Year 10 Camp - Melbourne

Thursday - the first day of camp - was a very full day for our Year 10 students.  We started out with a visit to RMIT university, where students learnt that RMIT not only has university courses but also TAFE style courses. They also learnt that they could learn/study abroad in many different countries, which really seemed to spike their interest. 

After RMIT, we headed down to Queen Victoria Market, where students immersed themselves in the sights and sounds of the market, checking out the many different market stalls. From the Market, students needed to navigate, in their small teams, their way to Melbourne Museum, where they took part in the Road to Zero program. This Road Safety program allowed students to gain a first-hand understanding of the science of motion and apply this knowledge to a real-world challenge: setting speed limits for safety etc. Following a facilitator led introduction, students participated in a virtual reality physics experiment to explore the relationship between speed and friction on car stopping distances. They then applied their learning to a team-based challenge using touch table technology.

Thursday night was a highlight for many students, where they got to dress up in a ‘team-themed’ outfit - and there were some very awesome outfits! We boarded a boat and cruised the Yarra River.  Whilst on the boat lots of dancing and laughs were had.  Students also showed their talent with a limbo competition as well as a ‘team’ dance-off.

When the boat docked at the Docklands, we all walked up to the O’Brien Icehouse. Students were given a brief introduction to ice-skating, and those students that had the confidence to have a go, strapped on their ice-skating boots and skated around the ring. Again, a lot of laughs were had, as well as a few wet bottoms!

On Friday, we travelled to the Melbourne Convention Centre to participate in the Melbourne Career Expo. This Expo is the most comprehensive and exciting careers event in Australia. The expo encompassed all career opportunities from employment to education and training in the trades, corporate and professional sectors.  Even though the students were extremely tired by this stage, they were able to get some great advice and guidance for their own journey forward. 

Overall, the students seemed to have a wonderful time on camp, and the experience served to increase connections between the cohort and with their teachers.