Year 10 Camp Journal

From an anonymous Year Ten EAL student

During fifteen years of my life, I have only been camping twice and both occasions left such unique impressions that I can never forget. The first time was the Surf camp in Anglesea with the Outdoor Education class, where I experienced a tremendous time doing water activities. The second time, hence my favourite, was with year 10 students accompanied by a group of teachers at Phillip Island and there I learned the true meaning of happiness and friendship.

On Wednesday morning, the library was packed with students and their luggage chatting eagerly, I too couldn’t avoid feeling enthusiasm rushing through my system when I saw my friends all readied for the trip. It took about two hours to arrive, My bus partner and I killed time with a movie and watched the countryside sceneries outside passing by. We drove through an enormous bridge across the sea to reach Phillip Island and my excitement increased the closer we got. Finally, the bus stopped and we stood in the fresh air; laughter rang as I took in the view. There was an expansive area with the cabins on the left, a shack in between and the dining building which is opposite to the reception. From afar, I could see various playgrounds and structures for entertainments and my heart thumped louder. In cabin 70, my two friends took the first twin bed while I and another friend took the other one. Another classmate picked one next to the window, overlooking the basketball court, while the luckiest girl, grouped two single beds into a big one for her to take all!

The first day of camp can be described as exciting but a little bit frightening too. My squad was put into Group I with two other cabins and our first task was craft-making. To say the least, I did not expect it to involve water that much, but I was wrong. My shoes, my jeans, and half my shirt were drenched while goosebumps rose on my skin after we finished and the wind was blowing super hard at me. After ball games with Ms. Hajzler, my team played a cool game called Truth or Dare in which everyone discovered each other’s secrets and did hilarious challenges such as proposing marriage, knocking on a stranger’s door or screaming like a maniac. I was still cackling at dinner, later came  Quiz Night and that ended Day 1.

When the alarm struck at five O’clock thus began Day Two for me:  My roommate and I went stargazing under a tranquil inked night gleaming with vast constellations. Despite the freezing air, a chance to see Jupiter could not be passed by. After breakfast was Team Rescue in the forest where we carried out a rescue mission for Shelby, the dummy, across a range of obstacles like a real-life action movie; too bad there were twenty of us and one useless mannequin. The second activity was High Ropes, the adrenaline when I walked four feet above the ground was exhilarating, the same with the Flying Fox. Finally, after tasting the air while sliding down from 50 feet tall, the group went to chill in the swimming pool. The second day came to an end with a movie night which I did not see and my cabin escaped clean-ups duty miraculously.

Smiths Beach was our only destination for the third day, it was save the best for the last kind of thing! It started out pleasant and entertaining until it turned tedious at the final hour. Honestly, I’m not sure because it’s a bummer that camp is ending or everyone was somehow exhausted since they weren’t as boisterous as usual. Therefore, even lunch was very bland to the mouth and I stayed quiet until the bus came. It’s both a shame and lucky that we had two weeks holiday after camp. Seeing my friends off to their home and some were heading back to their country, I was pretty depressed; it was as if the bus was filled with a heavy silence. Taking in the view for the last time, with much intensity to imprint the scenery into my head, I watched the campsite turn into the main road leading back home.

If asked how to describe the event, I would say the camp was eminently remarkable: there were moments with my friends that I wish to experience again like the basketball match with Ms.Tellefson; the questionnaire with Ms. Hazjler; the beach walk with Group I. Just recalling them makes me smile fondly like a fool.  I even miss my smelly bed in the cabin (and how every little move caused people to cringe at night)! Maybe one day, I can recommend this wonderful holiday spot for my family and friends and return here.  For now I have to be satisfied with my cherished memories.

Thanks to Ms Tellefson, Ms Hanley and all the teachers for this remarkable camp.