Year 8 Camp Reflection

After the bus ride that was filled with laughter and games, we all came stumbling off, excited for the next few days to come. Standing in the circle playing a game, we were all anticipating our groups and tents. Some filled with nerves, while others couldn’t contain themselves. When we got divided into our groups, we had sprung into action, darting around the campsite. Despite the wind, when we worked together, we managed to put up our tents and got straight into our first activity.

Surfing was a blast whether you were in the water or not, with the fun instructors and small waves perfect for lessons, we had the best time. The beautiful views and warm waters were a nice touch, along with the hike there and back which was filled with conversations and awe. Back at the campsite, everyone was buzzing, looking forward to our next activity. Soon, helmets on our heads and pads on our knees and elbows, we hopped on our bikes and rode off under the warm sun, following our instructor along the coastline, racing against our peers. Time flew, and soon we were back at our tents, enjoying the sunset and eating our dinner. We went down to trivia and stuffed ourselves with lollies with our groups.

The wind started to pick up again as we were winding down in our tents, and soon enough, we were back together as a year group. One hundred and eight of us slept beneath the shelter, spiders crawling overhead, teachers dozing off on tables—it was a night etched into our memory, strange but also unforgettable. Sore backs and dust were the first to greet us when we woke up for the second day of camp, and back to the activities it was. We all participated in planting trees and clearing out weeds in hopes of repopulating the area with native Australian plants, and we learnt about the native flora and fauna of the land. Afterwards, we met with Indigenous elders and further discussed the ways they used the land 60,000 years ago, enriching our knowledge about the culture and history of Australia.

Overall, this camp was definitely one to remember, and the memories will stay with us long after camp has ended.

Thank you to all the teachers who were with us on the journey!

Isla Roberts  and Helena Squires
Year 8