Peaceful surrounds and rolling hills, not a phone in sight…this was the outlook Year 7 students and teachers were greeted with on arriving at Camp Bornhoffen. The excitement on arrival at school that very morning was electric, especially as Year 7 camp had been in jeopardy due to the coronavirus health crisis. Sleeping bags, pillows and suitcases were rolled to the buses and very soon we had our boys on one bus and our girls on the other. Little did they know that they would not see each other for the remainder of camp! It was a fantastic week filled with challenges, awesome singing around the campfire and new friendships formed.


Reflections from some of our Year 7 campers below:

 

After canoeing and lunch, we set off on an adventure to a freshwater creek. The water was freezing, it went under and over many things, and the thought of submerging ourselves in it had us shivering before we even touched it. Without knowing what was stable or unstable, we were taught to maintain ‘3 points of contact’ and to test each stone or pebble we came across. From slippery rockslides to iconic diving spots, the entire journey led us through the creek to the waterfall. Getting out of the creek to avoid the waterfall, we trekked up the trail and then to the rock pools below. Joining with another group, 30 of us swam under the waterfall and hung out in the caves. Since we had hard hats on, we could ‘shower’ under the waterfall, and scream as much as we wanted to. Using the boulders nearby to our advantage, we made them our makeshift seats and talked for what felt like ages until we had to head back. Climbing back up the trail and making our way back to the boy’s side of the camp, we sorted out the order for the showers (a lot of arguing took place), we had dinner, final activities with hot chocolate, and then tucked into bed ready for the next day’s activities. David

 

Camp was the best! It was one of my term highlights. One of the activities at camp that I felt took a lot of courage and support from friends was net catching. Everyone was excited about net catching…until we arrived. No one wanted to have a go but when Lillie got up there, we all cheered for her. Our Totally Terrific Tremendous Team Two gave everyone hugs for their amazing achievements, even if they didn’t climb to the top. It was an amazing experience and we all felt a great sense of achievement in jumping off the plank into the net below. When I made the jump, I knew I had an amazing group of girls waiting at the bottom of the net to hug me for achieving what I thought I could not do. There are so many different girls in our cohort, some that I had never talked to at school and this experience helped me get to know everyone better. I realised we had something to connect us, something in common, and new friendships were formed. This was my highlight on Year 7 Camp 2020. Georgiana


Camp Bornhoffen is a place of dedicated to the most enjoyable, but most strenuous of activities. An activity that ticks off those two things is the disturbingly big, Giant Swing. This activity has 5 jobs for all members participating in the action. Number 1: The harness helper. Number 2: The rope puller. Number 3: The ladder minions. Number 4: The Donkeys. And Number 5: The people without jobs encouraging the Giant Swing victim and giving them the confidence to conquer the incredible manual machine. These jobs all contribute to making the swing work. I believe the donkeys are most important because without them, the person attempting the swing will not move. The donkeys (made up of about 5 people) run the opposite direction with all their strength to where the swing is going to be pulled back, lifting the person swinging higher and higher until the he / she is comfortable with the height, he/she is at. Then all the victim must do is let go of a rope attached to a tree and off he/she goes. The activity is effective because everyone is encouraged to have a go and face their fears. Teamwork is needed to make the swing operate building mutual respect and friendship. That is why the Giant Swing was so memorable for me. Lewis

 

Bornhoffen, the camp where new things developed; friendships, confidence, new tastes in food and a newfound attitude towards trying new things. I personally believe creeking was the best. My friends were a highlight too. Activities included creeking, low ropes, net catch, bush walking (hiking), initiatives and canoeing. The surprise on the last night of camp was s’mores. This involved our singing songs and doing a sing off into the night across the bushes and trees with the boys at their camp.Our beautiful singing voices won of course! I believe we all connected with people we had not previously known very well at school. I am a fussy eater and I didn’t like burgers before camp, and still kind of don’t, but I was so hungry I ate one and it was okay. Kiara

 

The activity I participated in was abseiling. I chose this activity to face my fear of heights. When you challenge yourself, you feel good after you’ve done it. Something I learnt was that we must keep on trying and try not to be afraid. I thought I couldn’t do it and I slipped at the start and asked to be pulled up. But I did try again, and the second time I went down the wall. Afterwards was so happy to have faced my fear and achieved something. I got to know more people from different classes and made friends throughout this camp. My favourite meal was the chicken schnitzel. The food was the best food I have had at any previous camp. Fears are nothing more than a state of mind. The fear of facing your fears is harder to overcome than the fear itself. I had a great experience and I learnt a lot about myself. I challenged myself and achieved a lot. Keenan