Scotch College

Juniors at challenging camps

Each class in Years Four, Five and Six attended challenging and successful camps during First Term.

Year Six at Lake Nillahcootie

Have you ever navigated your way around a ropes course 10 metres off the ground? Or what about rock climbing up a vertical wall? Does it sound challenging? It certainly was. Ask the Year Six students. They all know about facing both physical and mental challenges, because they spent a week at Lake Nillahcootie.

During February each class was fortunate enough to search their soul, build their self-esteem and, above all, be part of a supportive and cooperative atmosphere whilst taking on a series of 'ultimate challenges'.

Lake Nillahcootie is a superb camp, situated near Mansfield. As the name suggests, a large lake, (although due to the drought it was diminishing before our eyes) forms the backdrop for this professionally run camp.

Every day the boys faced the challenge of the activities with skill and tenacity. Above all, they experienced the importance of cooperation and the power of motivation. There were some incredible moments when the boys exceeded their expectations and achieved things they had not dreamt possible. For one boy the 'ultimate challenge' may have been camping out in a tent, for another it may have been climbing the narrowest rope ladder you have ever seen, to get up to the flying fox. For others it may have been working together to build a raft that actually floated, or taking that magical step backwards off the abseiling wall.

Ms Jocelyn Pride
Year Six Coordinator

 

Year Five to Port Campbell

The Year Five camp was held at Kangaroobie Camp, Princetown, which is a few kilometres east of Port Campbell.

The camp programme contained a combination of adventurous, challenging and innovative activities. Boys completed a rotation of eight different camp based activities, which included archery, canoeing, orienteering, horse-riding, ropes course, hut construction and farm work.

Afternoon activities included an enjoyable cooking session of bush damper, and a day of games and activities on the beach. Evening activities included camp performances and plays, a night hike and an evening of games.

Many boys commented on the enjoyment in seeing many species of Australian native wildlife, which included kangaroos, wallabies and echidna. The camp concluded with a morning visit to the Port Campbell National Park, where the boys viewed the Loch Ard Gorge, The Blowhole and the Twelve Apostles. The camp was challenging, beneficial and demanding, but most of all it was enjoyable for all those who attended.

Mr Dean Gregory
Year Five Coordinator

Year Four at Lancefield

On Wednesday 4 March, all of the Year Fours went to Camp Weekaway at Lancefield and stayed until Friday 6 March.

Whilst there all the boys participated in the following activities: flying fox, ropes course, raft making, rogaining, hut construction and canoeing. At night time they went 'spotlighting' and did glow trails, and each morning went on an early morning jog. The weather was very kind to us and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Mrs Liz Wyatt
Year Four Coordinator