Year 9 Camp – Phillip Island

As we embarked on our adventure to Phillip Island, the bus was a buzz of excitement and the sound of lolly packets being ripped open. The trip to Phillip Island went quickly, helped by the tunes from the back row. Mr. Ronalds even snuck in a cheeky nap on the trip down. 

We arrived at windy Cape Woolamai beach, with many students regretting not wearing more layers. We enjoyed a walk up and down the beach, admiring the spectacular views and blue sky. Lunch was eaten quickly as students were eager to move on to the activities planned for the rest of the day. Next stop was Churchill Island, and it did not disappoint. We saw so many animals, played oversized outdoor games like chess and even got to watch a sheep being shorn in the shearing shed. Some students also got to experience milking a cow. The teachers refuelled with coffees while we explored the beautiful grounds, enjoying the sunshine and fresh air. 

Clip’n’Climb was so much fun and so many students challenged themselves to try new and scary things. Johnno said the best thing about Clip’n’Climb was seeing the students cheer each other on and support each other to take on the different climbing challenges. Everyone tried something, even when they were terrified of heights. It was so much fun and we all had lots of laughs.

We checked into our accommodation, and we couldn’t believe how nice it was. The rooms had plenty of space and the beds were comfortable. We sorted out our rooms and then went to dinner. Dinner was a yummy roast with plenty for everyone. It was nice with all of us sitting together. To keep up entertained that evening, we had ‘Trivia with Olivia’ (Miss Flynn) and some students played games or watched a movie. It was really good (even if the teachers were super competitive)! Miss Flynn is an excellent trivia presenter. 

Day two was full of more adventures and fun. 

We tried frisbee golf before heading to laser tag and bowling. Students even got the chance to play a few games of pool while they were waiting for their turn at laser tag. We all enjoyed hanging out and getting to know everyone more. After lunch, we visited the Koala Conservation park and got to see some beautiful koalas. They looked so soft and snuggly, some students wanted to keep 

them and take them home. 

The Penguin Parade was the next stop on our big adventure. Luckily the weather was mild and it didn’t rain. We split into groups and had guided tours with some of the rangers. It was so interesting and the students asked lots of questions. We were VIPS and had our own seating area, right at the front of the seats. Our view of the little penguins as they came out of the water was incredible. We were so lucky to be that close to the beautiful little creatures. We were told not to take pictures of the penguins, but the park operators had some great photos we could download with a QR code so we would have a keepsake. It was a wonderful opportunity and we all really enjoyed it.

 Once we arrived back at the accommodation, we took some time to chill out. We even had a crew watching the footy together and sharing snacks. 

The Phillip Island Chocolate Factory was the first activity on our last day. We got to see inside the facility, watched chocolate going through quality control checks and we even got to make our own chocolate squiggles. There were games we could play to win tokens for free chocolate. Once we finished, lots of people explored the shop and bought themselves some treats to take home. 

We finished the camp with a stop at the San Remo foreshore. Some people caught crabs in the water’s edge and some people watched the famous San Remo pelican feeding. The sun was glorious as we all sat together and ate our last meal at camp. It was such a fun camp and we all had a fantastic time. The students were kind, respectful and just lovely young people over the entire camp. Many of the people who ran the activities we attended commented on what a lovely, respectful group of students they were. Students took the time to thank every person who ran an activity, drove a bus or took us on tour. It was something they should all feel really proud of. 

Special shout out to Mr. Hon, Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Ronalds, Miss Flynn and Xander Brooks for helping make the camp possible.