From Monday 15 – Wednesday 17 November, the Grade 8 Camp took place at the Mt Cameron Field Study Centre. On the first day students engaged in teambuilding activities, carrying a stretcher holding a mannequin across a team of obstacles to reach safety. Students also had to problem solve and challenge themselves, both physically and as a group, to transport a pail of water across a ‘Nitrate River’ without spilling a drop. After a meal made by the Enterprise Cooking class of butter chicken and spaghetti bolognaise, students participated in a Reward Evening where we celebrated students demonstrating values of growth, courage, respect and aspiration. The last event of the evening of was either a ‘blind’ walk through the dark to straddle low rope or a campfire with games.

Our second morning started with bacon and egg muffins, packing our lunches and walking for 5 hours up, up and up to the Mt Cameron summit. Few groups all make it to the top, but our students worked well together and achieved this feat with smiles, quite a bit of sweat and determination. The views were magnificent from the top seeing the islands of Flinders and Cape Barron to the north, across to Musselroe Bay and Mt Barrow to our west. Our evening meal of burritos, ice cream and apricots well earned. Again, our evening involved splitting into two groups with one group reflecting on the friendships, achievements and learnings from our experiences giving each other accolades while also acknowledging person growth. Our evening finished off with the attempt of impossible riddles while sipping hot chocolates. It was pleasing over this day to see how students start to commit to being a collective Grade 8 group, helping and support each other while also completing the domestic tasks needed to house and feed 24 teenagers.

For our last day we worked well together to leave our lodgings clean and tidy before crossing a small ravine via a flying fox. Our students made us proud by all attempting this activity, taking courage to extend ourselves, shifting out of their comfort zones by stepping off a platform and zipping through the gumtrees. Our trip back to school was split up by a lunch of hot chips on the wharves and some favourite Anzac biscuits.

 Thanks to Mr Sean Bradley (Head chef), Mr Will Innis (Chief nurse) and Scott Gatrell (Minister of entertainment) who worked brilliantly to ensure our students not only had a wonderful experience but were well fed, safe and happy for these three days.