West Campus News

Year 9 Camp

One of the great pleasures I had this week was to spend two full days with the Year 9 students on camp down at Anglesea. While I have visited the staff and students there many times over the past 4 years, I had not had the opportunity to participate with the students in the program and to gain new insights from this experience.

There are some great physical challenges for the students that are both enjoyable and rewarding as students develop new skills in the aquatic environment.  River and ocean kayaking, body boarding, and surfing are all terrific and no doubt what your child shall focus on when you ask them about the camp.  However, some of the best of what I observed, I strongly suspect students will not talk about…despite its importance.

One of the activities in which students participate is called the Journey Challenge.  It requires mental skill, toughness and perseverance rather than physical skill or talent.  It can only be completed with teamwork and if students are prepared to think, reflect, persevere and modify their behaviour. Then they will experience growth and success.

My group of 9 students began by having to use four ropes and a piece of elastic material to retrieve a plastic container sitting on top of a pole in swampland.  A board walk came within about 10 metres of this pole and did a right angle turn around it, as shown in this diagram below.

Students worked together to first remove the container from the pole and find a clue inside that pointed them to the location of their next activity.  However, they then had to solve the even tougher problem of returning the container to the top of the pole while staying out of the swamp water.

The group dynamics was fascinating, with some students disinterested, some actively blocking progress of the group, some making suggestions and others criticising strongly any ideas put forward.  Some students became reluctant to suggest ideas and some would become upset when their ideas were criticised or not adopted.  Improvements or modifications to ideas were seen as threats and subsequently egos suffered.

However, despite all the problems and negativity, over a period of almost an hour, the group did try various ideas.  They modified and learned and problem solved so that when they finally achieved (after many attempts!) a collective roar of exhilaration was heard from every student.  All had contributed to some extent.

The important part of the process was a short debrief in which students could reflect on their experience.  A few ideas were shared about the importance of listening to one another in a supportive way so that all could feel safe.  The realisation that the objective was the focus and that it was more important to be one of many contributors rather than the only person with the solution.  It was good that students realised that they all could have a role to play and all contributions were important no matter how big or small.  It was a fantastic lesson in teamwork, leadership and group dynamics.

What gave me the greatest pleasure was the evidence that they had learned these lessons by the manner in which they completed the next two tasks.  They were not done perfectly BUT there was improvement…there was growth.  What more could we ask, but that our students learn and develop. 

Their final task was to build a raft out of 8 plastic barrels, a tarpaulin and ropes and then sail it to a previously identified location to retrieve their reward.  Nine students gathered around the materials and began to share ideas about how to build the raft.  They listened respectfully and there were no “put downs”.  No egos appeared to be offended when some ideas were discarded.  They cooperated and in a short time a raft was constructed.  The students challenged me to join them on the raft.  How could I refuse, when their commitment to the task convinced me that I had to show my trust in them.

Before we launched our raft, a student suggested that we pray.  I was touched and heartened as they all simultaneously moved in around the raft, took each other’s hands and asked me to lead them in a prayer of thanksgiving, hope and trust.

It was a trust well founded as the raft did not break apart and we paddled to an island to successfully retrieve our reward - two packets of lollies.  But of course the greatest reward was the growth in the students as they learnt about themselves and now knew that when they put their heart and mind into a task, they can achieve.

Mr David Hansen

Deputy Principal - West Campus