Year 11 Camp

Year 11 Life Ready Camp

Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation

February 10-12 2025

In Week 3 Year 11 attended the Life Ready Camp at the Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation at Narrabeen. Life Ready is a course mandated by the Department of Education designed to prepare students for situations related to health and safety they may encounter as they grow into more independent people increasingly responsible for themselves and others. It was a busy time divided across a range of outdoor activities and a suite of sessions on topics such as independence, relationships, sexual health.

We were, of course, challenged by the weather. On Monday afternoon we were hit by a fierce storm – sheets of lashing rain, bone-shaking thunder, and a breathtaking display of lightning. This required an urgent rearrangement of the activity schedule, quick-thinking on the part of staff, and adaptability from students. In some ways it was an ideal start to the camp because it brought students together and helped foster a sense of togetherness that lasted for the rest of the camp. It was a notable feature of the three days that students worked extremely well together, developing close-knit relationships built on shared experience. It was also an excellent way to welcome new students to the year group, and to renew and strengthen existing relationships before the challenges of Years 11 and 12 arrive.

Once the weather did clear, on Tuesday, we were blessed with clear sunshine and lovely temperatures. This allowed students to participate in the programmed outdoor activities. These included stand-up paddle boarding, abseiling, team-building activities, and a trust-building exercise in kayaks on Narrabeen Lake called Dark Water. Students were often challenged by these activities and needed to find courage and resilience to complete them. They were also fortunate to be accompanied by encouraging and supportive Fort Street staff. And staff agree that many students made important discoveries about their own capabilities. Students surprised even themselves at times.

Wednesday was hot, and by the time the buses arrived to take us home we were tired! We left Narrabeen feeling a strong sense of achievement, having met and overcome physical challenges, satisfied that we completed all that was asked of us, and excited about the time that lies ahead of us in Years 11 and 12. The feeling of a group of students united and confident was palpable on the road home…

Below are the reflections of a few of the students:

“This year’s camp was a memorable introduction to the start of Year 11 and our time in Senior School. We had awkward yet fruitful discussions in our theory lessons about independence, sexual health, and relationships. Outdoor challenges like Darkwater kayaking, abseiling, and stand-up paddleboarding pushed us out of our comfort zones, teaching us a thing or two about trust and helping us build stronger connections with our peers before we returned to the Fort.

Overall, the cohort had a great time with plenty of laughter and memories made”.

– Juvinitha Julian and Matthew Yong

Derek Patulny

Year 11 Year Adviser