On March 11, NYC Museum School’s Class of 2024 headed to their annual senior trip, planned for March 11-12. This year, seniors were headed to Woodloch Pines Resort in Hawley, Pennsylvania. This trip was planned to allow students to unwind and close out their high school chapter. However, when power to the resort went out due to what Ms. Williams, the senior trip coordinator, attributed to “a wind storm,” the trip ended abruptly. An administrative decision was made that the students could not stay at the resort and had to turn back. 

Many were caught off guard by what had happened. Senior Hao Gillooly recalls, “I’m out in the hallway walking around, and then all the lights go out.” Everything in the resort that had been powered by electricity had stopped working, and while there were backup generators, they did not reach all the rooms.

Most seniors had a general idea of what was going on among the confusion and rumors. “I think everyone knew that the electricity went off.” Scarlett Kennedy said. “Still, it was very unexpected.”

Right away, Museum administrators discussed what further action should be taken. According to senior Teddy Schwarz, “they had no idea when the power would go back on.” The initial plan was not to leave immediately; “they kind of waited it out,” said Schwarz.

Students were still able to participate in available activities while they waited for a decision to be made. Woodloch Pines Resort included activities such as bumper cars, ice skating, indoor playgrounds, arcades, and more, in which seniors had the option of choosing where they wanted to go. Yet most of this would be inaccessible because of the outage. 

Mr. Stein, one of the teacher chaperones attending the trip, said that no one was to blame, as wind storms and power outages are a common occurrence in Northern Pennsylvania. “It was a natural disaster.” Mr. Stein said. “The resort did everything they could to make us feel comfortable.”

The senior trip is a custom for Museum students and faculty chaperones alike that many enjoy. Kennedy said, “It’s a tradition.” Although there are plans for rescheduling the senior trip in the coming weeks, the replacement trip would be limited to a daytrip rather than an overnight, according to an email from Ms. Hindelong.

When asked why it’s important for seniors to experience trips like this, Mr. Stein said, “I think it’s a great bonding experience–these students have spent four years together, and in three months, they might never see each other again.” Schwarz called this experience “very unfortunate.”

In the end, the decision was made by the administration to send the seniors back, despite power being fully restored three hours after this decision as the seniors were boarding to leave. Mr Stein said, “The decisions that were made, I think, were made in the best interests and the safety of the students.”