A Snapshot of Learning: Grade 4 Camp

On Monday the 27th of March the Year 4’s went to Camp Wyuna in Queenscliff. Queenscliff is a small town on the Bellarine Peninsula at the entrance to Port Phillip Bay.

What we did:

First we arrived, sat down and got introduced to the place. After that we got told our cabins and who was in them. Then we went to put our big suitcases down and went back down to our meeting area. Later we got told what we were going to do for the day. We all got sorted into our groups: Sharks, Seals, and Whales. We all had three activities to do. They were pizza making, boogie boarding at the beach in the ocean and going to the Marine Discovery Center. After we did our activities we had free cabin time. We could set up our beds and have a bit of time in others’ cabins and our own. Eventually the Whale group was called to set the dinner table, then we had dinner which was spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread and some salad. Then we had ice cream with some chocolate sauce for dessert. After dinner we went back to our cabins and had about an hour of cabin free time since some of our activities were cancelled due to rain. After our free time we watched a movie called Garfield: A tail of two kitties. The next day we woke up at 7 o'clock am (some earlier) and started packing till around 7.45 am. Then the Seal group boys were called to set the kitchen table and then the rest of us went down to have breakfast, which was cereal, toast, apple juice and orange juice. After breakfast we had a bit of free time outside until we all went across the road to the park. We saw three huge buckets full of water balloons and a big slingshot. We were told a true story about a pirate called Benito Benito who stole the Lost Loot of Lima and had a big battle with the British Empire. Then we all bunched up and tried to catch the water balloons that were shot off the slingshot. Ellie and Jack  also said that anyone who could catch a balloon would get a prize. Harry McPhee caught a balloon but he didn't get a prize. Everyone had a turn at launching, and most got rather wet. After we did that we had a sausage sizzle for lunch, got on the buses and went home. When we got back from camp at around 3:15 pm, we unpacked our bags from the bus, said goodbye to the teachers and went home.

We interviewed some people before, at and after the camp and here is what they said:

Before Camp

“What do you hope will happen at camp?   

Louis: “I hope there will be a beach with warm weather and in the cabins there are no creepy crawlies.” 

Patrick: “I hope there will be fun and sporty activities.”

Marius: “I hope there will be a DJ.”  

Emily: “I hope we can do archery.”

Milia: “I hope we see a snake.”Erica: “I hope we can go to the beach.”

What’s your opinion on a night away from home?

Louis: “Pretty good, excited, get to go to bed late.”

Patrick: “Nerve racking, very nerve racking.”

Marius: “I think it would be cool and epic.”

Emily: “ It actually feels kinda scary.”

Erica: “It will be very sad.”

Milia:”Scary but like fun.”

Is there anything about camp you’re worried or nervous about?

Louis: “Nah not really.”

Patrick: “The night, the sleeping.”

Marius: “If I don't get Harry in my cabin.”

Emily: “I'm worried about creatures crawling on me.” 

Milia: “Nup not really.” 

Erica: “No.”

During Camp

How was the night/were you worried?

Emma: “It was good and fun to sleep with my friends.”

Coran: “No, not really because when I came I saw it was really well accommodated.”  

Maddie: “GOOD!”

Harry: “Great.”

Spencer: “No.”

Keira: “No.”

What did you think about going to the beach/boogie boarding?

Emma: “It was very fun to go in my group and go all the way to the shore.”

Coran: “It was so fun because there were really big waves there.

Maddie: “IT WAS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DONE IN MY WHOLE ENTIRE LIFE!”

Harry: “Extremely fun.”

Spencer: “It was really fun. I liked boogie boarding.”

Keira: “It was really fun.”

Do you like who is in your cabin?

Emma: “Yes.”

Coran: “Yes, we had a good time.”

Maddie: “Fifty-fifty.”

Harry: “Yeah.”

Spencer: “Taison and Daniel F.”

Keira: “Nia and Alin.”

After Camp

What was your favourite and least favourite food at camp?

Alin: “My favourite was breakfast and my least favourite was the pasta.”

George: “My favourite was the sausages and my least favourite was the pasta.”

Hannah M: “My favourite food was the ice cream and my least favourite food was the pasta.”

Daniel Z: “My favourite food was the toast and honey we had for breakfast and my least favourite food was the cereal.”

Alina: “My favourite food was pizza and my least favourite food was pasta.”

Brayden: “My favourite was the ice cream and my least favourite was the salad at dinner.”

What was a highlight of the camp experience?

Alin: “Being with my friends and boogie boarding.”

George: “The boogie boarding.”

Hannah M: “That I got to be with my friends a lot.”

Daniel Z: “The water balloon battle.” 

Alina: “Making the pizza.”

Brayden: “When we were making our beds in the cabin and having a good time.”

Overall, did you like camp?

Alin: “Yes.”

George: “Yes.”

Hannah M: “Yes, very much so.”

Daniel Z: “Yeah.”

Alina: “I guess so.”

Brayden: “Yes.

We returned on Tuesday the 28th of March, and most of us were very happy to be home. 

Thank you to all the teachers that went to the year 4 camp: Mr Camerino, Mrs Tiberi, Miss C, Mr Cherry, Mrs Gillett, Miss Claudia, Mrs Menere, Miss Paull and Miss Mautone. Also thank you to the YMCA staff, especially Ellie, Arron, Jack, Mel and the cooking staff. We had an amazing time.