Year 7 Camp, 2024 

On Wednesday 31st January, Wheelers Hill Secondary College was buzzing with excitement as the new Year 7 students and their parents came together in readiness for camp. 

This first day of high school experience, started with over 100 students leaving campus and arriving at the Mount Evelyn YMCA campsite. Students were very lucky to have such willing and eager teachers alongside them as they were introduced to camp life, expectations, activity groups, and outdoor education staff. The weather was perfect, the natural environment was amazing, and students readily involved themselves in a number of activities over the following couple of days, which included making bush shelters, climbing high ropes, shooting archery, playing initiative games, cooking damper, and the most highly rated activity for fun, screaming on the giant swing. 

Chef Stephen was wonderful in his menu creation and readily met the needs of all students, even the fussy ones. His passion for cooking extended to the creation of an amazing roast chicken with potatoes and veggies on our final night. He wanted every young person to enjoy a traditional roast dinner just like he did when he was a child. Night activities included a camp fire, free time and movie night. 

As the days progressed and the students became more familiar and comfortable with one another, many friendships started to form. Many thanks goes to the teachers, the camp staff, the outdoor educators, Mr. Jeremy Woods, and most especially Mr. Ben Shepherd for arranging a well organised, fun and enjoyable three days together on camp. 

The students demonstrated great respect for one another and for those around them, excellence in their behaviours and the effort shown in their activities, and expressed themselves creatively with a willingness to have fun. Our Year 7 cohort for 2024 have certainly started their first year of high school in a very positive way. 

Mrs. Natalie Benfield 

Year 7 Coordinator