Camp & Trips   

Amy Oliver, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus 

The 2026 Arts and Culture Tour was an unforgettable experience that allowed us to explore the arts in a completely different way by visiting some of the world’s most iconic cultural locations across London, Paris, Florence and Venice. Over the 18 days, we experienced art, theatre, music, architecture and history firsthand, which brought so much of our classroom learning to life. 

One of my highlights was London, where we visited incredible galleries such as the Tate Modern and Saatchi Gallery, and watched Romeo and Juliet at Shakespeare's Globe and Hamilton on the West End. In Paris, seeing the Eiffel Tower, visiting the Louvre Museum, exploring Palace of Versailles, and visiting Monet's Garden were all amazing experiences that showed the scale and beauty of European art and culture. Florence was especially memorable because of the cooking class, climbing the Florence Cathedral and dancing with locals and musicians on the Ponte Vecchio, which created such a fun atmosphere. In Venice, the gondola ride, mask-making workshop, and visits to Murano and Burano gave us a deeper understanding and appreciation of traditional craftsmanship and Venetian culture. 

The trip not only strengthened our understanding of the arts, but also helped us develop independence, confidence and friendships that will last a lifetime. It was an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life and one that truly reflected the value of experiential learning at Ivanhoe Grammar School. 

Isabella Mcnally, Year 11, Ridgeway Campus

In Term 1, I was very fortunate to be selected as one of the few Year 11s able to go on the Year 5 camp at Aireys Inlet. As a leader, my fellow Year 11s and I were expected to assist the staff and encourage the Year 5s in the various activities they participated in. Furthermore, we were asked to host a trivia night on the last evening including various categories and question types, proving the kids to be far more knowledgeable than I had prior imagined. 

Not only was I there to act as a role model and supervisor for the kids but I also got to participate in all the activities with them. We went canoeing, surfing, had turns on the giant swing, learnt about estuaries and many more fun games that brought everyone closer together. Through this I really loved the opportunity to get to know some of the Year 5s and I really connected with a lot of them. The bonds created over those few days were extremely memorable and I will treasure all the experiences I had, especially including the little gifts I was given by some of my new friends. My recommendation to any upcoming Year 11s would be to put your name down for the Year 5 camp because it was one of the best camps I’ve been on.