On Monday the 25th to Wednesday the 27th of July the year 9 cohort took a bus to Camp Toolangi. When we arrived, we sat down and learned about the place that we were so eager to adventure and explore. We were taught about the meaning of the word Toolangi and what the camp represents. Toolangi translates to tall trees and surrounding the camp was massive ash mountain trees that almost hit the clouds. It was so peaceful and secluded, something that was hard for many to come to terms with was that there was barely any reception, however in the end it came to be something good instead of bad. We were so caught up with all the activities that sometimes we forgot about even having phones.

The staff at Toolangi were very kind, caring and compassionate. It particularly showed when we were participating in the activities. Some feared heights including myself and they made me feel safe and helped me contain it and enjoy the activity. There was one staff member that really lifted our moods and that was, Keenan. He was so bubbly and would be smiling every time I saw him, he would play the kazoo just because he felt like it and enjoy making people happy. But in saying that all of the staff had a positive impact on our three days there. Rah, Keenan, Luke, Brooke, and Dave were so amazing and were so patient when it came to people’s challenges like my fear of heights. One of the staff thought that it would be funny to tell all the year nines that at Toolangi they had drop bears which would drop from the trees and attack what they felt was a threat, which I later found out they didn’t exist and was a story told to scare people and make them do silly things thinking that it would protect them.

The activities at Toolangi were so amazing. There was a flying fox, archery, possum gliding and my personal favourite abseiling and much more. Every activity was a “choose your challenge” meaning if you didn’t feel comfortable you didn’t have to, this camp was all about pushing yourself to the limits you feel that you could do. There was one person at camp that concurred all the activities and has now been crowned king of the camp that was King Karmel. He successfully made it to the top of the rock-climbing wall, twice and made it to the top of the high rope flawlessly. Even though he had a fear of heights.

This camp in my opinion was the best camp that I have ever gone on.

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