Year 8 Camp Coolamatong

Where to begin! A 35 km bike ride. 6 km hike on soft sand with backpacks bigger than students. Picturesque 90-mile beach. Sand dune jumping. Epic Pictionary. Getting lost geocaching. Shooting friends in combat archery. Eating too many lollies and talking into the wee hours of the night. Learning to cook in the bush. Experiencing Indigenous chocolate. Making shivs and spoons. Slapping mozzies while desperately looking for bug repellent. Good times.

In short, Year 8 camp was filled with challenge, fun and growth with new relationships and skills formed. Students pushed through challenging and uncomfortable experiences to reach new paths of potential. With the fantastic support of Coolamtong and Belgrave staff, students could experience delight and cultivate it in others. 

It is heart warming to see how our Creator can transform students' perceptions and beliefs about themselves in a single week. From 'I can't do it, 'I want to go home" to 'I did it!' and 'that was hard but good!'. 

The 'Good News' of the gospel is seen in the mundane. Jesus' love transforms hearts through campfire chats, helping roll up tents, carrying a friend's backpack or sharing your last crispy apple fresh from the local orchard. 

Our prayer is that the seeds of resilience, perseverance and love planted during the week will begin to bear fruit for the year 8's throughout the rest of the year and into the future.