late lunch at the Flip Flop Café, which had outdoor seating with beautiful waterfront views.
After catching a bite to eat, everyone couldn’t resist the urge to go for a swim in the ocean right away – the weather was perfect. The students all reported that the water was surprisingly warm!
Shortly thereafter, they all arrived at the hotel they had selected – the funky Blue Palms Resort, which was located within walking distance of everything.
After checking in at the hotel, the group headed out for dinner at the Pink Cadillac Diner, where they used a prop for some cool photo ops!
Following dinner as the sun was setting, everyone strolled on the boardwalk, admiring the glittering Ferris Wheel and other rides that lit up the night sky. After an exhausting but exhilarating day, some students continued on to the arcade while others retreated to their rooms in preparation for their second day.
The second day of the trip began with more swimming at the beach – where the group spotted around seven dolphins! At first, everyone was a little wary because they could only see the fins and were worried about sharks! It ended up being a group of dolphins, which was fun for everyone to spot.
After a morning swim, everyone spent the afternoon at the waterpark. Students loved the double-tube slides and a rope swing, where riders could swing out and drop into a 10 foot deep pool.
Following the waterpark, the other rides on the boardwalk beckoned. Some of the more adventurous students and staff rode the Sea Serpent Roller Coaster.
The second day of the trip was jam-packed with a lot of activity!
On the final day of the trip before returning home, the group stopped by at one of the student’s houses in New Jersey for a barbecue! Everyone had a wonderful time and reported that the food was delicious!
The trip was a huge success, due in large part to all of the thought and effort the group members had put into planning the trip. We can’t wait to hear more about all of the other overnight trips, and to share more details on the blog!
What comes after graduation? Many College Experience students, in fact most, choose to remain in Albany. They maintain friendships with their fellow and former graduates, form romantic partnerships, and some get married.