Year 8 Camp
- 6 Nov 2014
The year level was abuzz with excitement as we boarded the buses. Year 8 Camp was about to begin: another opportunity for fun to be had, and for friendships to be furthered. On a sunny, breezy day, 6 coaches packed with noisy school children made their ways to Rawson Village. On our arrival, the teachers sat us down, and explained to us how things worked at the camp. We bustled into our cabins, gobbled down our packed lunches, and quickly got organized for our first set of activities. Some of us tried our skill on the commando course, and teamwork initiatives, while others started on a peaceful walk, or an intense session of canoeing. Others may have preferred staying in the skies with the rock climbing, high ropes, and flying fox, or some of the other activities prepared for us, such as archery, mountain biking, or a good game of volleyball. There was plenty to do.As the sun sank to the horizon on our first day, all 330 of our stomachs rumbled in a chorus of relief as we lined up at the dining hall. It took a while, but we eventually all sat down to a filling meal of pasta. Although we were hungry, our eagerness for the disco triumphed, as we returned to our cabins and prepared our various scary, spooky, and downright horrific costumes, for the Halloween Disco. Everyone looked terrific as we entered the Recreation Room. All the teachers had prepared a great evening, and it was sure to be exciting. With our own student-DJ, Michael Koletsas filling the music with beat drops, the party was a great rave. But the peak of enjoyment was still to come. As we wandered to our beds, munching on a biscuit or two, we realized how close to the end of the Survivor program we were. The Amazing Race was to start on the next day.
Before continuing on with our activities, and driving to Walhalla, we woke at a somewhat unreasonable 6:30, for a hearty 7 o’clock brekky. Day two was our last day of activities, but we were more pumped for The Amazing Race. The Amazing Race, was set in the historic mining town of Walhalla, each Survivor Island Group was given a booklet of questions, and challenges, which were to be completed within two hours. With each individual trying as hard as they could for their respective teams, we just wanted to know the results of the Amazing Race, and which form would take out the coveted Survivor Shield. After another great dinner, we had 3 options – a sporty table tennis tournament, a competitive trivia night or a movie so we could just relax. As our final activity for the camp, each option was thoroughly enjoyable. Half asleep, for the last time, we trudged back to our cabins for our well deserved beauty sleep.
After another early-morning wake-up, we packed up our belongings and braced ourselves for the final announcements of the Survivor program. It was nail biting. After a quick recap of the year, the leaderboards were, ever so slowly, revealed. Overall, each form had gone well, with the best island award going to Jamaica from 8D. But the much awaited form group results were shown – the top 3 places were out of 8G, 8H, and 8I. By an amazing 1 point, 8H took the win (for the third year in a row!). The top form for Survivor 2014 was amazed, proud, and even bewildered. Their sense of competition and teamwork helped them to win. Tired, but thankful for the great few days we boarded the buses for our ride home and reminisced about the events of the Year 8 camp, 2014.
James Hardy.
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