Camp News

Strathbogie – Mt Stirling Skiing Camp

In August, the Year 9 Advance class experienced Nordic skiing for the first time at Mt Stirling. It provided a chance for all of us to ‘get out of our comfort zone’ and be ‘frozen’. The five E’s encapsulate the cross country skiing experience – exhilarating, exasperating, exhausting, somewhat enjoyable and extremely breathtaking! A special thank you to Mr Micallef for his support and supreme driving ability; Mr Damien St Pierre for his skiing prowess and leadership skills and Camp Manager, Mrs Roz Willis for making the Strathbogie campsite a comfortable space.

Here’s a few camp reflections from the Year 9 Advance class:

“I had never been to the snow before and it was beyond a totally new thing for me. When I first glimpsed the snow, it looked so fluffy and cuddly, but, it was literally the ‘devil in disguise’ because it was sooo hard. Skiing was so difficult. Holy moly, I fell down so much! The way down was so hard - not only physically but also mentally. I’ve learnt that that the way you think, can seriously affect how you behave physically. Deep!” Ngoc Truong (9D)

“The snow camp was an extraordinary experience – skiing was remarkable and I would definitely would go again. Even though I often fell, the feeling of exhilaration drove me to continue – thank you to Mr St Pierre for his encouragement. The sightseeing as we progressed up the mountain was amazing – the scenery was overall “chilling”. I also enjoyed spending time with the Advance class outside of the classroom.” Lawrence Phan (9I)

“The 2018 Snow Camp to Strathbogie was an eventful camp that enabled students to truly enjoy themselves and take a break, whilst also being encouraged and willing to step outside their comfort zones and be challenged by new experiences. The positive outcomes of this camp included being given the chance to give skiing a try, which personally for me made me feel accomplished and satisfied. Although it was extremely difficult to successfully ski, I got the hang of it with the help of the teachers at St Albans Secondary College as well as the instructors at Mount Stirling. This was truly an achievement. Overall, the camp was definitely great, with special thanks to the teachers for making it even better. Cindy Le (9A)