Camps   

Vanessa Chien, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus 

The Year 7 Camp, which commences at the start of Term 1, is a part of the Outdoor Education Program and is always a memorable highlight and a great way to build connections for the start of a student’s high school journey. This three-day exciting program is the first in a series of adventure-based programs, that focuses on the personal development of students, with a range of thrilling activities, like canoeing, flying fox, high ropes, and many more. 

Located an hour away from Ridgeway Campus, students take on the immersive outdoor experience of Stringybark Lodge, where they stay in cabins for one night and actively participate in numerous challenging endeavours. The flying fox, water rafting, archery, and an Indigenous information session, bring the students an opportunity to build connections and strengthen their skills to be challenged, all while being surrounded by new people and new surroundings. The Gillwell Park Scout Camp, located just five minutes from Stringybark Lodge, is the other area where students will visit during this program for a night in a tent, and other exciting activities, like high ropes, canoeing, mountain biking and low ropes. 

My experience of Year 7 camp, as a Year 11 leader was nothing short of being one of the most memorable experiences in my high school journey. Being able to step into a leadership role, allowed me to take on responsibility and help support younger students as they adjusted to new environments and their commencement of high school. From encouraging them before challenging activities, to simply being someone they could talk to, I have learnt that leadership is built on patience, positive encouragement, but most importantly, empathy. One of the most rewarding parts of the camp was building connections with both students and teachers outside of the classroom environment. It was incredibly fulfilling to see students grow in confidence over just a few days, whether they were conquering the high ropes or working together in team activities. 

Overall, the Year 7 Camp was not only an exciting and adventurous start for the students, but also a meaningful leadership experience for me. It strengthened our school community, created lasting memories, and allowed both students and leaders to grow together. 

Lila Read, Year 8, Ridgeway Campus

Year 8 camp was an amazing experience that pushed everyone out of their comfort zone a bit. We took part in many different activities such as sailing, mountain biking, stand up paddleboarding, raft building, archery, and initiatives that improved our teamwork. We took the ferry to hike at Raymond Island. Sailing was my favourite activity because we got to capsize and jump in the water and it all filled me with excitement. We also had to sleep in a tent for two nights which was one of the best parts of camp in my opinion, as it made me more independent and strengthened some of my friendships.  The activities were endless and continued to be so much fun the whole trip. 

Sadie Hooper, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus 

Year 8 camp as a Year 11 leader was everything and more. From bonding with the kids over capsized sailing boats, to joining in on their 'capsizing war'  during stand-up paddleboarding, to patching up cuts from mountain biking. My own experience of Year 8 camp as a student was nowhere near as amazing as it was being a Year 11 leader. The kids were positive and willing to try anything, waking up each morning with huge smiles and everlasting enthusiasm. From the cabins to the tents, everyone was pushed out of their comfort zone, especially when I spent 20 minutes convincing the kids that the chicken would not make them sick, or when I had to differentiate between an ant and a tick, multiple times. I formed new friendships and created lasting memories with teachers, students, and other Year 11 leaders. It was an amazing experience that has truly stuck out in my schooling and is a trip I will remember and cherish forever.  

Alexis Tan, Year 8, Ridgeway Campus 

I didn’t expect Year 8 camp to be so enjoyable, making it one of the highlights of my year. It was ideal to sleep in tents for the first half of camp - and lucky for me, I was part of that half. The hike up to the tents was tiring, especially due to the hot weather. The journey consisted of us carrying our heavy hiking bags up a hill to where our campsite was. The relief we felt when we saw the top was like a weight had been lifted off our shoulder (figuratively and literally). We began by setting up our tents, followed by cooking our own dinner. We delegated jobs to different people in order to prepare our delicious dinner. On the first night we made curry, and for the second night we made a stir fry, but both were delicious meals. My favourite part about the tents was the view. We could see the sunset every night, and the sunrise in the mornings. During the day, we went on a ferry to another island to watch the dolphins and jellyfish. At the island, each group completed their solo, however that didn’t go as planned. One group sat on a tick nest during their solo, which was an eventful experience for everyone!  Overall, camping in the tents was an incredible experience, allowing me to make many new friends, however we had to head back to complete the second half of the camp in the cabins.

In the cabins, we were assigned to rooms based of our groups. Each day, we participated in 2-3 activities and had a lot of free time. During free time, we mostly played ‘Gaga Ball’, which always got very competitive. My favorite activities were stand-up paddleboarding and sailing as we got to play in the water.  Other activities we participated in were mountain biking and archery. Unfortunately, a bull was let loose on one day, blocking the pathway to some activities and meaning each group missed out on at least one event that day. 

Camp was a memorable experience, allowing me to make many new friends, and having many new experiences!