Junior Secondary 

Year 7 Adventure Camp

Our wonderful Year 7 cohort spent three days at CYC Adventure Resort last week for camp. 

We left on Wednesday morning, arriving to camp greeted by beautiful sunshine. After a tour by CYC camp staff, we worked within small teams to set up our tent site.

Later that afternoon, students competed in the Ultimate Scavenger Hunt. Mrs Witt and Puk Bradbury had buried over 100 items (some as small as a 5-cent piece) in an area on Smith’s Beach, cordoned off by coloured hats. Teams worked together to locate as many buried items as possible. One team member even located a small, clear button! All groups achieved great results, and Mrs Witt said there were only around 4 items that were not found. It was a wonderful opportunity to play in the sand and work as teams.

Day two saw us complete group rotations over the course of the day.

This included: low ropes course, archery, raft building, giant swing, and laser tag.

These activities were so much fun and challenged many students to step out of their comfort zone on occasion.

Students were also asked to ‘be noticers’ of their fellow students over the three-day camp. This included noticing those who were particularly encouraging of others, students who offered to do other’s dishes, and other acts of thoughtfulness and kindness.

Capping off the final evening of camp, students took part in a koala spotlight tour and campfire chats.

We had a wonderful time away with a fabulous group of students.

Sharon Witt

Junior Secondary Teacher

Some of the highlights of Phillip Island camp were winning Laser Tag in my group, every time. Another highlight was playing Nine Square with other students, as it was a special treat. Bonding with the girls with my tent group was also great. Miss V gave a beautiful devotion on our first evening together around the campfire. Overall, it was a great camp, and we made a lot of new memories.

Chelsea Ambrose

What I enjoyed most about Year 7 Phillip Island Camp was the many activities we got to do in groups. One of my highlights was Laser Tag. We got special head bands that indicate if a team member hits it with their laser. During this session, we had to hide in teams, and I spilt off and went on my belly to try and remain unseen. When you get hit, the headband makes a beep. We all had three chances, and on the final strike, you hear a high-pitched scream. You can return to the leader, and they can restore your settings, allowing you to begin again.

Evelyn Zwarts

Some of the highlights of our Year 7 camp was the Giant Swing, especially seeing Mr Boyle having a turn. Playing a fun game called ‘Hanky Panky’, in a small group, where we had to take turns tapping each other’s hands in rapid succession was fun, because it switched our brains on for the rest of the day. I also really enjoyed the raft making session, because I got to put my Scout skills to good use.

Lucas Penna

I really enjoyed participating in the Giant Swing activity, because I was looking forward to it and it was something I had never done before. Everyone was well behaved and nice to each other, which I appreciated. The woodfired pizza we had for dinner on the first night was delicious. I also loved the scavenger hunt on the beach that we did on the first afternoon.

Aaliyah Gurney

My favourite part of the camp was doing Laser Strike. It was great fun and we had to work together as a team. The giant swing was also great because it was exhilarating. I was a little nervous and pulled the funniest face. Archery was also fun because I got to shoot a bow and scored 40 points. I was most excited for our barbeque dinner on the final night. The food was amazing.

Thomas Couzens

Year 8 Prom Camp

Remote beaches with crystal clear water are one of the big draw cards at the Prom. The key word here is 'remote'. Hiking in and out is how our Year 8 students were able to enjoy these beautiful spots.

Each student carried what they required on their backs. Some lugged about 15kg for three days in a row. The feeling of taking that pack off at the end of the day was described as 'instant relief' and 'walking on air'. 

Every student experienced challenges with many passing the limits of what they thought they could endure. We are so proud of the way they encouraged one another, persevered when they felt overwhelmed and adapted to changing conditions.

Suzanne de Pyle

Year 8 Coordinator, Teacher, and Learning Support

Year 9 Canberra Camp

As part of our investigations into the formation of our National Identity as Australia in Open Village classes this term, our Year 9 cohort spent a week in Canberra taking in the history and structure of our Capital.

There was something in it for everyone. As we considered the artistic creations of Indigenous Australians we asked questions about what stories are being told and by who, then contrasted these to other perspectives of national artwork such as the works of Sidney Nolan on Ned Kelly. A visit to Old Parliament House had us consider the role that news and journalists play in shaping the stories that are told to us as truths, as well as analysing their sources and bias. In fact, each tour or learning experience contributed in their own unique way, a piece of the puzzle that dynamically forms the image of our National Identity, whether it be at the AIS, Government House, the War Memorial or many other institutions visited. 

One day stood out amongst all others for both students and staff as we experienced Question Time in Parliament House together and then toured APH culminating in a personal Q&A session with Casey Federal Member Aaron Violi MP. 

Students were fascinated by seeing in real life the faces they recognised from billboards and media advertisements. It also raised many questions for students as they observed the way some MPs behaved on the floor of the House of Representatives; calling out loudly and out of turn while someone else has the floor, yelling insulting remarks, not listening to each other but just shouting at each other, even being on their phones constantly – can’t they just put them away for the 45 minutes? Apparently, we shouldn’t complain too much about our own students classroom behaviour now.

Even the content of some of the Questions without Notice were very relevant, especially to our group who, that very morning, had sat in on a High Court trial, and had heard on in their time at the High Court of Australia about the previous week’s decision by the High Court regarding indefinite immigration detention. 

We are very grateful, and thankful, to Aaron Violi MP, who took the time out of a busy and eventful day to meet our students and add a personal element to a space we felt very out of place in. Aaron generously and candidly answered our students questions about his life and work as their Federal representative in the Australian Parliament. 

The week was so full of incredible experiences, and even the retelling of them will differ depending on who you ask – so I encourage you to do just that; go and ask one of our Year 9 students about their week away; what they remember fondly, what they were surprised by, what sparked their curiosity?

Tim Eddy

Year 9 Coordinator & Secondary Teacher

The Australian Government recognises the importance of all young Australians being able to visit the national capital as part of their Civics and Citizenship education. To assist in meeting the costs of this camp, the Australian Government is contributing $45.00 per student under the Parliament and Civics Education Rebate program towards the costs of our visits and tours of relevant institutions in Canberra. The rebate is paid directly to the school at the conclusion of this camp.