End of Year Camps 2019
In the final week of Term Four, all of our boys will head away on one of the School’s Camps. Camps are an important part of our offering here at Shore. They are a time for boys to spend time together with their mates and to step outside their comfort zones. In the process, the boys have a fantastic time and more importantly learn a great deal about themselves and their peers. All of our camps are run by members of our teaching staff and we also use specialist providers to support our programs.
Year 7 Camp (Monday 2nd December to Thursday 5th December)
Boys will spend four days at the Department of Sport and Recreation Point Wolstoncroft Camp on the shores of Lake Macquarie. Boys will stay in cabins for the majority of the time away and camp out for one night. The focus of this camp is boys developing greater independence and continuing to get to know their Year 7 peers. Boys will participate in a range of activities including developing surf lifesaving skills, completing a high ropes course as well as canoeing and kayaking. On this camp boys will work in groups that are be led by one of our Year 11 boys.
Year 8 Camp (Monday 2nd December to Thursday 5th December)
Boys will spend four days at Anglican Youthworks Koloona and Waterslea Camps in the Shoalhaven region. Boys will camp in tents during their time away, operating in groups led by a member of the teaching staff and an outdoor education instructor. The focus of this camp is further developing boys’ independence, challenging them physically in a safe and supportive environment and further developing their teamwork and interpersonal skills. Boys participate in a range of activities including surfing, hiking, canoeing and in team building games.
Year 9 Shore Cadet Unit Annual Field Exercise (Sunday 1st December to Thursday 5th December)
Boys will spend five days on the Shore Cadet Unit’s Annual Field Exercise (AFX). This year the Annual Field Exercise will be held at Marangaroo and in Newnes State Forest near Lithgow. Boys will operate in platoon groups led by senior students from Shore and Wenona. Boys will participate in a range of activities practicing navigation, camouflage and concealment as well as abseiling and roping skills. This Camp represents another significant step in boys’ journey to develop greater independence and team work skills.
Year 10
Boys who have elected to remain in the Cadet Unit will go away on the Cadet Unit’s AFX serving in leadership and support roles or participating in advanced training.
Other Year 10 boys will be able to participate in either:
Connect Program which involves a group of 15 boys who work with refugee and migrant children from Holroyd High School. Boys participating in this program have an opportunity to get to know people from different backgrounds, establishing friendship and empathy for others through shared activities. Please note, accommodation is not provided as part of this activity and boarders will need to arrange their own accommodation in Sydney as the boarding houses will be closed during Camps Week.
Year 10 Camp which is held at Camp Somerset on the Colo River. Boys will participate in hikes and canoe expedition with the difficulty of these expeditions being matched to boys’ levels of fitness. These expeditions are led by a member of the teaching staff as well as an outdoor education instructor. These camps represent the pinnacle of our Outdoor Education offering at Shore, challenging boys and helping them further develop important skills like resilience, teamwork and a desire to care for others.
Year 11
A range of options are available for our Year 11 boys. Boys who have elected to remain in the Cadet Unit will go away on the Cadet Units’ AFX. A number of boys have also elected to go away on service trips to the Philippines or Yarrabah (Far North Queensland) or the Duke of Edinburgh Expedition in the Colo River region.
Another option for Year 11 boys is serving as a group leader on the Year 7 Camp at Point Wolstoncroft. Boys lead a group of Year 7 boys, working closely with the teachers and instructors attached to their group. This is a busy but rewarding week for the Year 11 boys, developing connections with our Year 7 boys and assisting them to negotiate the challenges arising during the program. Year 11 boys are accommodated in cabins alongside their Year 7 group.
The ‘default option’ for boys who choose not to participate in these other Year 11 activities is participating in our Community Engagement Programme. Boys will work in teams across a range of locations in Sydney serving others, including nursing homes, homeless support programs, schools catering to refugee children and children with disabilities. Please note, accommodation is not provided as part of this activity and boarders will need to arrange their own accommodation in Sydney as the boarding houses will be closed during Camps Week.
If you have any questions about your son’s participation in the Camps program, please don’t hesitate to contact Andrew Mansfield (Director of Activities) on amansfield@shore.nsw.edu.au or (02) 9900 4768.
