Last week, a team of hopeful teachers braved the sporadic weather forecast and took around 130 energetic Year 7 students away on camp. The first challenge was to get all staff and students at school by 7:00am to ensure we would make the trip down the Brown Mountain, before too much rain and mist set in. As we got closer and closer to the coast, the more the teacher’s concern about the weather grew, the dark and ominous clouds promised a challenging 3 days ahead. After arriving on time, arranging students into sleeping quarters, and refuelling them with lunch, we set off into House groups for our first adventure. Over the three days, we rotated through a series of activities designed to take students out of their comfort zone, test their resilience, encourage team-building and problem-solving skills, grow their capacity for leadership and build more positive and respectful relationships between the students. Some of the highlights for our boys were: high ropes and zip line flying fox, archery, raft building, swimming in the resort-like pool, stand-up paddle, canoeing, and although the water was too rough to risk allowing the children in to test out their new skills, we modified surfing lessons so they could be conducted on the beach. We created House spirit and healthy competition by students competing in inter-House basketball competitions, talent quest and trivia evenings, surf lifesaving iron man competitions and awards and merit slips were issued for any acts of kindness, evidence of strong character, and acts of goodwill towards others. Despite the rain being unrelenting for the entire three days and nights, and students having no dry clothes to change into after only one night at camp, their spirits were high. Their positive outlook and attitude showed a great deal about their ability to just get on with the job, stay focused and enjoy the time with their teachers and peers. If I’m honest, it was the boy’s positive approach that motivated me to stop feeling so sorry for myself, embrace wearing a garbage bag as a water-resistant layer and to also remain focused on the goals of the camp.
The Year 7 group were a pleasure to take away and as a collective cohort, showed wonderful potential for leadership in the coming years at St Edmunds. I would like to thank Ms Elliott, Mr Stephinson, Mr Zarb, Ms Miller, Mr Hausen, and Mr Burke for their energy in running small group activities, helping me dry 130 students’ shoes and sets of clothes in front of a fireplace, and ensuring all students had a good time. I would like to offer a special thanks to Mr Tim MacArthur, who was the Year 7 camp coordinator and spent months organising the activities and programs with the team at Kiannini Bush Camp, Tathra. He has done an exceptional job and without his dedication, perseverance, and faith that we could combat the weather challenges, we would not have had this wonderful opportunity to see all our Year 7 students really start to embark on this transitional journey from boys into young men.
Check out some pictures that we managed to snap in the few mins where the rain was lighter. It is wonderful to see them engaging so willingly in the program.
Leanne Gair
Head of Treacy House