Year 10 News

Year 10 Camp

Between the 19th and 21st April the Year 10s went on camp. We set off all excited for the almost 2 hour long journey stopping in San Remo for a lunch break but ending up standing outside shivering from the cold instead. Soon enough we left the San Remo pelicans behind and crossed the bridge over to Phillip Island, the location of the camp. We all got to choose who we were in a cabin with so it was no surprise when the teachers read the names out. We were all grateful when we found out that the activity groups were comprised off a few cabins put together meaning that we would be with our friends. With our cabin and activity group numbers we set off to unpack and get settled before our first activity. For my activity group it was raft building.With helmets and lifejackets on we set off lifting planks of wood and plastic tubes and tying tight knots until we thought we had built a stable raft. Lifting our fragile rafts into the water we raced to paddle our rafts though the muddy lake around a marker and back to shore before taking it apart. We all came back laughing and muddy.

 

The following afternoon tea we set off to archery. Some of us were able to get the arrows on the targets while others sent arrows off into the trees. We had fun trying to find them though. After dinner we had free time before collecting up our sleeping bags and pillows and lying down to watch ‘Clueless’ accompanied by popcorn. After some chatting we all eventually got to sleep at a reasonable hour. We woke up early the next morning to a big day of activities. First up we had fun in an activity called team rescue. We were given a stretcher with a dummy on it, 2 ropes and 3 planks of wood with which we had to manoeuvre ourselves through a course without touching the ground. After morning tea we set off to the high ropes course. We were all very brave and had a go at either the balance focussed course or the strength focussed course or both. It was scary but exciting walking on thin wires 5m above the ground.

 

While we were at the high ropes course Ms Hajzler started chanting for baked potatoes which is what was for lunch that day. She was so worried that all the baked potatoes would be gone by the time we got there. In the end, my friends and I got there 15 minutes early but ended up being served last anyway. After lunch we headed back out to our third activity of the day. For my activity group it was our turn on the flying fox. 10m above the ground and 200m long, on this flying fox you and a friend could go together at the same time. We were allowed to run off the platform before launching ourselves flying down. It was so thrilling to be zooming along, completely safe, so high above the ground and for so long. After this we broke for afternoon tea before our last activity of the day, an initiative course. The group had to break in two and together make their way through a series of obstacles. These included a spider web in which no group member could go through the same hole and a balancing beam on which we had to rearrange ourselves into a specific order. It was a tie but since chocolate was on the line we needed to decide a definite winner and we were able to thanks to one of Mrs Etheridge’s Disney quizzes.

 

Later that evening we all assembled back in the dining room for a 6 round trivia night with Mr Kazi as the quiz master. The questions were on every topic you could imagine including physiology, celebrities, geography and music. We woke up even earlier the next morning to heavy rain which ruined the day we had planned. Everyone was happy with the new arrangements to stay inside and watch either ‘Mamma Mia’ or ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ or brave the elements and go on a walk to Smith’s Beach (as was planned for my activity group that day). After the movies had finished and the very wet beach walk group were changed and dried, we all had lunch.

 

Then it we had time to go and I know I was definitely sad that our time at camp was over. No group got a chance to do all the activities partially due to rain and partially due to time. For my group these were canoeing and the giant swing which I heard the other groups had lots of fun doing. This was a really special camp with lots of time to bond and relax, it was so nice to be there with the whole year level for once. My most special moments happened in our cabin though. At night we would sit down together and join in in rounds of games while the others had showers. Where ever we were going we would always go as a group, sometimes even having a role call before we left.  Thank you to all the teachers that attended camp but especially to Ms Tellefson and Ms Storrie for working tirelessly behind the scenes to make it happen.

 

By Nyah Seelig – Schattner