YEAR 7 CAMP
YEAR 7 CAMP
Eager and excited students greeted us on the first day of Term 2 at KSC, packed and waiting for the bus to take us to Grantville for the rescheduled Year 7 camp. Soon after arrival, a whole group activity filled the morning, and after lunch we grouped off into the Activity Groups, lead by Mr Churchill, Mr Cronin, Mrs Anthony, Ms Kennedy and Mrs John. The weather remained kind to us on Day 1 and the evening concluded with the legendary Trivia Quiz, but tired kids after school holidays meant that no fire pit was lit, as everyone had gone to bed feeling tuckered out!
Day 2 began with the wind picking up and rain threatening. It was windy on the high ropes course for Group 4, who used nerves of steel to push individual self-limitations and push up to their next level of bravery. It was at the end of Session 1 that the rain started to fall and it was Mr Churchill's group that marched off to canoeing in the rain - protected from the wind by the valley that the dam is located. Three other groups took shelter in the Games Room, where ping pong was contested and The Mighty Jenga Challenge took place. Feats of deep concentration, hard focus and steady handling saw the Jenga tower rise higher and higher, as sweaty palms removed blocks and replaced them atop a delicately balanced testament to the mindfulness and sheer will of Kam, Tegan, Sierrah and Aurora. The wind died and the rain fell gently as the groups returned outdoors for their third sessions. Ms Kennedy's canoeing group showed admirable resilience and joy as they battled out World Domination and other games on the water, wondering if it was the fat drops of rain or their splashing that was filling their canoes. Thanks to Ms Sorrell who took over Mrs Anthony's group on Day two after joining us in the evening of Day 1 to stand in beautifully for Ms Dauphin.
We concluded the day with an animated film on the theme of trust in humanity and the Great Feet Mystery after a hearty lasagne dinner.
Day 3 saw groups psyched and ready for the Survivor Challenge. Rain threatened but held off as groups ran around the grounds in search of tokens and challenges that could only be completed with team cohesion and a beauteous melding of minds for problem solving. The Raft Build saw all groups come together with ideas and skills, but few rafts survived the punishing paddle to the camp leader, with many a paddler carrying back the disintegrated parts of their flotation devices. The decider for the winner of this event was the Group Chant, and despite the uplifting and inspirational tone of Group 4's well-rehearsed chant, it was the group with the burping flourish that won the day.
We saw wonderful moments where students supported one another to face their fears, soothe anxieties, cheer one another on, and we saw students eat vegetables and fruit - each one a significant triumph! Our Year 7s proved that a bit of rain and wind could not dampen their spirits and sense of fun.
