While most students were sleeping in and relaxing over spring break, the Shaker girls lacrosse team traveled to Maryland for a trip that included team bonding, sightseeing, adventure, and a big win against Bullis. These action-packed 4 days gave the team a chance to travel south and explore historic sites along the way.
The 6-hour trip began at 8:45 on Monday morning, as the Yankee Trails bus pulled out of the high school parking lot. Everyone was filled with excitement as they settled into their seats, started an online game, or began chatting. Before they knew it they were already halfway there, and it was time for lunch. The second the bus door opened at the rest stop, the team came rushing out, practically sprinting to be the first in line at Chick-fil-A. Once everyone got their food and was loaded back onto the bus, the bus departed for the second half of the journey. As the bus pulled into the hotel parking lot, everyone was anxious to get off and stretch their legs. Once unloading all of the luggage, the team went straight to a local park for a short, hour-long practice. By 6:15, everyone was back at the hotel, unpacking their suitcases and getting ready for a night at Rio Lakefront on Washingtonian Avenue. That night, the team explored the small but vibrant open-air shopping and entertainment area. Groups went into different restaurants to get their dinners and enjoyed a nice walk around the water. This was a relaxing way to start the trip, and gave everyone time to hang out together outside of practice.
The next morning, the team visited Arlington National Cemetery and watched the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, as well as saw the eternal flame. Experiencing this in person was very different from watching it online or learning about it in school. The headstones in the cemetery were arranged in perfect straight lines, spanning as far as the eye could see, with blossoming trees hovering overhead. The ceremony for the Changing of the National Guard was quiet and focused, as everyone was silent, carefully watching. After leaving the National Cemetery, the team spent time walking around the Washington Monument and the National Mall before getting ready for the game later in the day. That afternoon, the team played Bullis School, one of the most challenging teams yet, and came away with a win. This victory felt good because it meant everyone was playing as a connected team.
The following morning started with another practice, and by 11am the team was headed back to the hotel to get changed for the next adventure. Later that day was a trip to the Smithsonian National Zoo, one of the most exciting parts of the trip. The highlight for most was seeing a tiger swimming in its enclosure, something most people had never seen before. In addition to the tiger, some other favorite animals were lions, elephants, a bear, and monkeys. The majority of the team left with a souvenir, and a smile on their face as the bus started back toward the hotel. That night there was a team dinner at a restaurant right next to the water.
The final morning, the bus stopped at Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The team got to walk around the waterfront, went into a few shops, and spent some last time together in Maryland before heading home. The 6 hour ride back was just as fun as the ride there, with added feelings of excitement to see families, while at the same time sadness for the fun to be over.
Overall, the trip was a mixture of lacrosse, travel, and time together as a team. It was a fun way to spend spring break and helped bring everyone closer heading into the rest of the season.