Year 7 Camp 2022
It was with great excitement and some moderate concern about the weather that year 7 assembled on Monday morning for our camp. This year, the camp was located on the Hawkesbury River and hosted by the Broken Bay Sport and Recreation facility which is a short boat trip from Brooklyn.
The students were engaged in range of activities to build initiative, teamwork and to have fun in an outdoor environment. These included bushwalking, beach games and raft building. However, the highlight activities for students included archery, fishing and night activities… and of course, free time. In most cases, although the rain was relentless, it was not able to dampen spirits. The surf ski and canoeing activities were the only activities that had to be modified due to rain affecting water quality.
“The best parts of camp were the activities that we would never do normally: archery, raft building, damper making, initiative and awesome games!”
“Mealtimes, the trivia night, the games we did at camp were probably the best bits. But I’ll always remember the time Jing caught a flathead and we had it for dinner.”
Part of the camp experience involves students socialising with their peers and learning to follow the rules and expectations required. Importantly, these outdoor education experiences translate into greater confidence and listening skills in the classroom ultimately supporting the wholistic student development in line with our Fortian Exit Profile. Our new Year 7 group were fantastic and excelled. The amazing fascination with their cabins and activity groups soon melted away as students learned to work together as a team and help support each other in challenging circumstances, such as the presence of leaches.
“I didn’t like the leaches of the bugs, but the best part was the sleeping bag races on the cabin floors”
“Camp was really fun, we did a lot of exciting activities like: archery, raft building and boomerang throwing. I also made some new friends.”
The camp also allowed year 7 to bond as a cohort and build their distinctive identity as Fortians. During one of the night time activities, the candidates for the Student Representative Council (SRC) deliver a short speech to the year group introducing themselves and outlining their ambitions for the role. However, the games night on Monday produced many more laughs. The social connections formed will last for the next 6 years and hopefully many more years after that.
“It was great how we got to meet lots of different people in the camp activity groups and cabins. We learnt to work together during raft buildings and games.”
“I slowly started to feel like a Year group together as we met each other during meals and in the major events such as the trivia. In school, we only meet in groups every fortnight when we school assemblies or year meetings. Since camp, I have always felt like a year group together.”
I would like to personally extend a huge thank you to the teachers who volunteered to come away from their families for three days. I would also like to thank the parents and the Department of Sport and Recreation staff for helping to organise students for another great Fort Street Year 7 camp.
Year 7 Year Advisor,
David Latimer
