Every June, Walden IB students attend a two-day hands-on retreat taught by Walden faculty and experts from the community. The retreat is designed so that students will begin understanding how truly exciting the big ideas they will investigate through their IB work can be. An equally important objective for this annual retreat involves providing opportunities for students to socialize and bond with their IB cohort. Each summer’s retreat is uniquely crafted to engage students in curriculum planned for the following school year. Activities from past retreats have included an overnight expedition to Salt Lake City, learning to play Balinese Gamelan, exploring conspiracy theories in art, learning to cook Indonesian food, and a cookout at the Walden fire pit. Additionally, students learn from our Walden social worker about managing stress, get a thorough overview of the standards, expectations, and requirements of the IBDP, and get to register for fall classes early.