Year 4 Camp

In Week 2 this term, Year 4 headed to Crosslands Youth and Convention Centre in the heart of Galston Gorge for an action-packed 3-day camping adventure. And the adventure began with getting to the campsite! We made our way via coach to Crosslands Reserve where we then had to catch the ferry across Berowra Creek to the campsite. Arriving by boat was a pretty awesome experience! The Southbound staff greeted us with a warm welcome and after a tasty lunch, we got straight into the camp activities.

One of the goals of camp is for the girls to step out of their comfort zone and try something new. It was wonderful to see our Year 4 campers doing exactly that as they suited up in harnesses to abseil down a 6-metre cliff and to zoom along the flying fox. Canoeing proved to be a teamwork challenge as the girls did their best to paddle forward and steer themselves along Berowra Creek. A few canoers ended up stuck in the mangroves, but with persistence and encouragement from the rest of the group, they soon found themselves out of trouble!

Another activity which required teamwork was the Lost Treasure. In this activity, the girls needed to use their problem-solving skills to solve a series of challenges. Success in this activity required girls to listen carefully to their peers, negotiate and compromise. For the hiking activity, the girls joined part of The Great North Walk through the Berowra Valley National Park. They navigated the rocky landscape, learnt about the flora unique to the area and the important role mangroves play in our ecosystem. Erin, a Darug woman and Aboriginal Cultural Educator, ran a fascinating Indigenous Education session. The girls learnt about the life of the Darug people along the Hawkesbury River, their language and culture. Erin also shared some art symbols used by the Darug people. The girls then created their own stories and used ochre to paint the art symbols on their arms and legs.

Camp is also about getting to know each other better, to expand friendships and build stronger relationships across the year group. It was lovely to see the girls make new connections and encourage each other as they participated in all the camp challenges. Lots of smiles and laughter filled each day. The girls also made the most of the recent rains and muddy terrain, turning this into a positive opportunity to become “mud warriors”! There will be a lot of washing to do on their return!

Our Year 4 girls are to be congratulated on participating at camp with enthusiasm, determination and a sense of fun. It was an absolute delight to see them enjoying themselves and making the most of their camp experience. A big thank you to Emma from Southbound Adventures and Ms Woodcock for organising Year 4 Camp and to Ms Blakeway, Mrs Siljanovska and Mr Lewis for accompanying me on camp and for looking after the girls so brilliantly!

Cristi Wilsmore
Deputy Head of Primary School (Teaching and Learning)