Senior Years
2019 Year 10 Camp: Stretching Limits and Building Character and Confidence.
On Monday March 4, our Year 10 campers arrived at the bus shelter, bags in hand, excited and nervous as they anticipated the adventure that lay ahead. Year 10 camp is designed to remove our students from the influences of the modern world as much as possible, and to challenge and inspire them, promoting and developing integrity, responsibility, resilience, compassion, environmental awareness, and tenacity in pursuit of a goal.
Although they were all headed to “Year 10 Camp” the buses headed off in different directions… some to the base in Uki, some to Crams Farm on the banks of the Clarrie Hall Dam, whilst another group headed to Rathdowney. Upon arrival at each of the Outward Bound ‘camps’, the students began to prepare for their first activity.
Apart from one group that divided their time between a hike and a mountain bike ride, the other groups did a combination of activities including kayaking and rafting on Clarrie Hall Dam, abseiling, cycling, hiking and doing a tree climbing challenge, “Big Ben,” whilst tied to each other, as well as having a morning of quiet self-reflection.
They carried their belongings in a pack, slept in tents, cooked their own food, saw some of the local wildlife and tried to stay dry, hoping their tent ‘flies’ would hold as the rain came down.
There was laughter and tears, determination, compassion and encouragement as group members learned to work together as a team. Whilst eager to enjoy a warm shower and the comfort of their own beds, positive comments were abounding as they arrived back to school 6 days later and got off the bus. Thank you to camp coordinator, Mr Michael Togher, as well as the accompanying staff Miss Jenna Baker, Mr Brodie Gentle, Mr Jaeden Haas, Mrs Susan Haines, Ms Rachel Kimlin and Mr Robert Matukin who gave up their family time to give our students the opportunity to benefit from this incredible experience.
The following poem by Year 10 student, Anastasia (10.3), is a wonderful reflection of their time away.
Year 10 Camp, it was a journey for sure,
Filled with blisters, bites and boiling weather to endure
It was a challenge, a quest, a mission to stay alive,
And the favourite meal of everyday, off wraps we thrived,
Walking and climbing we travelled with boulders on our backs,
Stopping every so often for the loved Saladas as a snack,
Adventurous activities, leap of faith, abseiling and more,
Hiking, biking and kayaking galore,
There were moments jampacked with laughs, and smiles,
But they all wiped away, until base camp we still had miles,
After cooking and carrying, walking and packing, we all ended up with memories of gold,
We all had made it, smiling as we crossed the threshold.
Mrs Kylie Day
Head of Learning – Languages and International students, Acting Head of Year 10
