Year 8 News  

Macedon House City Experience Camp – A Memorable Melbourne Adventure

Our 108 Macedon House students recently enjoyed an incredible three-day City Experience Camp, immersing themselves in the culture, history and excitement that Melbourne has to offer. Based at the CYC, students embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, respect and maturity, walking an impressive 60,000 steps throughout the camp as they explored the city.

The program was packed with engaging educational experiences. Students participated in guided Graffiti Art, Multicultural and Fashion tours, gaining a deeper appreciation of Melbourne's diverse communities, creative laneways and rich cultural heritage. A group of adventurous students also enjoyed a guided city bike ride, taking in many of Melbourne's iconic landmarks from a different perspective.

Our visits to the State Library Victoria, the Immigration Museum, and the Melbourne Skydeck provided fascinating insights into Australia's history, literature and multicultural identity, while also offering spectacular panoramic views across the city.

Some of the students' favourite experiences included ArtVo, where they became part of larger-than-life 3D artworks by posing for creative optical illusion photographs, challenging their imagination and teamwork. At ACMI, students explored the world of film, television, animation and video games through highly interactive exhibits, discovering how stories are created using cutting-edge digital technology. The visit to SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium allowed students to journey through Australia's marine environments, observing sharks, rays, penguins, colourful tropical fish and fascinating marine creatures while learning about conservation and the importance of protecting our oceans.

Another major highlight was our visit to MSAC (Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre), where students enjoyed an afternoon of friendly competition playing squash, table tennis and basketball. It was wonderful to see students encouraging one another, demonstrating teamwork and displaying excellent sportsmanship.

No City Experience Camp would be complete without some evening fun. Karaoke night proved to be a tremendous success, with students enthusiastically cheering on their friends as they showcased their singing talents. The visit to the Queen Victoria Market was another favourite, giving students the opportunity to explore the vibrant atmosphere, sample delicious foods and purchase souvenirs to remember their Melbourne adventure.

Throughout the camp, our students were outstanding ambassadors for Vermont Secondary College. They consistently demonstrated respect towards one another, staff, tour guides and members of the public. Their positive attitudes, responsible behaviour and willingness to embrace every opportunity made the camp an overwhelming success.

A sincere thank you to our dedicated staff whose enthusiasm, organisation and care made this memorable experience possible. We are incredibly proud of every Macedon House student for the maturity, resilience and respect they displayed throughout the camp.

Kiriaki Caracasidis

Year 8 Macedon Student Manager