Senior School News
Our amazing Year Six students recently embarked on an exciting five-day camp to Canberra, where they explored Australia’s capital city and participated in a variety of educational and interactive experiences.
The journey began early on Monday, February 24, with students departing from school at 7:00 AM. Along the way, they stopped in Holbrook for lunch and had the opportunity to see the famous submarine. Upon arrival in Canberra, students settled into Leumeah Lodge, their accommodation for the week, before enjoying dinner and getting ready for their adventure ahead.
The second day was packed with space, politics, and science. The morning began with a visit to the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, where students learned about NASA’s missions, how spacecraft communicate with Earth, and the role of Australia in space exploration. They saw the enormous 70-metre radio antenna and learned about its historical significance, including its role in transmitting the first images of the Moon landing. In the afternoon, students explored Parliament House, where they met members of Parliament, took a guided tour of the House of Representatives and Senate, and participated in a Parliamentary Education Program. This hands-on session allowed them to act as politicians in a mock parliamentary debate, experiencing how laws are made and decisions are debated in government. The students also visited Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre, where they engaged in exciting hands-on science exhibits, watched interactive demonstrations, and explored the wonders of physics, technology, and engineering during a special Q by Night tour.
On Wednesday, February 26, students started the day at Mt Ainslie Lookout, where they gained an understanding of Canberra’s design by Walter Burley Griffin. They then visited the National Capital Exhibition, where they learned about the history and development of Canberra and even had the chance to design their own version of the city. Afterward, they headed to the National Arboretum, home to rare and endangered trees from around the world. Here, they enjoyed the Pod Playground before testing their navigation skills in an orienteering challenge. In the afternoon, students visited the Australian War Memorial, where they participated in an educational session titled We Will Remember Them. This program helped them explore the importance of Anzac Day and Remembrance Day, as well as personal stories of Australian servicemen and women. Afterwards, they took a drive around Canberra’s Embassy District, learning about Australia’s relationships with other countries. Later, they toured the Royal Australian Mint, discovering how Australian coins are made and watching robots in action. The day concluded with some fun at Zone Bowling, where students enjoyed a game of ten-pin bowling.
The fourth day of camp focused on law, democracy, and sports. Students began with a visit to the High Court of Australia, where they explored the role of the judiciary and the impact of court decisions on Australian law. At the Museum of Australian Democracy (Old Parliament House), they participated in a session called People Power and Making Change, where they learned about the history of democracy in Australia and how citizens can influence government decisions. Later, at the Electoral Education Centre, students experienced a mock election, learning how preferential voting works and the importance of fair elections in a democracy. In the afternoon, they toured the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), where they learned about elite athletes' training and tested their skills in the interactive Sportex area, trying activities like virtual skiing, wheelchair basketball, and football penalty shootouts.
On Friday, February 28, students had an early breakfast before saying goodbye to Canberra. They retraced their journey back via Yass and the Hume Highway, stopping along the way for breaks. Arriving back at school in the evening, students returned with new knowledge, lasting memories, and a deeper appreciation for Australia’s history, government, and science.
This camp provided an engaging mix of education, adventure, and fun, allowing students to gain hands-on experiences in space exploration, politics, history, science, and sports. From debating in Parliament to trying out Olympic training techniques at AIS, the trip was a valuable and memorable learning journey for all involved. 🚍📚✨
A big shout out to the bus driver Jason or as he liked to be called 'JDog' who the students loved and for ensuring the safe arrival of students for each activity!
