On their final week of class, ORR seventh graders will be dirty, hungry and sleeping on the ground.

For six days, 134 members of the class will camp in the wilds of Northfield for the school’s 39th annual “Survival” program.

“We want it to be a little uncomfortable because then they have to think, they have to take care of themselves and care about everyone else in the group,” said coordinator Sue Wheeler.

The students will be split into two groups. One half will spend the first several days on “expedition” living on one meal a day, while the other half will stay at base camp. The groups will switch halfway through the week.

“We challenge them to carry heavy backpack for three days on the expedition,” said Wheeler. “We want them to experience hunger. It’s a challenge for some of the kids. They have no idea what is coming. We leave a lot for them to work out.”

Although much of the week’s agenda is a secret, teachers spend weeks preparing students to survive in the wilderness through regular workshops and after school meetings.

Students are also required to go for walks with their hiking boots and backpacks, and keep a log of their exercise routine.

“Often the first day is challenging in itself. Everything they’ve been preparing for starts to happen the minute they get off the bus,” said Wheeler. “They’re coming across things they’re not sure they can do. But with the group and perseverance, they can do anything.”

Student Jillian Benson already has her pre-camp preparation down. “I’m going to take a lot of showers and try to eat a lot of good, healthy stuff.”

Getting ready for Survival is a huge undertaking for the volunteers who range from police officers to high school students and even out of town alums.

With a week away from their parents, the volunteers help kids get through difficult moments while helping the kids learn curriculum outside of the classroom.

Math, science, history and English are incorporated into the activities as kids read maps, learn about ancient river valley cultures and write songs and poems (mostly about being hungry).

Mattapoisett police officer Mitchell Suzan, in his 12th year of “Survival,” said the best part of the process is that “the kids grow up a little. It brings them down to earth.”

By Friday’s culminating cookout celebration, the kids have been changed and strengthened by their week of “roughin’ it.”

Teacher Jackie Pullo said, “They look like they’ve been through it, but even the kids who had the hardest time are so thankful that they did it. It’s such a sense of accomplishment. I get goosebumps just thinking about it.”

The students head out on June 10.