Camp Everytown underwent changes this year that depleted the number of attendees and divided the camp into two sessions. Also, PHS and MHS students engaged with three other schools, Nov. 11 through 14.

At Camp Everytown, a collection of 17 PHS and MHS sophomores and juniors and three teachers spent four days at Mount Harmon, where they participated in discussions on topics of social issues such as socioeconomic status and discrimination based on race, gender and more.

This year, the organization Silicon Valley Faces that runs Camp Everytown, made new changes to the camp. Three other unknown Northern California schools attended and participated in the activities with PHS and MHS students, rather than in past years when it was only Piedmont, students.

This created a more diverse group of participants, principal Brent Daniels said.

Another change was that fewer students attended. In past years, there were over 40 students, but this year the first group of 17 went Nov. 11, and another group of 17 freshmen, sophomores and juniors of PHS and three staff will be going in February.  All applications were due Oct. 16. Having two camps rather than one allowed more people to apply because there were more options, Daniels said. In spite of the changes to the Camp this year, its essential goals remain the same.

“We think about what’s true for us and our lives, starting to listen to people’s stories and see who they are, and consider the ways that we are all privileged, and the challenges that we all have,” said Camp Everytown PHS leader English teacher Rosie Reid. “[We help] to build bonds with other students and teachers, through that experience of sharing stories.”

In past years, teacher nominations were required to attend Camp Everytown, and the students who were nominated decided if they wanted to go. This year, because there were fewer spots, the application process was open to all students, but they had to answer several questions. These questions asked why they wished to attend, how they offered an alternative viewpoint and what they wanted to alter socially at PHS and MHS. Applicants were then chosen by determining who would be an admirable participant, while maintaining a gender balance and diversity, Reid said.

All participants recommended others to apply, according to the Principal Report of PHS and MHS Camp Everytown attendees.

“You’re in nature, and you get to meet so many different people,” past participant junior Max Manalo-LeClair said. “You learn more about how to be socially aware.”

Principal Brent Daniels has been to Camp Everytown four times, starting at his last job as assistant principal at Burlingame High School. He brought Camp Everytown to PHS in 2013.

“[Recognizing each individual] is not something that you can just be told to do, you have to sit down and have conversations with people who maybe are different than you are, so you understand how much value other people have,” Daniels said.

Sophomore Elka Sorenson attended Camp Everytown this year. She said that she was looking forward to meeting new people and forming new friendships.